“I WANT TO GO HOME!”
My friend had some surgery and believed she would recover faster at her home than waiting another day in the hospital. She fully understood that she would not be completely recovered when she got there and knew what to do to be safe from a possible fall. She lined up family members and friends to be there, easing her into the activities of daily life while there. She knew she was not completely healed yet, but she felt, deep down, she would recover better at home.
There is something about going home that lifts our spirits and helps us feel normal again. Often, we are not completely back to ourselves 100 percent, but our spirits are lifted once we get there. We might be returning from a hospital stay, a few months in rehab, or even a vacation. It’s just good to be home.
Being in familiar surroundings sometimes represents normalcy, and that is good for us. We still have a way to go physically, but home is truly a shot in the arm for healing. We long for the sights, sounds, and smells of home. Many people feel comfortable at home because of all the home smells. That can be called aromatherapy.
There is a branch of alternative, or complementary, medicine called aromatherapy. It is a holistic healing treatment that uses natural plant extracts to promote health and well-being. Sometimes it’s called essential oil therapy. Aromatherapy uses aromatic essential oils medicinally to improve the health of the body, mind, and spirit. It enhances both physical and emotional health. Many people use essential oil diffusers, devices that heat water with essential oils. When the diffuser is plugged in, a pleasant smell permeates the air.
Aromatherapy is thought of as both an art and a science. Recently, aromatherapy has gained more recognition in the fields of science and medicine. As a person who has a keen sense of smell, I think smells can be a big part of our healing journey.
Humans have used aromatherapy for thousands of years. Ancient cultures in China, India, Egypt, and elsewhere incorporated aromatic plant components in resins, balms, and oils. These natural substances were used for medical and religious purposes. They were known to have both physical and psychological benefits.
The sense of smell has long remained the most enigmatic of our senses. That’s why I was happy to see that smell in all aspects of our lives was finally recognized as a valid part of our anatomical lives. There is a whole science to how our bodies recognize and remember smells. In fact, in 2004, The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine was awarded jointly to Richard Axel and Linda B. Buck, “for their discoveries of odorant receptors and the organization of the olfactory system.”
Basically, the process of remembering 10,000 different odors was not understood. Axel and Buck basically explained receptor cells and the processes that get smell information to our brains. So, smelling different scents happens because our olfactory system uses receptor cells and the brain to make smelling that spring lilac happen. They also explained how these receptors, when recognizing certain smells, can trigger positive memories in us. A positive state of mind might be just what we need in our recovery journey.
Our olfactory system can improve our quality of life. When something tastes really good, our olfactory system helps us detect the qualities we regard as positive. A good wine or a wild strawberry activates many odorant receptors, helping us to perceive the different smells. A big part of drinking a fresh cup of coffee is that wonderful aroma!
A unique odor can trigger distinct memories from our childhood, or from emotional moments—positive or negative—later in life. According to (of all sources!) Cosmopolitan magazine,
“The Top Ten Best Smells in the World” are:
1. Cookies fresh out of the oven
2. Melting chocolate
3. “Boy” smell
4. Coffee brewing in the morning
5. Grass right after it’s mowed
6. Bacon
7. Vanilla
8. New car smell
9. Fresh air
10. Coconut
We might play our personal relaxing song list, get a massage, or use a diffuser with essential oils like lavender, bergamot, lemongrass, or other scents. Smells have always fascinated me. I used to (and still do!) explore fragrances at cosmetic counters, soaps in grocery stores, and even laundry detergents on shelves.
When I used to visit my parents’ home in Detroit, I’d ask my mom, “Did you just wash the floor with Murphy’s Oil Soap?” She’d reply, “Yes—three days ago!” I could still smell the Murphy’s! My nose knew. To this day, whenever I get a whiff of Murphy’s Oil Soap, I get a pleasant feeling and memory and think of my home.
Some of us are very sensitive to odors, and having odors around us with good memories can relax us, help us sleep, and generally lift our tired spirits from all our medical challenges.
Home aromatherapy can be pretty inexpensive. Just the normal smells of our home can push healing along. Brew a pot of coffee and place a cookie sheet of vanilla cookies in the oven. Drizzle them with melted chocolate, and you already have experienced four of the ten top scents. Add some bacon, and you have five top-ten scents. Open a window if you want some fresh air and it’s six!
Scent-sational for healing!
Sister Karen Zielinski is the Director of Canticle Studio. Canticle Studio is a part of the Sisters of St. Francis of Sylvania, OH’s overall advancement effort and has a mission of being a creative center where artists generate works, products, and services in harmony with the mission of the Sisters of St. Francis. She can be reached at kzielins@sistersosf.org or 419-824-3543.
