Extraordinary Health Magazine EH Magazine VOl 33_Final | Page 22

“In our culture we do
everything we can to try
to get rid of odors, with
scented sprays and such
because we don’t like the
way things smell—but
awakening our sense of
smell is the first step to
feeling better,” says Galper.
Galper refers to the myriad of test
results at the molecular level that
prove essential oils work. Because
a person’s mental state has such
an impact on overall health, the
importance of essential oils cannot
be overstated. One aromatherapy
study that focused on older adults
revealed significant reduction
in negative emotions and found
aromatherapy to be an effective tool
in pain reduction, depression, anxiety
and stress. Massachusetts General
Hospital Department of Psychiatry
heralded the results from a March
24, 2016 study published in PLoS
One that highlighted what happened
when one group of participants were
directed to massage their feet with
essential oils including lavender and a
second group used a scent-free oil. By
comparison, at the end of the study,
the participants who used essential
oils had noteworthy decreases in
blood pressure readings, anxiety
and scored higher on mental health-
related quality of life measures.
Further studies have shown essential
oils helpful in pain management
during labor, migraine relief,
abatement of nausea and vomiting
associated with postoperative
patients and even cancer treatments.
In trials, tea tree oil as a topical
treatment was found to be as effective
against antibiotic-resistant methicillin-
resistant staphylococcus aureus
(MRSA) as the standard salve given to
such patients. The list of benefits from
essential oils goes on and on. It’s no
surprise to Galper, who is glad essential
oils are getti