Issue link: https://www.massageandbodyworkdigital.com/i/1417136
L i s te n to T h e A B M P Po d c a s t a t a b m p.co m /p o d c a s t s o r w h e reve r yo u a cce s s yo u r favo r i te p o d c a s t s 57 PSYCHOLOGICAL EFFECTS IN THE SESSION ROOM Essential oils applied in massage lubricants or diffused in the session room help the body rest and recover while allowing time for reflection. Changes in mood, emotion, and the sense of connection with the natural world enhance the client's perception of the massage while causing psychological shifts that can have a lasting impact. Let's discuss some key psychological effects of essential oils. Amygdala Soothers The amygdala is an almond-shaped set of neurons located in the medial temporal lobe of the brain. As discussed previously, it is part of the limbic system and associated with fear responses and pleasure. Anxiety, autism, depression, posttraumatic stress disorder, and phobias correspond to abnormal functioning of the amygdala. Psychologists call the amygdala the brain's smoke detector. It is constantly on the lookout for smoke—in other words, anything that might be scary. When the amygdala detects something scary, it pumps stress hormones into your body, causing you to fight, freeze, fly, or feel emotionally triggered. So, an amygdala constantly bombarded with scary stuff becomes hypervigilant and begins to view more and more stuff as dangerous. Inhaled valerian, lavender, and rose reduce the hypervigilance of an overactive amygdala. Use these essential oils in inhalations to counter fear and anxiety responses. 19 While more research is needed, other essential oils, including the euphoric essential oils we'll discuss later, also produce this effect. Antidepressant Essential Oils Non-clinical depression is a normal reaction to painful life events. It's considered an adjustment condition rather than true depression. For people going through significant life transitions, non-clinical depression causes feelings of sadness, fear, hopelessness, and dejection. Essential oils with antidepressant effects counter low moods, episodes of sadness, mental and emotional fatigue, or apathy caused by distressing situational changes such as the breakup of a relationship or losing a job. Essential oils with this effect include basil, bergamot, clary sage, frankincense, geranium, grapefruit, jasmine, mandarin, melissa, neroli, petitgrain, rose, sweet orange, sweet marjoram, and ylang-ylang. 20 Neurosedatives Neurosedatives are agents that sedate the central nervous system to produce relaxed mind states. Neurosedatives act on the brain by increasing gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) levels, triggering GABA receptors, or inhibiting excitatory neurotransmitters. GABA is the primary inhibitory neurotransmitter in the central nervous system. When GABA levels are high, we feel sleepy and relaxed. Valerian root essential oil is a powerful neurosedative that acts directly on GABA receptors to produce its well- known sedative and tranquilizing effects. Helichrysum is milder than valerian in its neurosedative actions. It causes a gentle increase of GABA levels for a calming effect. 21 Lavender and melissa act on excitatory neurotransmitters causing mild sedative, antianxiety, and emotional balancing effects. 22 Other essential oils with neurosedative properties include Amyris, Atlas cedarwood, bitter orange, German chamomile, hops, hyssop, lemongrass, linden flower, mandarin, neroli, Roman chamomile, rose, sandalwood, spikenard, and sweet marjoram. Neurostimulants Neurostimulants are agents that stimulate the central nervous system to produce alert mind states. They work by causing an increase in cerebral blood flow, by increasing beta wave activity in the brain, by stimulating the locus coeruleus (the area of the brain associated with the flow of norepinephrine), and by blocking GABA receptors. 23 Norepinephrine plays a vital role in focusing attention, increasing mental alertness, and forming and retrieving memories. High levels are associated with the fight-or-flight response. Some neurostimulants block receptor sites for GABA, reducing GABA activity on the brain and improving alertness and attention.