Rhodiola rosea (R. rosea) is a flowering plant that grows in the Arctic areas of Europe and Asia. R. rosea has a very long history as an herbal supplement; it first appeared in medical writings in 77 C. E. when the Greek physician Dioscorides...
The limbic system is the part of the brain that is involved with the sense of smell. According to "A Complete Guide to Understanding and Using Aromatherapy for Vibrant Health and Beauty," once the limbic system is triggered by a certain scent, it...
Emotions, like fear and love, are carried out by the limbic system, which is located in the temporal lobe. While the limbic system is made up of multiple parts of the brain, the center of emotional processing is the amygdala, which receives input...
The brain is the central processing system in the human body and helps to co-ordinate, communicate and maintain many of the vital functions and processes, including consciousness, emotions and behavior. The brain is able to process the myriad of...
The brain naturally produces steroids, which are used in normal brain functions and regulation. Anabolic steroids, however, are manufactured chemicals that are taken orally or through an injection. This type of steroid resembles testosterone and...
The limbic system comprises several cortical and subcortical brain areas that are interconnected. This system essentially controls emotions, and the autonomic and endocrine responses associated with emotions. The limbic system also mediates the...
According to the National Institute of Mental Health, approximately 1 percent of the U.S. population is diagnosed with schizophrenia. Schizophrenia has no exact known cause but is categorized as a brain disorder affecting the balance in...
Dopamine is a naturally occurring chemical in the body that functions as a neurotransmitter and neurohormone. It primarily affects movement control, emotions and the pleasure and reward centers of the brain. It activates five dopamine receptors,...
The human brain weighs only three pounds but is estimated to have about 100 billion cells, according to the clinical neuropsychologist Glen Johnson in his book "The Traumatic Brain Injury Survival Guide." As with other organs in the body, each...
Bipolar disorder is a mood disorder in which individuals demonstrate changing mood symptoms, which include the presence of elevated mood, or mania, and depression. The National Institute of Mental Health indicates that children with the disorder...
The brain receives sensory messages from the body and the outside environment that can affect its response. Stimuli such as sound waves from music affect several parts of the brain that work in harmony to form experiences and memories from...
The brain can be divided in to several regions based on physiological characteristics and physical divisions. The central nervous system is generally broken into the fore-brain which includes the cerebrum, the mid- and hind-brain which include the...
The brain is the most complex organ in the human body but yet accounts for only 2 percent of its weight, according to the University of Washington. The brain, along with the spinal cord, makes up the central nervous system. The University of...
The senses of smell, taste, vision, hearing and touch enable perception and interaction with the external environment. Dedicated areas of the brain receive and interpret input from the sense organs of the body. Disruption of any of the senses can...
The body's limbic system is responsible for our responses to smell and the reason why aromatherapy has continued to blossom throughout the world for thousands of years. Our olfactory receptors are connected to the limbic system, the most ancient...
The book "In Search of Memory" describes nerve cells or neurons that represent the basic signaling components in the brain. A synapse is the space between two nerve cells. Chemicals called neurotransmitters leave one nerve cell at the synapse...
MayoClinic.com describes the brain as “containing billions of nerve cells arranged in patterns that coordinate thought, emotion, behavior, movement and sensation.” Each part of the brain is responsible for a specific function, and they...
The brain, a complex structure, allows a human being to perceive and react to her environment, contemplate "the big questions," and experience a myriad of emotions. The brain controls the body and maintains the delicate internal balance needed to...
The human brain is a fascinating and complex organ, capable of not only running your body's essential systems, but also producing intricate memories and the ability to engage in abstract thought. The human brain has a gelatinous consistency, and...
The human body is amazingly complicated, and much of the way it works is a mystery. At the core of all the complex bodily systems is the brain, which controls all the actions and processes of the body. The brain contains several specific...
Laughter is defined as the act of “making sounds from the throat while breathing out in short bursts or gasps as a way of expressing amusement”, according to the Encarta Dictionary. Studying laughter is difficult since it doesn’t...
The head is complex, but functional. Like the rest of the body, the head consists of skin, bone, blood vessels and nerves. However, the head also contains most sensory organs, such as the nose, eyes, ears and mouth. These structures, along with...
The brain is composed of millions of nerve cells that relay messages to and from the body. Every sensation the body feels is sent to the brain for interpretation, and every muscle that moves is commanded to do so by the brain. When the glands...
The sudden and repeated intrusion of fearful and in the most severe cases, terrorizing feelings experienced by a person when presented with known or unknown stressors is the basis of panic disorder. Panic disorder is one class of anxiety disorder...
The term "aromatherapy" is a relatively new word created in the 20th century to define the ancient Chinese practice that was used to enhance well-being. The use of volatile plant extracts and essential oils to stimulate the senses, also has strong...
Aromatherapy is a form of alternative or complementary therapy that uses essential oils, highly volatile aroma compounds that are extracted from the various parts of plants. The oil is created in special cells within the plant, and retains much of...
The nervous system is comprised of three primary structures: the brain, spinal cord and nerves. Together, these systems control all aspects of the body from simple movements to solving complex calculations. The spinal cord and nerves play vital...
The human brain functions as the control center for the body. As a part of the nervous system, the brain receives, processes and responds to information gathered through the sensory experiences of the body. It regulates the operation of other...
The brain is considered to be the most complex organ and system of the human body. It averages, according to Neurosurgery Today, 2.7 pounds for women and 3 pounds for men. The brain is the seat of all interpretive sensory experience, thought and...
Using aromatherapy to reduce stress is easy with these tips. Get advice on reducing and managing stress in this stress management video.