Autumn is a great time of year to do many things. Enjoy the dramatic color changes in the leaves, pull a cozy sweater out of storage, and, my favorite, spend some extra time in the candle aisle and enjoy the scents of fall. From apple cider to warm cinnamon vanilla to pumpkin spice, fall is full of delicious scents. And in good news, researchers have revealed that fall scents are rich in compounds that boost your health and mood. When you smell the delicious scents of fall, you’ll discover a variety of benefits.
cloves
If you have arthritis pain or clogged hands that make it difficult to weave or plant bulbs, add a drop of clove oil or a pinch of ground cloves to unscented hand cream and massage into the painful area.Brazilian scientists say cloves are to blame eugenol Blocks inflammation in the same way COX-2 inhibitor do. The analgesic effect is so impressive that scientists are studying whether cloves can one day completely replace her NSAIDs.
cinnamon
Are you feeling depressed due to the change of seasons? To stay summer-like and cheerful all fall long, light a cinnamon-scented candle and breathe in the sweet scent. Scientists say that pleasant scents increase mood-boosting brain beta waves and significantly enhance feelings of pleasure.
pumpkin spice
When you’re feeling stressed, grab a pumpkin spice-flavored snack. Contains plenty of warming spices used in pumpkin spice lattes and teas. linalool, A compound that Japanese scientists have discovered to be as effective as anti-anxiety drugs in relieving stress. When inhaled, this compound stimulates the release of stress-relieving brain chemicals. Gabba, Calms the central nervous system and relieves tension.
campfire
High blood pressure? Start a nice, warm fire. A University of Alabama study found that relaxing around a backyard campfire, breathing in the scent of wood and watching the flickering flames and soft crackling sounds, lowers your maximum blood pressure by six points in just 15 minutes. Ta. Why: For thousands of years, our ancestors gathered around a campfire every night to socialize and relax, and over time we evolved to associate that tradition with stress relief. Tip: Throwing logs into the fireplace also helps.
Ginger
Did you eat too much Halloween candy? It happens to the best among us. If you feel nauseous, brew some ginger tea and inhale the spicy aroma. A study conducted in Turkey found that smelling ginger almost instantly relieved nausea in 65% of people.
vanilla
For all-over aches and pains, pop a sheet of vanilla sugar cookies in the oven and enjoy the sweet aroma of baking.Japanese research suggests aroma compounds vanillin Suppresses the body’s pain response. Don’t have time to bake? Open a bottle of vanilla extract and take a few deep sniffs instead.
This article was originally published in the print magazine Woman’s World.
