Saturday, 20 March 2010

  • Aromatherapy: Does it Really Work?

    The definition of aromatheraphy is "the use of fragrances to affect or alter a person's mood or behavior."  That said, there are a ton of aromatherapy products on the market that claim to either give us more energy, relax us, put us in the mood, and more.  They come in the form of soaps, creams and lotions, candles, air freshener, pillow sprays, bath salts, etc.  The question is, do they work?

    I've used some aromatherapy products from Bath and Body Works that I've truly loved and found success with.  My favorite ones come from their aromatherapy Sleep line, like the Lavender Chamomile Pillow Mist.  My racing mind never seems to want to shut up (especially when I know I have to wake up early!), but this soothing scent envelopes me and really seems to help me nod off faster.  I'm open to the fact that it could be a placebo effect, but either way--I'm falling asleep faster, therefore I'm happy.

    Have you ever tried aromatherapy products?  Do you find that they've delivered on what they promise to do?

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Comments (19)

  • emwantsthin@xanga
    zap!

    I think that they work. There is a bunch of research at major universities to support that they do. And nothing makes me feel better than a scented candle.

  • AnjaAnne@xanga

    I think they work... but it also depends of the ambient... whenever I use an aromatherapy product, I put my ambient lights on and nice music as well.
  • shes_lump@xanga

    I think the relaxing ones work but the energy and sensual and stuff like that is kind of a hype, but if it smells good and it "works" for you, go for it. I don't think aromatherapy should be used in place of real medicine or treatment, however. haha.

  • icesoul_09@xanga

    It doesn't work for me. T___T
  • discover_hienie@xanga

    haha i tried one thing at bath and body works and so didnt work on me.. lol i need a major stress reliever
  • cutesycharm@xanga

    I like them, but some things make my head hurt. I love anything that is meant for sleepytime, like lavender and chamomile scents.
  • irresistible_shimmer@xanga

    I used to be very skeptical of aromatherapy until I actually tried it. I've used aromatherapy bath oils and what not before, and they have helped me. :)
  • OngishLyOngLee@xanga

    it triggers some kind of sensation, depending on the smell.  i use aromatherapy mainly for relaxation, stress, and just to clear my mind.
  • prayingmom43@xanga

    I tried that same sleep one, but the smell gave me a headache.- Rats!!
  • American_woman_USA@xanga

    Yes I think it works & I would use it .
  • enterthelabyrinth@xanga

    Aromatherapy DOES work, it's just that the downfall of mass marketing such products loses the message of aromatherapy that everyone is unique and different scents for different people can cause different effects. Think of it this way: Citrus is meant to wake most people up and energize them. But if you grew up on a citrus farm or near a field of citrus, you may associate the citrus aroma with a good night's sleep or happy, sedate emotions. Same thing for most scents. Some are generally universal like peppermint to wake up/remove a headache, or lavender for sleep....but for me, lavender makes me sneeze, so sandalwood, cinnamon and chamomile work better to put me to sleep.

    Research it first, find out what YOU like or what works for YOU and then try some matching scents from a big store.

    I still recommend true oils, they're much more potent, better kept quality wise, and will last forever for the price.
  • thevillagestar@xanga

    i think it works, therefore it works for me :)  
  • SakuraStarlight@xanga

    I find that aromatherapy does actually work. I've got some peppermint eucalyptus shower gel and lotion that I love to use when I'm feeling ill. It usually helps to clear my mind and make me think a little less about how cruddy I feel. 
  • chantelle90@xanga

    I love the lavender one. I got some lavender vanilla spray from bath and body works to spray on my bed and i fall asleep every night as soon as i lay down. And even if its not the cause of this, it still leaves me with an awesome coating of a lavender vanilla scent in the morning :) lol
  • anonymous

    Hi


    I'm a real doctor, not a chiropractor, not a naturopath, but a proper MD. A number of years back, I wrote what was then the definitive dictionary of Alternative Medicine and acquired a bit of a hobby interest in Alternative and Complementary therapies. As a pathologist, I don't treat patients. If a therapy truly works, then it should withstand the scrutiny of peer review and statistics. As far as I'm aware, serious, statistically robust studies have never been performed on aromatherapy; performing them would be extraordinarily difficult because of the subjectivity of the results.  No scientist likes to work with touchy-feely nebulous results, which is pretty much all you get when you try to tease hard data out of alternative therapy studies. Give me a therapy or a dietary intervention that slows the buildup of plaque within an artery, or which shrinks metastatic tumours by a value that I can measure and I'm happy; that way I can prove or disprove a hypothesis that something works, 
    Does aromatherapy work? There is no data to prove that it does or doesn't, but if spending £20 for a potion that makes your flat smell better makes you feel better, why not, the Hippocratic Oath advises us, primum non nocere--do no harm
  • addposterchild@xanga

    I've used the same product you mentioned in the post, and I find it works for me as well. I've been a good sleeper pretty much my whole life, my mom said I even slept well as a baby. When I started going to a new college and the work load got more stressful I found myself having trouble sleeping and not knowing what to do about it. I spoke to some friends and one of them mentioned this, I was willing to try anything at that point so I bought it, tried it, and was pleasently surprised. I don't use it everynoght, but nights where my brian won't turn off, this does the trick.
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  • NightCometh@xanga

    @JCS, MD - I wouldn't spend 20 lbs, but I'd sure spend ten dollars.  :)
  • wishtoremainunknown@xanga

    The Lavender Vanilla from B&BW would make my ex boyfriend horny....

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