The Deep Sense of Scent

As I was preparing to present the course “Gathering Energy From Trees” at Kripalu next weekend, I came across some curious and fascinating research. Not surprisingly, it echoed one of the ancient teachings of Chinese Medicine: “To build energy, breathe the air of trees.” The research I discovered, some of which won a Nobel Prize in Medicine not long ago, proves that our bodies have, embedded deep within, receptors to scent and its paired sense, taste. These receptors have been identified in the kidneys, pancreas, gut, spine, muscles, sinuses, bladder, and more! It sounds really odd (Sense a smell? With my kidneys?!) but if you call them “chemical receptors” then it’s easier to grasp. The scientists themselves say it’s a continually unfolding and complex field, but they are quite confident that olfaction and taste, beginning in the mouth and nose but continuing deep within the whole body, have a very strong effect on the immune system and general maintenance of health.  

A big part of what I will be teaching next weekend is something John and Mary Platt write about in their beautiful book The Five Element Orchard, on which the course is based. Each species of tree has a unique odor profile, believed to heal specific health issues. For example, the birch tree is said to heal the lungs, including the emotions associated with the lungs, of grief, depression, and low self-esteem. Based on Five Element Theory, it’s a simple, powerful, and beautiful practice. Scent is, after all, a sort of vibration, a chemical messenger that the blood carries deep into our body. So really, it shouldn’t surprise us that current research is, once again, beginning to catch up with the ancient Taoists. You can practice this yourself. Just go outside and look for a tree you feel drawn to. Stand near it. Breathe. Feel the rootedness, patience, and protection it offers. Breathe its fragrance deep into your lungs and entire body.  When you are finished, thank the tree for its healing, nurturing presence. Isn’t it nice to know we have these gentle doctors all around us?