White Paper
Rebecca Barnard of Limba Systems, LLC, explains the revolutionary use of scent coupled with hypnosis to create a direct pathway into the brain’s ancient limbic system - to reprogram unwanted behaviors and counter media-influenced self-worth issues.
Limba Systems, LLC, 417 Point Caution Drive, Friday Harbor, WA 98250
360 472 1295
All rights reserved. 2009
LIMBASLIM
Introduction.
We live in a media-saturated world, where advertising shapes our will, our diet, our habits.
Advertisers continually implant images into our suggestible minds about beauty, self-love, and acceptance to sell us products.
The power of suggestibility during varying mental states has long been studied and is well documented. When the brain is in its alpha brainwave state – the state of daydreaming, or “automatic pilot” - it is highly susceptible to suggestion of all kinds. When a person watches TV or a movie, this is exactly the state of their brain. Hence, the advertising goes in, without censorship or resistance.
LimbaSlim is our defense.
Too many women in our modern culture suffer from reduced self-esteem due to impossible standards of media-created beauty. Fat-free models on magazine covers whittle away our inherent belief in the beauty of the curvy female form.
Women everywhere tell themselves they are fat.
And guess what. They are making themselves fat.
The mind is compliant. When it receives a suggestion, it does its best to follow it. Called self-fulfilling prophecy, it is a well-known factor in counseling sessions everywhere: Tell a child she’s clumsy, and she will become so. Tell anyone they’re less than perfect – especially during a suggestible state of mind – and their bodies will try their best to comply.
This creates an impossible Catch-22. Women feel a need to perfect their bodies. But the very messages to which they respond are telling them that their shapes are imperfect. Their minds are trying desperately to cooperate, as the woman wonders “Why can’t I get fit?” or “Why do I always mess up?” The more they are told they are unworthy, the less worthy they feel to overcome it.
Limba Systems is changing this – one media-ingrained mental image at a time.
The possibilities are endless. As are our minds.
The Limbic System
In the human body, science has identified a variety of different of systems:
•Endocrine
•Excretory
•Immune
•Integumentary (skin)
•Muscular
•Nervous
•Reproductive
•Respiratory
•Skeletal
Each controls a different set of bodily functions, allowing a human being to move, breathe, take nutrition, excrete waste, react to the environment and process stimuli.
For our purposes here, we are interested in the function of an ancient part of the nervous system called the limbic system. Sometimes referred to as the "emotional brain”, the limbic system is responsible for processing and storing memory, fear, sexual drive and emotion . An understanding of the limbic system is recognized as a key in understanding addictions and other ingrained (or unconscious) habits such as overeating.
Key Parts of the Limbic System
The term "limbic" comes from Latin limbus, meaning "border" or "belt." The limbic system encompasses many parts, including the amygdala, hypothalamus, and hippocampus.
Amygdala
The amygdalas are two almond-shaped masses of neurons on either side of the thalamus at the lower end of the hippocampus, which appears to control the sex drive, fear and aggression.
Hypothalamus
The hypothalamus is a small part of the brain located just below the thalamus on both sides of the third ventricle. The hypothalamus is one of the busiest parts of the brain, and is mainly concerned with homeostasis. Homeostasis is the process of returning something to some “set point.” The hypothalamus is responsible for regulating your hunger, thirst, response to pain, levels of pleasure, sexual satisfaction, anger and aggressive behavior, and more. It also regulates the functioning of the parasympathetic and sympathetic nervous systems, which in turn means it regulates things like pulse, blood pressure, breathing, and arousal in response to emotional circumstances. The hypothalamus receives inputs from a number of sources, including the olfactory (smell) nerves, where it gets information that helps regulate eating and sexuality.
Hippocampus
The hippocampus consists of two “horns” that curve back from the amygdala. It is responsible for processing memory and converting short term memories to long term.
Related Areas
Besides the hypothalamus, hippocampus, and amygdala, there are other areas in the structures near to the limbic system that are intimately connected to it:
•The cingulate gyrus is the part of the cerebrum that lies closest to the limbic system, just above the corpus collosum. It provides a pathway from the thalamus to the hippocampus, seems to be responsible for focusing attention on emotionally significant events, and for associating memories to smells and to pain.
•The septum, which lies in front of the thalamus, has areas that seem to be centers for orgasm.
•The ventral tegmental area of the brain stem (just below the thalamus) consists of dopamine pathways that seem to be responsible for pleasure.
