Aromatherapy Learning (9)
- Cindy Blog Space
- May 23
- 10 min read
In this class, we learned about olfactory aromatherapy - from the olfactory system anatomy, linking to the limbic system, stress response, and connecting with how aromatherapy can help with stress support.
Some specific contents under specific sections
in this class which pleasant-surprisingly inspired some learnings and thoughts within me:
Sense of Smell - Pregnancy
We were introduced to the stages/timeline for the formation of a baby's nose, nasal cavity, and smell receptors, as well as when these are fully connected to the brain. We learned that smell being the most advanced sense at birth. It was also shared in class around research demonstrating that a baby is able to smell the food the mother is eating, and this can influence their preferences and dislikes after birth.
We also gained knowledge that many new olfactory neurons are produced during early pregnancy and are fully functioning close to birth. They may be influential in changes experienced during pregnancy, such as famed nausea, food aversions, and olfactory sensitivities [1].
My Thoughts (click to open/hide)
Personally, this seems so fascinating. I instantly wonder how the sense of smell in that context may work as a communication channel between the baby and mum during pregnancy.
（瞬感）
母亲与孩子对话、沟通的交流方式之一
（自然展开的一些思考思路）
胚胎、胎儿（在之后部分简称为 “胚胎儿”）在母体里可以通过多种方式与母亲或外界互动、交流。比如：胎动， 为通过触感 touch 的一种方式；而孕吐、饮食喜好突变、嗅觉增敏，为通过嗅觉 smell、味觉 taste 的一些方式
母亲可以通过这些感受察觉、察知到胚胎儿的具体需求、喜好、兴趣、情绪变化等。而她可以通过孕前孕后各方面的各种变化分辨出哪些是属于自己的，哪些则是来自胚胎儿的
可以从以下几点说一下这份觉知、分辨的重要性：
（1）母亲本人与周围提供支持和帮助的人和环境 可以提供、满足母亲与胚胎儿双方在孕期中的需求，使双方在这期间都能拥有愉快的经历和体验
（2）体现的是母胎、生命间为独立个体的区分
有那么些类似于关于母胎为 “寄生” 关系、需要 “母亲牺牲自己” 去满足胎儿需求等的观点。“寄生” 关系反映的是一种 “吸血” 关系，一方对另一方造成消耗，是一种失衡的关系。若用来形容母胎，则是指胎儿吸着母体的供养，“耗损” 母亲那一方。但 “母胎为寄生关系” 观点的背后也许没有意识到胎儿并非是 “寄生” 于母体的存在
结合一些灵性的理解，也许胚胎儿只是借由 “母体” 诞生。换个方式说，个体灵魂（载于肉身）通过 “母体” 怀孕相关经历和分娩（一种方式）来到这个世界上。胎体和母体的独立与分明，彼此在孕期间通过多种方式，互相都可以成长、互相都在成长…… ，母亲在孕育新生命的同时并不是只单单满足胎儿的需求，也可以并且需要满足自己的；一种平衡、双方都得到滋养的关系
从入世的角度来看，是肉身间在进行交流、在这个三维世界和社会运行着（所谓的 “外表”）；以出世的层面看，是灵魂间的频率震动吸引或碰撞（所谓的 “内涵”）。结合出入世、三维世界-多维宇宙，“人” 为灵魂载于肉身/肉身承载着灵魂，所以为何灵性与世俗同需兼备，前者是本质、本源，后者是现实的 “平台”
如果能看见、明白灵魂那个层次，以及身心灵综合的关系，也许可以更理解任何一件事影响的不单只是表面身体/心理/灵魂的某一面，ta 们是息息相关的。“寄生关系” 的思维意识看法，不单能影响到母胎在肉体层面上 “纠缠不清”，也能反映在灵魂层面世代通过基因遗传的 “业力枷锁”
（3）避免 “间接性/遗传性创伤”
和第二点对与个体区分和分明的重要性 + 身心灵相关联
“创伤” 这个词可以有不同面向，“直接性” 或 “间接性” ，比如：
事故性创伤，当事人直接经历事故、事故对当事人造成直接 “负面” 影响（为 “直接性” 创伤）
包括 “天灾人祸”、“暴力行为”、“语言攻击” 等
遗传性创伤，当事人间接承受着生育者及家族延续的习性，对当事人的生活产生 “负面” 影响（为 “间接性” 创伤）
包括：
（例：“不幸”、“痛苦”、“压抑” 的）成长、
（例：“委曲求全”、“过于懂事”、“乖巧” 的）性格、
（例： “疏离” 、“冷漠” 、“责任/边界混乱” 的）家庭关系/氛围
以公众经常探讨的类于 “原生家庭中的不幸”，有些为 “直接性” 创伤，有些则是 “间接的”。有些是 “间接的” 压抑已久爆发为 “直接的”，所以还是需要能透过外在的行为向内寻找本质的根源
“遗传性创伤” 可以追溯到基因层。往往遗传性创伤带来的特点可在原生家庭其它成员的性格、行事风格、社交圈等生活中的日常细节找到一些共同的规律
基因遗传性创伤可从多方面了解：
母亲方：
（倒叙追溯本源）
生育过程 ➡️ 怀孕过程 ➡️ 备孕过程 ➡️ 恋爱/婚姻 ➡️ 从小到达成长（原生家庭 ➡️ 她父母方的这个过程循环…… ➡️ 往代的这个过程循环……）；
（多方关系影响）
与孩子父亲的关系、与孩子父亲家庭的关系、与个人原生家庭的关系、个人原生家庭与孩子父亲方的关系……
父亲方：
（倒叙追溯本源）
孩子母亲生育、怀孕过程中如何对待她 ➡️ 备孕过程 ➡️ 恋爱/婚姻 ➡️ 从小到达成长 （原生家庭 ➡️ 他父母方的这个过程循环…… ➡️ 往代的这个过程循环……）；
（多方关系影响）
与孩子母亲的关系、与孩子母亲家庭的关系、与个人原生家庭的关系、个人原生家庭与孩子母亲方的关系……
