Wednesday, March 01, 2006

The Right Scent Can Help

Will doing the dishes help you relax? It might. Growing evidence is showing that certain scents, even those from dish soap, can be a benefit to you. Aromatherapy does work because it works on the brain's emotional center, called the amygdala. And you may feel the effects instantaneously because the thinking part of the brain can't inhibit the effects of the scent. One doctor studied the benefits of aromatherapy to find ways to speed up recovery time for his patients and reduce anxiety. With the help of an aromatherapist, he found results using such things as lavender, chamomile or eucalyptus. Also, short term exposure is important because people stop responding to scents after a few minutes.
To relax, placing a few drops of vanilla extract on a handkerchief and keep it with you all day-use as needed. To help you recharge, peppermint, jasmine, and citrus have an effect similar o smelling salts. Even though they are pleasant, they act as mild irritants. And to help you relieve pain, the smell of a green apple will reduce the severity and duration of migraine headache pain, and has a similar effect on joint pain. It works because it seems to reduce muscle contractions, which are the main cause of migraine pain.

No comments: