Wake up and smell the roses
By Dr. Tom Buckley
Runners will tell you the energy they derive from running in the spring meadows is powering them on and “fuelling them with energy”. Aromatherapy practitioners will tell you that smell is “the most direct route to the brain”. Certainly that seems true for man’s best friend, the dog, but for us mere humans, is it all just in our heads? Given that it’s reported that 60% of visits to general doctors are stress related, perhaps it’s time we did “wake up and smell the roses”.
I remember reading recently about a study that demonstrated that a group undertaking a maths test in the presence of flowers, compared to another group without the flowers, scored significantly higher in their test scores. Hard to believe, I hear you say, and I wouldn’t blame you for thinking that too! If we believe these results to be scientific fact, then how do we justify them? Most likely, the pleasant looking environment may have resulted in a better sense of wellbeing and consequently contributed to their better performance. We are all the product of our environment - this I can attest to every time I tidy up my office! But is there a body of consistent research supporting the marketing hype around not just looking at the flowers, but smelling them (AKA aromatherapy).
I first became interested in complementary therapies when I was studying for a health science degree in the early 1990’s. At that time, little scientific evidence was available to really convince me that aromatherapies really do influence a person’s physical wellbeing. But then you will struggle to find quality scientific evidence to support about 80% of mainstream health practices. However, emerging scientific evidence today is beginning to support the theory that the scent of certain plants and flowers may have a positive effect on our wellbeing.
Several studies have indicated that essential oils can reduce anxiety and increase alertness. Others have clearly shown that inhalation of lavender or essential oils help with reducing restlessness, with an increase in our peripheral blood circulation for good measure (a bonus effect I say!). In addition, a group of researchers from the University of Lancester, demonstrated in 1995 that lavender may be a good sleep inducer for people with difficulty falling asleep (AKA insomnia). This study, despite a small research sample, did get mention in a very reputable British medical journal and many mainstream healthcare professionals now use lavender therapeutically to induce sleep.
So, given that essential oils and lavender may be the missing ingredient in your busy and stressful life, where should you start? Probably the best place is by taking a visit to a good health food store and seeking advice from the people in the know. Better still, in my opinion, invest in yourself and go straight to the experts themselves by making an appointment with an aromatherapist for a personalised formula. If this takes too much energy to organise, then consider trying what I stumbled upon recently when reviewing the literature:
Mix two drops each of basil, lemongrass and lavender oil with one teaspoon of vodka or full-fat milk in the bath. (mixing the oils with a carrier such as vodka or milk ensures the oils disperse throughout the water)
(published in Natural Health, Sep2004, Vol. 35 Issue 8, p18)
Then all that’s left to do is sit back, relax and prepare for your best night’s sleep and a fresh sun smiling the next day! Oh, and the next time you can’t think at work, sort that office décor out and order some flowers.
Tom Buckley a University lecturer and researcher in the field or Health Sciences whose doctoral studies focused on physiological responses to stress. Author of several peer reviewed publications and supporting author of Flip the Switch, his current research interests are in human factors related to performance and wellbeing