3. How essential oils & aromatherapy work on the human body

I would use essential oils in my work to maximise the benefit of the treatment for the client

There are 2 ways that oils can safely penetrate the body; smell / inhalation (through the nose) and absorption (through the skin).

 1. Inhalation:

Smell is the fastest way for essential oils to penetrate the body. The molecules travel up the nose and there are 2 results
– they send a message to the brain and nerves which respond to the new smell
– they pass into the blood stream via the lungs and respiratory system.
At the top of the nose there are 2 areas of pigmented tissue known as olfactory membranes. They contain the olfactory or smell sensing cells, which have fine hair like protrusions called cilia. The olfactory cells connect to nerves in an area known as the olfactory plexus. Once triggered, these nerves send messages along the olfactory nerves to the brain, particularly the limbic system. This area of the brain deals with memory, emotions or our basic instincts.

 2. Absorption

The skin is the largest organ in the body.

It is water resistant, but extremely small molecules of an essential oil can enter the tiny pores of the epidermis, the skins surface layer, as well as penetrating through the hair follicles and sweat glands, they enter the blood capillaries in the dermis, the skin’s second layer. Once the oil reaches the blood it is transported around the whole body.