In an article on ArthritisToday.com, Margaret Chappell interviews Dr. Mehmet Oz (also known as Dr. Oz from Oprah), about using aromatherapy for pain relief. Dr. Oz explains in the article that “the thinking part of the brain can’t inhibit the effects of the scent, meaning you feel them instantaneously.” It doesn’t end at pain relief either. Aromatherapy can also be used for anxiety reduction and rejuvenation. In the article, Dr. Oz and clinical aromatherapist Jane Buckle, PhD, recommend diluting essential oil and dabbing it directly on the skin so you can have “relief on you when you need it” (see article for specific directions). Chappell also spoke with Allan Hirsch, MD, neurologist at the Smell and Taste Treatment and Research Foundation in Chicago. He says, “Short-term exposure is key because people stop responding to scents after a few minutes.” So make sure to restrict exposure to the scents if you want it to keep working. Finally, Drs. Hirsch and Oz offer some tips:

• Use vanilla to relax: “subjects who smelled vanilla while completing stress tests had more stable heart rates and blood pressure readings than those who took the tests in an unscented environment.”
• Use pepermint, jasmine, or citrus to invigorate: these scents are pleasant, yet mild irritants, so they’ll wake you up.
• Use green apple to relieve pain: “the smell of green apples reduced the severity and duration of migraine headache pain and may have a similar effect on joint pain.”

To read the full article on ArthritisToday.com click here: http://www.arthritistoday.org/treatments/alternative-therapies/aromatherapy-pain-relief.php

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