Posts Tagged Aromatherapy
Smelling the coffee just might be enough
A recent study of sleep-deprived rats found that the mere aroma of coffee reduced the neurological effects of the sleep deprivation. Specifically, when the rats were deprived of sleep for one day, the researchers noted reduced mRNA levels in their brains, and therefore suppression of 11 genes that are particularly important to brain function. Smelling the coffee resulted in restoration of the mRNA levels, and re-expression of 9 of the 11 genes. It’s not known whether the same mechanism is at work in humans, but we’re certainly all hoping so.
To learn more, see Effects of Coffee Bean Aroma on the Rat Brain Stressed by Sleep Deprivation: A Selected Transcript- and 2D Gel-Based Proteome Analysis, by Han-Seok Seo, Misato Hirano, Junko Shibato, Randeep Rakwal, Kyeong Hwang, and Yoshinori Masuo. (2008). Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry. Jun 3.
Via New Scientist, with a nod to the Neurocritic.
Add comment June 13, 2008
Pentel adds scent to pencils
Pentel is offering a line of pencils with scented lead, using “nanobead” encapsulation technology. The nanobeads break open as you write, releasing subtle scents of green tea, rose or rosemary. Essential oils are used, and because they’re encapsulated in the lead, they maintain their aromatic quality for up to two years. The pencils, named Ain Supplio, won the Stationery of the Year Award at Tokyo’s International Stationery and Office Products Fair last year. Read more at Inventorspot
Add comment April 21, 2008
L.A. Times reviews science of aromatherapy
And while we’re on the subject of aromatherapy, let me tell you about an article that appeared last week in the L.A. Times, entitled “Aromatherapy is in your head, not your nose.” The gist, as you might guess, is that aromatherapy is only as effective as the marketing campaign that promotes it.
The article includes quotes from an interview with Monell scientist Charles Wysocki, who says “smells don’t have a magic ability to alter mood or physiology.” However, the article also points out that scientific studies on aromatherapy are mixed. Cited is last year’s Japanese study, which found that lavender and rosemary aromas reduced stress hormones in saliva, as well as the recent study published in Psychoneuroendocrinology, which showed that lemon improved mood, but that there were no psysiological effects whatsoever from lemon or lavender. Apparently some of the subjects in the study believed in the effectiveness of aromatherapy, however, and the results of the study did not change their mind. In other words, as Wysocki points out, aromatherapy that works is aromatherapy that “comes with a very effective marketing campaign.”
Read the entire article in the L.A. Times
Add comment April 2, 2008
Study examines effect of aromatherapy
On the heels of the Dutch orange study, a recent study published in Psychoneuroendocrinology looked at the aromatherapeutic effects of lemon and lavender. Results indicate that the scent of lemon has a positive effect on mood, while lavender has no mood-altering effects. No physiological effects were seen from either scent. The study looked for responses on the immune system, blood pressure, wound healing and pain control, finding no effect.
Dr. Roshini Raj of NYU Medical Center was interviewed about the study on a recent episode of CBS’ The Early Show. Her thoughts on the study? Effectiveness on mood is important, and anything that relieves stress can be good for healing, but don’t abandon seeking medical care.
Watch an except from the show or read more at CBSnews.com
1 comment April 2, 2008
Orange aroma calms criminals in Dutch jails
A jail in the Netherlands recently conducted an ambient scenting study using the aroma of oranges. During the four-week study, in which the scent was dispersed through the jail’s air vents, police reported a dramatic reduction in fighting among the inmates. Rotterdam, which has the highest violent crime rate in the country, was the location of the study.
Read more in the Daily Telegraph
1 comment April 2, 2008
Subliminal scents more likely to affect perception
Marketeers using scent to influence customers’ moods will be interested to know that the heavy-handed approach is probably less effective. Northwestern University researches have found evidence that suggests subliminal scents are more likely to influence behavior than stronger scents. Subjects in the study were asked to sniff three different scents: lemon, sweat and a neutral scent. After each whiff, they’d look at a picture of a face and evaluate it on a scale of likability. The scents varied in strength. It turned out that those who sniffed the scents that were barely perceptible were swayed in their judgments of the face, while those who were aware of the scents weren’t influenced at all. Read more in the Chicago Sun-Times and The Economist
Add comment January 10, 2008
Help with the Holidays
In case you’re having trouble getting in the mood for all the parties this holiday season, there’s a new aromatic therapy available. California-based company Aromatherapy Interventions has created a “Holiday Therapy” line of scented candles to help keep you up all night and in the mood to party. The candles are aptly named “All Nighter” and “Extro-Version.”
Read more at PR.com
Add comment December 13, 2007
