Aromatherapy has become quite popular among lots of people. In aromatherapy, lemon is referred to as an antidepressant, and basil is said to relieve headaches. The idea that scents can be used medicinally is going over with a bang. Researchers at the Ohio State University have recently conducted a study of the impact of aromatherapy on health and mood. The results may surprise you.
Lemon and Lavender in Aromatherapy
Lemon and lavender are two of the most popular scents in aromatherapy. Lemon scent, which is widely used in aromatherapy, indeed enhances one’s mood, as the researchers have found. At the same time the scent of lavender doesn’t have any impact on one’s emotions. In some cases, even distilled water showed a more positive effect than lavender. Neither lemon nor lavender effected the immune system or the perception of pain. These and other data were gathered during the research which is considered to be the most serious study of aromatherapy in the U.S.
Aromatherapy Volunteers
A group of 56 healthy men and women able to detect standard odors volunteered for the study. Participants were monitored for blood pressure and heart rate during the experiments, and the researchers took regular blood samples from each volunteer after aromatherapy.
Aromatherapy Study Results
The aim of the study was to find the evidence, that various aromas go beyond increasing pleasure and have a positive medical effect on one’s health. Unfortunately, little, if any, scientific proof has been found to support the health claims of many aromatherapy products advertised nowadays. Almost every positive effect of aromatherapy is due to the well-known placebo effect. None of the aromas caused any biochemical reactions in the organism, such as pain control or wound healing. The only fact that was proven is that lemon essential oil (or highly concentrated plant scents) indeed lightens one’s mood.
Does Aromatherapy Work?
Aromatherapy has been considered as relaxing and healing by lots of people all over the world. Does this healing effect exist? Or are people who believe in the positive impact of aromatherapy on their health stupid to allow themselves to be led by the massive commercial industry? It’s only for you to decide. If you think, it helps you, go on relaxing and don’t listen to what the researchers at the Ohio State University claim. If you believe in aromatherapy, it will have a positive effect on your health.
