Aromatherapy
For millennia people have used the smells of plants, herbs and fruits for health benefits.
Dr Alan Hirsch, a neurologist and founder of the Smell and Taste Treatment and Research Foundation, in Chicago, argues:
“In the future there will be new treatments based on smell.”
This might not be as far fetched as you imagine.
Because of a smell’s strong link to memory, some of the benefits come from association.
For example, from our own experiences we may have learnt to associate the smell of a menthol rub, with the loving touch of our mothers hand, helping to make us feel better from a chesty cold, or the smell of ralgex, generating a great energy surge, as we are suddenly teleported back to the changing rooms of our youth.
There has also been some recent research on lavender, by Dr Mark Moss, at Northumbria University, he found that lavender had a sedating effect upon the brain, slowing it down, reducing reaction times and thereby facilitating sleep.
Consequently, many top-class hotels now offer lavender scented pillows as a new tactic to induce a good nights sleep for their customers.
Even more interesting research from Japan, suggested lavender could help elderly people be less agitated and reduce falls.
Three trials, carried out in randomly selected nursing homes, had some residents wearing lavender scented skin patches, whilst others wore unscented patches, the residents who whiffed the lavender had significantly fewer falls.
Other Smells you might like to get a sniff of, include:
Rosemary; for its ability to improve alertness and cognitive performance.
Apple: Dr Gary E Schwartz, professor of psychology, medicine, neurology, psychiatry and surgery at the University of Arizona, found that the smell of spiced apple could reduce systolic blood pressure (associated with stress) by between 3-5 points.
Orange: Several studies have demonstrated that the smell of oranges can reduce stress.
Peppermint: For better workouts. In studies done in West Virginia, Dr Raudenbush, found that athletes who smelt peppermint during exercise, were faster and stronger.
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