Aromatherapy for Retrieving Information from Long-Term Memory

I stumbled across this article (copied below) that describes how aromatherapy can help staying focused in the ever changing job market. Needless to say, the job market has seen better days. Some of my friends have been looking for a job for over a year. Others who have a job are staying in jobs they otherwise would quit. 


The article below mentions Rosemary essential oil but I found that Peppermint Essential Oil is a great stimulant as well. When I studied Cognitive Psychology in college, our professor told us to diffuse a scent (whatever that scent may be and an essential oil works best) while we studied for an exam or prepared for a presentation. Then, we should sniff on the same scent before and during the exam. It is a technique used for effective retrieval from long-term memory - encoding specificity principle. The stimulus (essential oil) is encoded along with the experience (study material) and can trigger the memory of the experience. 
So, the next time you study for a test, prepare for a job interview, or a presentation diffuse an essential oil or inhale it neat (smell the oil directly from the bottle). Then, before you take the exam (even during the exam), or before you go into the room to meet with the person who will conduct the job interview or give your presentation, inhale the scent again. It will trigger what you have studied and prepared for so diligently. 


And now, here is the article... 

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Aromatherapy in Skin Care

I found this article about aromatherapy and skin care on The Times of India. The article was published on July 24, 2010, and highlights how aromatherapy is used in skin care. Now while many of you may already use essential oils in your homemade creams, as do I, at the end of the article you will find some nice essential oil blending combinations for different skin types or skin problems.


Aromatherapy for a soft, supple skin


Skincare in aromatherapy is about the use of essential oils in different treatments for the skin. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle is the first step to having beautiful and healthy skin; aromatherapy skin care is the next. 

You will be amazed at how many different oils can help soothe aging, injured and dry skin. The appropriate aromatherapy skin care treatment can help reduce the fine lines from aging, besides curing bug bite or bee sting. 

There is more to aromatherapy than oil massages and perfumed candles. Very few know that aromatherapy skincare is another part of the holistic treatment that aromatherapy is all about. The oils used in aromatherapy skincare are absorbed into the skin and eventually into the bloodstream where they flow through the whole body, and have a lasting effect. 

Firstly, it is critical to recognise your skin and hair type. Each plant’s essential oils provide a number of different therapeutic benefits, so knowing about your skin and hair will help you match up your needs with the appropriate ingredients. 

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Jet-Lag, the annoying Travel Companion

The summer is in full swing and so is the travel season. If you ever have gone overseas, you probably know about the feeling of jet-lag. Your body has not quite yet adjusted to the new time of your destination. You feel tired during the day and are wide awake at night depending on the direction you traveled. To bring your body clock back into its normal rhythm, you can try aromatherapy with three great essential oils that help with the synchronization of your body's natural pattern.

Grapefruit Essential Oil has uplifting qualities and combats depression, stress, headaches, or tiredness. It helps your body and mind detoxify which also helps with adjusting to the new time setting. 

Bergamot Essential Oil is a natural anti-depressant. It's balancing properties make it a great travel companion. With its relaxing and calming benefits, it is great for insomnia.

Geranium Essential Oil is stimulating the lymphatic system. Stagnant energy is being transported out of the body which is great while traveling and after long flights. Its floral and rosy scent is uplifting and restores vitality to body and mind. 

Mix 10 drops of grapefruit, 8 drops of bergamot, and 5 drops of geranium into 5 ml of any carrier oil and fill into a roll-on vile. Use on your forehead, on the base of your neck, on your wrists, or on your feet. 

You can also diffuse the essential oils in a travel diffuser. 

☀ Wishing you happy travels ☀

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