所以有时候有人疑惑为何自己做了很多努力还是无法改善原生家庭的关系/父母的关系或其它相关方面，有一种可能是那并不是那个人本身的问题
“遗传性创伤” 的目的不是要当事人去承载那些不属于 ta 的业力，当然也不是去责怪，而是能从中发现学习到什么、可以帮助自己成长的。其中也包括分清哪些是自己需要学习的，哪些则是原生家庭或成长环境中他人需要学习的。每个人作为独立的灵魂个体有属于自己的灵魂剧本和修行课题。哪怕是在同一个地方/同一个时期/经历同一件事，个体间学习到的课题也可能都不同
每个人都拥有打破不属于自己的业力枷锁，带着愿力过上越来越好的生活和人生的能力
The Limbic System
Amygdala
We learned that our olfaction has a direct connection to the limbic system, being one synapse away from the amygdala (known to be the key region in the brain for coordinating emotional-related contents), unlike other sensory stimuli to be relayed via the thalamus first. Therefore, this could suggest the strong connection between olfaction and emotions, and for instance how people usually first think of how an aroma makes them feel instead of analysing it [1].
My Thoughts (click to open/hide)
My instant thought of "Intuition". About how intuition first brings the message of how xx makes an invididual feels, then the reason for it appears afterwards naturally.
（瞬感）
联想到 “直觉”
（自然展开的一些思考思路）
感受 ↔️ 直觉
聆听直觉先带来的也是感受，至于背后的原因是之后自然出现的
Prefrontal Cortex
The "logical-side" of contents such as rational thinking, problem solving and impulse control are involved in this area of the brain. And it is not fully developed until age 25 [1].
The contents from this slide inspired me with many thoughts related to parenting:
My Thoughts (click to open/hide)
从这堂课了解到原来前额叶皮质是到25岁才完全发育。那从这个角度也解释了成人在理性思考、问题解决以及冲动控制等 “理性” 方面的发展程度大于幼儿。然而，在情绪、感受上似乎是幼儿的发展先行于成人。那些怀念着/想找回/通过幼儿感受那股 “纯粹的快乐与喜悦” 等行为好像是在说成人“丧失” 那些感受（的能力）。也许是一种经历了 “本末倒置” 的教育方式，带着逆行自然规律发展的方式长大成人的一种反映……
以这里探讨的 “负责情绪/感受 + 逻辑/理性相关的大脑结构发展不同” 来说一些想法：
在童年时期、孩子小时候的发展上，情绪、感受先于理智。如果这时候的教育更多的顺应自然生长规律能去了解、支持、鼓励孩子的兴趣和热爱；适当的指引他们运用、打开情绪感知力、察觉力；关注他们的情感需求；打造一个正向、健康的人格基础， 而不是只专注在头脑层面所谓的 “智力开发”、一味的要求孩子去参加各种班/做很多题去学习超出相应年龄层需要掌握的知识，也许会少一些社会现象中 “生活里只有学习/只会学习” 、“不知道除了父母安排的还能做些什么” 、“事业有成但情感麻痹/冷漠” 等 的孩子。（当然个体发展、热爱、天赋不同，节奏不一样，各有例外。有些孩子天然喜欢了解一些 “超龄”、“先进” 的方面、展现对那些方面的兴趣，而这其实还是回归到感受，发自内心喜欢那些方面）
所谓的 “高智商、低情商” 的孩子也许反映的是某种教育理念重点的偏离；反映的是与其根据孩子个体本身的特质去帮助 ta，反倒按照社会印象中的模版试图去塑造 “成功” 的路径和形象
人体的发展何其奇妙，规律和生活中、宇宙中的其它规律相互交映、相互共通…… Live with (own) flow, in (own) natural rhythm, move at (own) ease
很多事情都很重要，但有先有后、是顺或逆流…… 仅以这里的例子，心理和情绪感觉是如此重要。无论是从了解到灵性为生命的基础、或者身体的构造发展来看，需要首要关注。理智也重要，但那随着成长、大脑发育渐渐形成越来越成熟。犹如任何方面，教育者可以在这方面也适当引导孩子，但无需过度担忧或只专注那一方面而已
如智商测试，过一段时间/几年再去做可能会发现有很大的提升，但关于个人情感层面的转变/蜕变、打破旧有的习性惯性是需要个人意识、觉知、勇气、行动等多方面。不难看到社会现象中有多少成人饱受着长大过程中情感的忽视所引发的痛苦案例不胜枚举
与其在孩子成长过程中关注孩子要考多少分、一定要拿多少成绩、一定要多聪明等，不如多悉心关心孩子的心理健康、情绪感受、热爱兴趣等
连一个角度
Stress
"Stress" seems to be commonly perceived as a "bad" thing or associated with "negative" connotations. However, as with any word, which is neutral in basis, can have both (a) "positive" and (b) "negative" side to it depending on how one views it, and the degree/extend to which the situation exists in.
For "Stress", it can be seen as (a) "Eustress", (b) "Distress" [1].
Having shorts bursts of stress in the form of (a) is helpful and beneficial for humans, such as giving that motivational drive, and adapting to the environment.
It is (b), which has been commonly misassociated as direct equivalent to "stress", that could wear people down over time.
