Stopping to Smell the Roses Really Can Relieve Stress

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Stopping to Smell the Roses Really Can Relieve Stress

by Tony Isaacs

Feeling stressed? Stop and smell the roses. Or perhaps lavender, lemon, mango, mint, coriander or other fragrant plants.We've all heard the old adage that we should "stop and smell the roses" to relieve stress - and aromatherapy for stress relief has been popular for ages. Now, scientists in Japan have reported the first scientific evidence that inhaling certain fragrances doe indeed alter gene activity and blood chemistry in ways that can reduce stress levels.The study, which appears in the American Chemical Society's Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, exposed lab rats to stressful conditions while inhaling and not inhaling linalool. Linalool returned stress-elevated levels of neutrophils and lymphocytes - key parts of the immune system - to near-normal levels. Inhaling linalool also reduced the activity of more than 100 genes that go into overdrive in stressful situations. The findings could form the basis of new blood tests for identifying fragrances that can soothe stress, the researchers say.Linalool is a fragrance ingredient used in over 90% of all fragrance products and it is found naturally in lavender, mint, coriander, bergamot, lemon, mango and many other fragrant plants. While linalool is one of the most widely used substances to soothe away emotional stress, until now, however, linalool's exact effects on the body have been a deep mystery. Aromatherapists have long believed in the power of fragrance to lower stress levels, although up until now there's been little scientific evidence to support it. In time, perhaps we will also discover proof that many other fragrances soothe stress and have health benefits. Who knows, we may even find that fragrances which brings back memories of simpler times such as the smell of chicken noodle soup, fresh baked bread or warm cinnamon buns also have a calming effect.Sources Included:Journal of Agricultural and Food ChemistryAmerican Chemical Societywww.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/144041.phphttp://www.physorg.com/news167478449.htmlhttp://www.associatedcontent.com/article/1996170/can_fragrance_reduce_stress_levels.html?cat=5