•The basal ganglia (including the caudate nucleus, the putamen, the globus pallidus, and the substantia nigra) lie over and to the sides of the limbic system, and are tightly connected with the cortex above them. They are responsible for repetitive behaviors, reward experiences, and focusing attention
•The prefrontal cortex, which is the part of the frontal lobe which lies in front of the motor area, is also closely linked to the limbic system. Besides apparently being involved in thinking about the future, making plans, and taking action, it also appears to be involved in the same dopamine pathways as the ventral tegmental area, and plays a part in pleasure and addiction.
Accessing the Limbic System
Our sense of smell, or olfaction, is the one sense in the human body that is directly connected to the limbic system, via the olfactory nerve and bulb. This differs profoundly from the sense of sight, sound, or even taste, which are processed via multiple overlapping systems (as in the eye: the lens, pupil, aqeous and vitrious humor, retina and optic nerve) before reaching the brain.
This phenomenon - the connection between the sense of smell and the most ancient part of the brain - is the basis of Limba Systems.
Changing Desire
Desires are largely unconscious. In our media-saturated world, many of our desires are manipulated by the advertising industry, leading to a dissatisfaction that can only be satiated by products - often food - to get temporary relief.
Studies show that North Americans get just as much exercise now as we did 100 years ago. However, we consume more calories and are thus fatter than our ancestors. Food is readily available, cheap and high calorie. In fact, for the food industry to prosper, they require us to eat more than is good for us. Thus the advertising strategy of creating discontentment, solved only by excessive eating of “junk” or highly processed, shelf-stable convenience foods.
Many methods have been designed to ameliorate this dilemma, and most fail. This is because diets, exercise, pills, liposuction, even medical procedures to reduce stomach size all address the symptoms, and not the underlying cause of overweight.
Because the underlying cause of overweight is simply desire.
The solution lies in the ancient subconscious mind, resting deep within the limbic system, all tied up with memory and emotion. In order to change the fact of overeating, the subconscious mind must be reprogrammed. If we can be manipulated into eating wrong, doesn’t it make sense that we can just as easily be manipulated into eating right? Reprogrammed to desire healthful foods, even to crave them?
There are several tested ways to access the depths of the mind’s subconscious. Each of them of them works to manipulate the alpha brain wave state. Advertising, as mentioned earlier – the insertion of suggestions when the conscious mind is focused on other things - is one of them. Music is another. Hypnosis is a third.
Hypnosis
Overeating and other addictions, which often have a strong emotional component, can be successfully overcome through regular hypnosis sessions during which the the mind is “reprogrammed” while in a suggestive brainwave state to make more healthful choices, often resulting in markedly decreased cravings and ultimate remediation of the addiction.
The Part Played by the Nose
If we agree that the limbic system is the system that controls our fears, emotions, and memories, it seems obvious that that is the system we need to tweak in order to overcome addictive overeating.
In the common parlance, overeating is often considered to be a misdirected attempt to receive comfort and security. When safety and security are threatened, many turn to food.
These pathways have probably been grooved into the brain since birth – visualize the image of a contented baby suckling at her mother’s breast, feeling totally safe and secure. Often, an adult who overeats is seeking the same thing.
But there is a catch that creates a cycle from which it becomes increasingly difficult to exit: Overeating results in overweight. Overweight – thanks in part to our media representations of the “perfect” body – leads to insecurity. And insecurity leads to…you guessed it…overeating.
We need to break this cycle in order to achieve permanent body love. Dieting won’t do it. The brain grooves are too deep – the notion of erasing them by sheer “willpower” is ludicrous.
The overweight need help. Help to reprogram the brain, to create new mindpaths that tell the body they are beautiful, secure, safe. This, we feel, is the only way to permanent weight control and body love.
You Need the Password
How can this be done? How can we access our Limbic Systems? It isn’t as difficult as it sounds. Because there is an immense power waiting to jump headlong into the brain and fix things. It’s a matter of reprogramming, and all you need is the password.
You smell a fragrance you haven’t smelled for a long time, and it conjures a vivid memory, long forgotten. Suddenly your mind is transported to another time. It can feel good or bad – but it feels very real.
This is olfactory memory. The nose is the only organ of the body that is directly connected to the limbic system. When we smell a familiar fragrance that is tied to a memory, the limbic system lights up. “I remember this one!” The system opens the file associated with the memory, and there it is, in its original form, perfectly saved, often for many years.
If a smell can produce such a vivid memory experience, it must be triggering the brain to enter into another brainwave state. This brainwave state is known as alpha. Usually achieved through meditation, alpha is the state in which the mind is most open to suggestion. It is the brainwave state used in hypnosis to overcome addictions and achieve goals.
