Aromatherapy May BeMind Over Matter

MUNICH, Germany--In the April Chemical Senses (26, 3:239-45, 2001), scientists found that the effects of aromatherapy may be more psychological than physical. In a study using essential oils such as peppermint, jasmine,ylang-ylang, menthol and 1,8-cineole, 50 people in different groups inhaled these substances and were then tested on levels of alertness in the form of motor skills and reaction times. When compared to control groups receiving water, results on these tests were not significantly different. However, researchers analyzing only the essential-oil groups found complex correlations between subjective evaluations of substances and objective performance. To read more on these findings, visit www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov and conduct a keyword search usingPubMed.