The Aromatic Brain

It's a Sunday. We all woke up and decided to have breakfast in the Astoria Hotel restaurant. Rahul pointed out to me the newly opened bookstore in front of our seat window. I initially dismissed it as a Christian bookstore only to be blown away when I went inside. Their collection of original books were mind blowing! They had the entire series of Neale Donald Walsch's books, Steven Covey books, Indian Psychology etc. etc. One of the books that caught my attention was BUILDING BRAIN POWER IN THE EARLY YEARS by Dr. Pam Schiller. It was a book of activities that kids can do with their parents.

The first chapter was on SMELLS and BRAIN. It says that of the 12 nerve endings that enter the brain, only the olfactory passes stimuli to the brain unfiltered. Researchers found that certain odors increase the ability to learn, create and think and boost attention and learning. The book gave suggestions on how to incorporate the herbs/plants in snacks, making crayons and making many others things scented or playing the sniff sniff game!

I instantly thought of my herb collection as well as the air fresheners in the bathroom and the kitchen. And the game started rollin! We had fun! I packed the following herbs in little pieces of cone papers and had a guessing sniffing game! I had the following:

sage (dried)
thyme (dried)
peppermint (the fresh real leaves crushed)
marjoram (dried)
rosemary (dried)
chammomile (dried)
rose ( artificial air freshener )
lavender ( artificial air freshener )

and tomorrow, I'll get the most common here:
eucalyptus oil ( our neighbor has a Eucy oil factory outside our house )and
cloves ( part of our daily milk tea herb)

lemon (fruit from the market )
vanilla ( we have fresh ones in the market)
sandalwood ( incense sold near temples)
jasmine ( fresh flowers worn everyday by young and adults on their hair)
pine ( outisde our house)
cinammon
orange ( common mall market fruit here)
and Basil!

I'm excited to continue with these activities as well as to be able to share it with my students!
Above all, it gives fun bonding ideas for my daughter and I!

Image source:
http://reviews-of-liquid-vitaminshtdgvfb.blogspot.com/2008/06/socal-company-recalls-liquimax-vitamins.html