What if one could combine fragrance and meditation to create a double whammy of alpha suggestibility? Could that potentially create an unstoppable motivation to achieve one’s goals?
A brand new smell coupled with a motivational meditation would give the mind a brand new path - a trigger accessible anytime, forever, to bring one’s mind back to a place of willpower and self assurance by simply taking a whiff of a brand new smell uniquely associated with that feeling of strength and calm.
If a smell trigger is introduced to the subject at the same time as the hypnosis session, the hypnotic conditioning will be connected with that smell. Thus the subject will be able to take a sniff of the associated fragrance anytime and trigger the resolve implanted through the hypnosis.
To achieve this end, Limba Systems developed a brand new fragrance to be coupled with a 10-minute hypnosis CD.
The hypnosis is a classic weight control scenario – a bit different from the norm in its focus on respect for the body and healthful whole food choices. Pleasant music and sounds accompany the hypnotist’s soothing voice.
LimbaScent comes in the form of nice-looking metal pocket-sized inhaler, called a LimbaSniffer. The listener takes a whiff before listening, creating a brand new olfactory memory of the hypnosis.
Another simple sniff whenever needed brings the mind back to the place of power and self-assurance introduced during the meditation. The result is an immediate change in desire for “wrong” foods and a new desire to eat healthfully. It actually FEELS BETTER to eat right, as processed food habits – and desires - fade away.
Testimonials
In our trials, we’ve been delighted to find that the LimbaSlim System works just as expected! This writer has lost 20 pounds, and continues to release extra weight steadily without “dieting” at all. When faced with a choice between healthful foods and processed foods, the healthful foods are profoundly more appealing. After just a few weeks, the CD was hardly needed, as the olfactory memory was strong enough to stand alone with just the LimbaSniffer for reinforcement.
More letters:
Dear Rebecca,
What I love about the LimbaSlim program is how simple and easy it is.The meditation CD is less than 10 minutes long. So it's easy to fit into anyone's schedule. No excuses. I find my eating habits are leaning towards healthier foods now; And when I am tempted by things I know I shouldn't eat, I get out my little sniffer and take a couple deep whiffs of that lovely sweet grapefruit aroma. YUM! It really brings my mind back to the image of the healthy fit body I desire. My resolve is strengthened and I am making better choices.
I have already lost 6 pounds! And that is the very best part!
MaryAnn
Phoenix, AZ.
Dear LimbaSlim,
I just got my LimbaSlim package in the mail five days ago, and I have to tell you, I’m so glad I did. My urge to overeat, and especially to eat junk food, seems to have melted away.
Only one day after starting on LimbaSlim, I drove effortlessly past my worst temptation of the week;
fresh cookies, lovingly hand made by a professional baker, and only sold once a week. I couldn’t believe I was driving right by like that, and that it was so easy!
Thank you!
Christine
Anchorage, Alaska
Good morning, Rebbers,
You've done a great thing for yourself, the rest of us and for the world. Thank you, again.
It's wonderful.
With Love,
A.G.
California
From Dr. E.P. Koster, nestor of The European Sensory Network
Dear Rebecca,
In response to your mail I looked up your web page and the story and science sections in it. I think the use you make of the evocative powers of odours is a very reasonable application. Odours have the power to form very strong associative bonds with emotional states and your use of it is a good example. Whether this has anything to do with the particular aroma that you did choose is another matter, although it is clear that a grapefruit type odour serves the purpose better in this connection than hamburger odour!!. I myself have no weight problem and I do not know how effective meditation is in these matters, but the odour can certainly bring back the memory of the meditation.
I wish you all the best of luck with your enterprise.
Ep Köster
The Netherlands
Read Dr. Koster’s article in the Oxford Press
####
ESSAYS
Olfactory Memory - It’s All in Your Head
Your nose is directly connected via the olfactory nerve to your brain’s
limbic system, which controls your memory and emotions.
Have you ever noticed how a whiff of a familiar scent can trigger an overwhelming feeling of nostalgia? From the smell of fresh-mowed lawns in the old neighborhood to the cologne you wore on your first date, fragrance can bring a flood of vivid memories so real that we feel ourselves momentarily transported back in time.
Scientists call this olfactory memory: The familiarity of a long-ago fragrance stimulates the portion of the brain responsible for memory and emotion – stimulation that science can now track through advanced brain imaging. The LimbaSlim Weight Release System utilizes the phenomenon of olfactory memory by combining aromatherapy with powerful visualization techniques to help you achieve your perfect body.
