Common Scents

Breathe in deep and gain some balance in your life with these benefi cial scents.

- Nicola Watson, Anna Brewster And Joyce Cheo

There’s something about stress that causes great damage to your immune system and general health. A body that is not under stress has a more robust immune system which would make it less prone to infections and illnesses.

If you are feeling anxious and depressed or suffering from poor sleep, you might want to try getting into essential oils. Essential oils, which are natural extracts made from flower, herb, and tree parts like bark, roots, peels, and petals – can help with stress reduction and relaxation, improve your concentration, kill bacteria and even boost your immunity.

Of course, good health is a holistic effort that requires good nutrition, exercise and even meditation as well, but research has shown that aromatherapy can activate certain areas of your brain, like your limbic system, which plays a role in determining your emotions. Essential oil scents could also have an impact on your hypothalamus, generating feel-good brain chemicals like serotonin.

We’ve all heard of chamomile, jasmine and lavender – they are the most commonly known beneficial oils for encouraging relaxation. But do you know what others do? Anna Brewster from The Natural & Organic Co, who looks after aromatherapy and natural body products, gives us the lowdown on the best essential oils for our health.

Oregano

Studies have shown that oregano is power-packed with compounds that fight various infections, promotes detoxification and are loaded with antioxidants as well as antihistamines. It is a fantastic immune booster and is very helpful in treating infections and allergies. This is a very ‘hot’ oil, so great care is to be taken when using it. It is never to be used undiluted on skin.

Tea tree