Aroma Therapy comes from a lot of Eastern Culture History. A Western approach would ask; "Where are the Statisties?" "Where are the numbers". Many studies have been conducted at the Mie University School of Medicine. One included results from patients with depression, after a citrus fragrance treatment smaller doses of antidepressants were necessary. Another study done by the University of Vienna was a major break for this more eastern based therapy. The study used the scent of orange oil within a dental clinic and it resulted in females displaying reduced levels of anxiety. This study suggests a "clinically quantifiable" effect on mood!
A quantifiable effect on mood is certainly a big deal, however studies were also done to study the effects of Aroma Therapy when used for pain or healing. These studies were not as promising. The study conducted at Ohio State University found that lemon oil was capable of improving moods, but both lemon oil and lavender showed no change in pain ratings, stress or hormone levels, or wound healing. Nevertheless the consistent change in mood was still present within this study.
Although Aroma Therapy hasn't been proven to heal wounds or soothe pain, the consistent mood change is certainly a pathway into a bigger study. Olfactory system is the only sensory system that involves the amygdala and the limbic system in its primary processing pathway. This relationship could be an explanation for why our memories are sometimes linked to certain scents. An example used from the site is if you were to have a positive experience with lemon meringue pie, you would then have positive thoughts when smelling the scent of lemon.
Aroma Therapy may not have been proven to help heal wounds or fix pain, however they still bring many benefits to the table and are proven to improve your mood.
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