Aromatherapy is being tested

Aromatherapy is a more and more popular procedure used by alternative therapists as well as established medical professionals. This type of therapy is used to influence people's body and minds and has a holistic effect. Tension-related complaints as well as physical and psychological problems can be treated with this type of therapy.

There is a biological explanation for aromatherapy and we all have smells and scents that make us feel good (or bad for that matter). Smells of food and flowers that remind us of the childhood years are triggers that affect the mind. This is why aromatherapy can have a direct effect on the body. As there is (as of yet) no direct scientific proof for the practice of aromatherapy, the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine has not listed aromatherapy as a therapy on its Internet site.

The lack of exact details makes aromatherapy an interesting subject for a study and that is just what is taking place at the Ohio State University. According to health psychologist Janice Kiecolt-Glaser aromatherapy may prove to be a very resourceful type of therapy that does not affect medication taken by a patient at the same time. Currently the federal agency is in the process of funding a study on aromatherapy. During this study Kiecolt-Glaser will expose some people to the scent of lavender. This scent is supposed to be a relaxant. Other people will be submitted to the scent of lemon, which should be stimulating or uplifting. The third group of people will be submitted to distilled water. Right now the university is in the process of reviewing the results.