Pierre Vernay

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What happens when we breathe essential oil and why is it (for me) one of the best tools for healing and self growth? 

Pierre Vernay

My body was stuck in a state of hypervigilance, despite the various relaxation techniques I was already applying on a daily basis.

I was having a really hard time getting rid of this residue of chronic stress, which was preventing me from really relaxing, and I was still having automatic reactions, recurring thoughts, negative inner dialogue, impatience and difficulty sleeping because my mind was constantly thinking. 

I've always had a passion for medicinal plants, so I decided to turn to essential oils. Curious about their medicinal and spiritual uses, which go back thousands of years, and about the results I'd obtained from using them on myself, I wanted to find out what science had to say about them.

Because for the first time in years I felt totally soothed on every level. 

Physiological explanation:

Essential oils have been used medicinally and spiritually for centuries. This is probably due to the incredible concentration  of active ingredients they contain.
But what are the effects of such a concentration on our bodies? 

The concentration of bioactive compounds such as terpenoids, phenylpropanoids and alpha-pinene are well known for their anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-microbial properties.

These compounds play an important role in the essential oil's effect against metabolic and infectious diseases. 

Essential oils also have numerous effects on the nervous system. In fact, the bioactive compounds they contain influence the secretion of neurotransmitters such as serotonin and dopamine, and act on all GABAergic pathways, which has a major impact on mood regulation, stress response and cognitive functions. Studies have shown that lavender oil affects brain waves and lowers cortisol levels, which is associated with mental relaxation and stress reduction.

But that's not all, essential oils can also have an impact on trauma and bad memories/experiences stuck in the body.

When we are affected by chronic stress, pain or trauma, our body can become stuck in a state of sympathetic activity or hypervigilance. This inability of our body to rest and restore itself fully leads to an imbalance in our system, affecting not only our health, but all aspects of our lives.

And because essential oils are full of properties, they help to release this state of hypervigilance by promoting relaxation and emotional balance.

Studies have shown that essential oils such as lavender, chamomile and peppermint have anxiolytic and antidepressant effects. As mentioned above, this is because they act by modulating neurotransmitters. 

This modulation helps to reduce the state of hyperarousal associated with trauma and chronic stress. 

In addition, the olfactory stimulation of breathing essential oils activates the limbic system (the region of the brain involved in emotions and memory), helping to release past memories and emotions responsible for the state of hypervigilance.

It was by restoring the balance between the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems that I decided to incorporate essential oils into my holistic approach.

Because by re-establishing this crucial and necessary balance, we emerge from our state of stress and become able to observe our own experiences, to distance ourselves from them, to change the perspective of these experiences and to release them at all levels of our being. 

And this is simply impossible to do when we are stuck in a state of chronic stress.

What science says?

Last but not least let’s dive into some fine studies explaining the effect of some essential oil on the body. I am super passionate about  the effect on nervous system and anti aging process because in today’ life oxidative stress affect almost all of us due to the overstimulation we bath in, which at the end hyperactive our sensory nerve and give so much input to our brain that i cannot treat and shut down. Which is called brain fatigue syndrome and is the main source for burnout and PTSD. So here some extract of interesting studies, because the source are endless i have onlyhighlight 3 studies but do your own research it is mind blowing. 

  • Studies have shown that sage can improve cognitive function. Kennedy et al. (2011) found that sage extract improved memory, reduced mental fatigue, and increased alertness in 36 healthy participants. Wightman et al. (2018) observed that a sage combination enhanced cognitive accuracy and working memory in 94 people, with immediate and long-term benefits. Other studies also reported improvements in cognitive performance and memory in both young and older adults after consuming sage extract. Sage's effects on the brain may be linked to its impact on neurotransmitters and receptors, with fresh leaves showing stronger effects than dried extracts (Tober and Schoop, 2019).

  • Rosmarinus officinalis, commonly known as rosemary, has been traditionally recognized for its memory-enhancing properties and could be a potential cognitive booster for AD. A meta-analysis of 23 studies showed that rosemary improved cognitive outcomes in both healthy and cognitively impaired animals. However, there was significant variability among the studies, suggesting the need for more research to fully understand its effectiveness. 

  • Cinnamon is an unusual tropical plant belonging to the Lauraceae family. It has been used for hundreds of years as a flavor additive, but it has also been used in natural Eastern medicine. Cinnamon extracts are vital oils that contain biologically active compounds, such as cinnamon aldehyde, cinnamic alcohol, cinnamic acid, and cinnamate. It has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial properties and is used to treat diseases such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease. In folk medicine, cinnamon species have been used as medicine for respiratory and digestive disorders. Their potential for prophylactic and therapeutic use in Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s disease has also been discovered.

  • Alaoui et al. studied the effects of rosemary and lavender on the neurological system by investigating the usage of these aromatic herbs in modulating T-type calcium channels (TTCCs). TTCCs affect sleep, neuroprotection, and sensory processest Pain and epilepsy are also affected by TTCC. The researchers found out that rosmarinic acid, linalool (the active compounds of rosemary), and lavender can inhibit TTCC (Ca v3.2) current, respectively. Rosemary and lavender also induce a negative change in the steady-state inactivation of this current. It can be concluded that these two herbs play an important role in controlling epilepsy by the inhibition of TTCC (El Alaoui et al., 2017).

  • The diversity of chemical compounds found in essential oils, with components in variable amounts and proportions, explains their variability of biological and pharmacological activities. The lipophilic profile of these components contributes to their ability to penetrate cells and tissues to reach biological targets and carry out the pharmacological response. In addition, the antioxidant activity of some constituents of essential oils suggests their possible action in restoring balance in pathological disorders associated with oxidative stress, including inflammatory and tumoral processes. Conversely, the bioactivity in anti-infectious screenings shows the ease with which essential oils and their constituents cross the biological membranes of infected cells and/or microorganisms and cause their death. The evidence of these biological events makes this class of natural products a promising source in the search for new drug candidates.

Conclusion

By re-establishing the homeostasis and allostasis crucial to our proper functioning, essential oils are for me a key to the approach to managing and transforming stress and emotions. However, it's crucial to use them with care, as their concentration can also be harmful to the body. 

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