Our teacher shared with us a TedTalk on how to make stress a friend [2], which may be helpful for people who needs it. I resonated with some of the contents in the talk:
Stress belief is the key one.
"How you think + act can transform your experience of stress."
For instance, the speaker pointed out:
Viewing stress response as helpful ➡️ Creating biology of courage (Personal Perspective Shift)
Connecting with others who care for you under stress ➡️ Creating resilience (Social Support)
i.e., "You can trust yourself to handle life's challenges and remembering that you don't have to face them alone"
My Thoughts (click to open/hide)
Belief /Thoughts ➡️ Actions ➡️ Experience
Transformation starts with perspective shift.
If one can view symptoms are there to help them and not to torment. If one can appreciate everything happens for them, and not to them. Instead of asking why xx happens to them again, perhaps one could ask themselves and to feel - what is xx trying to tell you, is there something with life that is getting out of balance, which part of your life could you look into it that needs some adjustments to be made, etc.......
The Stress Response
The Autonomic Nervous System (ANS) plays a crucial role in our stress and relaxation responses. It consists of the Sympathetic (SNS) and Parasympathetic Nervous System (PNS) which works hand-in-hand to maintain balance relative to internal and external conditions [1].
It sparked some thoughts in me related to the concept of 'balance':
My Thoughts (click to open/hide)
It was also brought up in class about having balance between SNS and PNS, and how PNS state is where healing can occur, when one feeling safe and calm.
My epiphany thought was that PNS state is probably the natural/default/usual state that one being. When one needs motivation to work, do tasks, actions-related, SNS starts activating ("Eustress"). If SNS > PNS (in terms of magnitude + duration), that is when one overworked and may feel overwhelmed, leading to a state of "Distress". "Work-rest balance" is important. I probably would use this phrasing instead of the popular "Work-life balance" as work is a part of life and not a separate entity from life.
On the other side, if PNS < SNS (in terms of magnitude + duration), one may feel bored. The keyword is balance. And to know and appreciate how the systems/states work, like energy, in flowing motion and not stagnant. It is about that harmony of the balance between SNS and PNS; work and rest, etc.
Balance is not something rigid/inflexible with any particular aspect, but a harmony in the natural flow and rhythm of what it exists in.
Product Application
We learned how to make Aromatherapy Roller in this class.
I used the "Tranquility" recipe from our course receipe book and made a roller for myself. Smells amazing to me!
References
Brandenberger, H. (2025). Our Sense of Smell. Retrieved from Class PowerPoint Slides.
McGonigal, K. (2013, June). How to Make Stress Your Friend. TED. Retrieved from https://www.ted.com/talks/kelly_mcgonigal_how_to_make_stress_your_friend
