So how do essential oils help with our emotions? Short answer: because of the power of aromatherapy and the limbic system.

Our sense of smell is directly related to our emotions and mood. The cranial nerve associated with smell goes from your nose, into your brain and ends next to the hypothalamus – the area of the brain responsible for mood, feelings and emotional processing. This is why a scent can trigger a memory or even a feeling. Vanilla reminds you of baking cookies with your best friend. Lavender reminds you of your grandmother.

This is why aromatherapy is so effective when it comes to processing emotions and dealing with needs such as anxious thoughts, stress and even low mood.

Essential oils are also great for emotions because they contain constituents that can cross the blood brain barrier to help reprogram bad coding as a result of trauma. Then other compounds rewrite that code to restore the original perfect copy, one that will not keep us pulled into the physical and emotional effects of stress. This is a process, but the great thing about essential oils is that we have a CHOICE to embrace that process instead of loading our bodies up with toxins, chemicals, and other things that create more confusion in the cells.

There is no shame in using conventional tools available to you to help you through when needed, but remember that they are intended for use while you’re also doing the emotional work. This is why adding essential oils, daily affirmations and emotional processing to your daily routine can help you truly rewire the system to create a more peaceful baseline for your emotional health!