By smelling the LimbaSlim fragrance immediately before listening to the guided meditation (a gentle self-hypnosis), you will create a brand new mind path. The meditation is carefully designed with references to the specific combination of scents that make up the LimbaSlim fragrance. It’s not just grapefruit - but a unique blend of essential oils that will create a brand new memory you can trigger anytime with another whiff of the purse-sized LimbaSniffer.
After a short time with the LimbaSlim Weight Release System, you will find that foods don’t tempt you or control you, and you will make healthful choices effortlessly as the weight melts away – and stays away - naturally. By carrying the LimbaSniffer with you throughout the day, you can instantly stimulate your olfactory memory of the meditation and thus strengthen your commitment to health. Forever.
####
My Fat Head
(Or How I Overcame My Own Personal Obesity Epidemic)
During peri menopause – those years leading up to menopause - my weight began to climb. It seemed slow, so I didn’t really notice it until my clothes were tight and I couldn’t deny it anymore. I stepped on the scale one morning to see the cold hard numbers: I had gained 20 pounds in two years. And the trend didn’t seem likely to end. At this rate, I would one day be a 500-pound old lady.
What was happening? I decided to look into it.
I learned that women heading toward menopause begin to lay down stores of fat. Fat holds estrogen, so as we quit manufacturing our own supplies of estrogen, our bodies plan ahead by hoarding it.
Okay, this is all good information, but who cares? I want to get rid of this fat, to reverse the weight gain, and…this is the kicker…WITHOUT PILLS. I didn’t want to take hormones or diet pills. I simply wanted to eat as much as I wanted, and stop this weight gain.
I started by asking myself a few questions:
•What does food represent to me?
•Why do I eat when I’m not hungry?
•Why do skinny people seem to eat whatever they want?
The answers were simple: Food represented comfort. I ate when I wasn’t hungry for nutrition - I was hungry for comfort, for security, for that wonderful feeling of well being that comes from satiation..
But skinny people eat when they are hungry for nutrition, not for comfort. How do they do that? Surely they need comfort too. Maybe they get it elsewhere, and not from food. The irony is that by eating this way, they can easily fit “forbidden” treats into their plan without going overboard. And since they aren’t ashamed of their eating, they do it in public – where we see them – eating whatever they feel like eating.
It was at this point that the lightbulb went on in the thought bubble above my cartoon head:
Our eating is dictated by our emotions, not our stomachs.
What if we could fix that, so that we truly WANTED to eat only when our bodies – not our hearts - were actually hungry?
What if we could change what we WANT? What if we could reprogram our brains to change – permanently - what we want to eat? To train our brains to respect our bodies and crave only healthful foods?
That’s when the LimbaSlim solution hit me.
Hypnosis works on the principle of suggestibility: implanting a suggestion when the brain is in a particular stage of relaxation called alpha. After a hypnosis session, one feels strong, in control. It is a wonderful feeling, and really works to keep cravings at bay. But the cravings always come back. The suggestions in hypnosis aren’t lasting – they need something more.
Aromatherapy also works, to an extent. But maybe there was a way to make it work even better. Smells have a unique ability - to transport us, to trigger memories long forgotten. The smell of the ocean on a particular day, the smell of a certain long forgotten perfume - out of the blue, a sniff can take us back in time. Science calls this olfactory memory. The smell triggers the limbic system of the brain – the part of the brain responsible for emotion and memory.
Remember how we decided that overeating was more emotion than nutrition?
What if, I reasoned, one could combine fragrance and meditation to create a double whammy of alpha suggestibility? Could that potentially create an unstoppable motivation to achieve one’s goals? A brand new smell coupled with a motivational meditation would give the mind a brand new path - a trigger accessible anytime, forever, to bring one’s mind back to a place of willpower and self assurance by simply taking a whiff of a brand new smell uniquely associated with that feeling of strength and calm.
This is why I invented LimbaSlim. It is a unique program that combines aromatherapy with a guided meditation you do at home. The meditation is only 10 minutes long, and teaches you to love your body and crave only healthful nutritious foods. Before listening, you take a long sniff of your LimbaSniffer, which is infused with a new, light, organic essential oil blend. You then carry the pocket-sized LimbaSniffer with you to reinforce your willpower throughout the day.
AND IT WORKS. My weight now goes down instead of up. I am not on a diet, and I eat exactly what I want to eat, in whatever quantity I need. I feel better than I’ve felt in many years, as I have happily released those 20 pounds without consciously changing a thing. I listen to the LimbaSlim meditation about once a week now, and I carry the LimbaSlim fragrance with me always, either in a necklace or the LimbaSniffer.
I know I will never be overweight again. It was all in my head all along.
Thank you for reading my story.
####