Identifying Pharmaceutical-Grade Essential Oils and Using Them Safely and Effectively in Integrative Medicine
Aruna Bakhru in Nutrition and Integrative Medicine, 2018
Essential oils are unique remedies because they simultaneously influence psychological, biological, and cognitive health. The sense of smell—10,000 times more powerful than the sense of taste—is the only of the major senses that is directly connected to the brain (through the olfactory bulb). Airborne odor molecules enter the nostrils and dissolve in the nasal mucosa. Under the nasal mucosa, olfactory receptor neurons detect the odor molecules and transmit information to the olfactory bulb at the back of the nasal cavity. Sensory receptors of the olfactory bulb are part of the brain and send messages to the most primitive brain centers (limbic system structures) and the neo-cortex, which influence memory, emotions, and conscious thought. Therefore, the administration of essential oils produces a complete psychophysiological response that causes automatic adaptations by the central nervous system.
Phytochemistry, Pharmacology, and Safety Issues of Essential Oils: Applications in Aromatherapy
Megh R. Goyal, Hafiz Ansar Rasul Suleria, Ademola Olabode Ayeleso, T. Jesse Joel, Sujogya Kumar Panda in The Therapeutic Properties of Medicinal Plants, 2019
Mucous membrane in the nose contains specialized cells, which respond to different aroma chemicals. The receptor organ for smell is the olfactory bulb, which upon detection of aroma signals the central cortex of the brain to send a message to the limbic system (the emotional center of the brain). The aroma-molecules stimulate the limbic system causing changes in biochemistry of the brain and affecting the emotions, desires, and memories. An increase in the cerebral blood flow was observed in the cortex of brain in human after inhalation of cineole of eucalyptus oil [74]. Molecular biology in relation to smelling of different EOs suggests that there is a family of about 1000 genes in humans that give rise to a huge variety of receptor proteins, which are expressed only in olfactory epithelium cells in nose to communicate with the brain to translate and perceive different smells.
Neuronal Networks in Convulsant Drug-Induced Seizures
Carl L. Faingold, Gerhard H. Fromm in Drugs for Control of Epilepsy:, 2019
Many clinical epileptologists consider neocortical structures to be the first and foremost element involved in generalized-onset seizures,100 because certain cortical sites can act as a focus for generalized seizures. However, extensive experimental support has not been presented. In animal models a dorsal cortical area, the deep prepiriform cortex has recently received major interest as an important component of epileptogenic neuronal networks. The anterior portion of the piriform lobe is commonly known as piriform cortex, primary olfactory cortex, or prepiriform cortex. The term prepiriform cortex is generally used for primary olfactory cortex, which is bounded rostrally by the anterior olfactory nucleus, medially by the olfactory tubercle and amygdaloid body, and caudally by the entorhinal area. It receives the majority of the olfactory bulb fibers and serves as a major olfactory region in the brain.101 A highly localized site within the deep prepiriform cortex has been named the “area tempestas”, and this area has been implicated as being a very important forebrain nucleus in seizure networks.
Representations of the olfactory bulb and tracts in images of the medieval cell doctrine
Published in Journal of the History of the Neurosciences, 2022
Douglas J. Lanska
In 1501, German physician, philosopher, and theologian Magnus Hundt (Parthenopolitanus; 1449–1519) published Antropologium, in which he sought to explain the body from medical, philosophical, and religious perspectives, believing that humans are created in the image of God and therefore represent a microcosm of the world as God created it. Contained in this work is a complex image summarizing the anatomy of the head and brain, which includes an unusual symbol near the bridge of the nose (Figure 1; see Hundt 1501). According to the original figure legend, the figure symbol “N” indicates Caru[n]cule [i.e., caruncle], derived from the Latin word caruncula (wart). This is a paired bulbous structure from which extend projections toward a meshwork at the base of the brain (the mythical rete mirabili). The projections from the two bulbous structures appear to connect together when they reach the rete mirabili. The entire set of olfactory structures resembles a tiny pair of eyeglasses at the bridge of the nose. These bulbous structures and their projections toward the brain are, in fact, a representation of the olfactory bulbs and the olfactory tracts. This interpretation is supported by a later figure derived from Hundt’s woodcut that has a more detailed and clearer legend (vide infra).
Nose-to-brain drug delivery for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease: current advancements and challenges
Published in Expert Opinion on Drug Delivery, 2022
Prabakaran A, Mukta Agrawal, Mithun Rajendra Dethe, Hafiz Ahmed, Awesh Yadav, Umesh Gupta, Amit Alexander
As discussed above, the brain is shielded by various protective mechanisms to preserve its integrity and protect it from a harmful stimulus. When a moiety tries to access the brain region via systemic circulation either after oral or IV (intravenous) or any other route of administration it needs to combat the BBB first. Unlike other oral and IV routes, the nasal cavity has a direct connection with the brain through neuronal channels [3,13]. The uppermost region of the nasal cavity, the olfactory region is connected with the frontal cortex of the brain specifically the olfactory bulb. Alongside, the core part (largest region) of the nasal cavity, the respiratory region is equipped with the trigeminal sensory neurons which are connected with the cerebrum, cerebellum, and brain stem [14]. Due to this clear and direct connectivity, the nose-to-brain delivery route could be considered as a “Green Corridor” to reach the brain. By choosing direct nose-to-brain delivery route, a drug could be effectively delivered to the brain without experiencing obstruction by the BBB. It offers various advantages over other conventional routes of brain targeting such as bypassing the GI exposure and GI degradation of drug, sidestepping the first pass or hepatic metabolism, minimizing undesirable adverse effects due to exposure to systemic circulation, faster onset of action, non-invasive and patient friendly. Owing to these perks, nose-to-brain delivery appears as an alternative, promising, and popular approach to target the brain region in the last few years [15].
Psychobiological evidence of the stress resilience fostering properties of a cosmetic routine
Published in Stress, 2021
A. Sgoifo, L. Carnevali, E. Pattini, A. Carandina, G. Tanzi, C. Del Canale, P. Goi, M. B. De Felici del Giudice, B. De Carne, M. Fornari, B. Gavazzoli, L. Poisa, D. Manzoni, D. Bollati
Along this line, a number of non pharmacological stress management approaches have been studied lately, including noninvasive brain stimulation(Carnevali et al., 2020), eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy (Elofsson, von Schèele, Theorell & Söndergaard, 2008), yoga (Chu et al., 2017), mindfulness (Balconi et al., 2019), contact with nature (Hunter et al., 2019), art making (Haiblum-Itskovitch et al., 2018), and aromatherapy (Huang & Capdevila, 2017). On this last regard, a variety of volatile oils have been shown to produce potent neurobiological effects. Olfactory stimuli are directly conveyed to the limbic system and hypothalamus via the olfactory bulb. Hence, unlike other sensory inputs, they directly trigger emotions and associated autonomic/nueorendocrine responses. Given that odors have an impact on behavior, mood and physiology they may represent a valuable tool to tone down acute and long-term consequences of stressful stimuli (Haze et al., 2002; Kiecolt-Glaser et al., 2008).
Related Knowledge Centers
- Amygdala
- Anosmia
- Forebrain
- Piriform Cortex
- Primary Olfactory Cortex
- Hippocampus
- Grey Matter
- Sense of Smell
- Odor
- Orbitofrontal Cortex