{"id":582,"date":"2009-10-20T13:08:53","date_gmt":"2009-10-20T13:08:53","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.beliefnet.com\/ourladyofweightloss\/2009\/10\/aromatherapy-do-your-craving-1.html"},"modified":"2009-10-20T13:08:53","modified_gmt":"2009-10-20T13:08:53","slug":"aromatherapy-do-your-craving-1","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/ourladyofweightloss\/2009\/10\/aromatherapy-do-your-craving-1.html","title":{"rendered":"Aromatherapy – Do your cravings smell?"},"content":{"rendered":"

If you want to kill your appetite, then light a vanilla scented candle and breathe deep. <\/em>
\nBreathe Deep, Calm Down, Lighten Up<\/strong>
\nAromatherapy may not miraculously melt away the pounds, but there are heaps of evidence that aroma effects mood. And we all know how mood effects our eating!
\nWhat is aromatherapy?<\/strong>
\nAromatherapy means “treatment through senses.” It is based on the ancient ritual of using essential oils to heal by “therapeutically” stimulating the nasal\/olfactory senses through fragrance.
\nAromatherapy can fight stress, soothe the mind and lighten your mood<\/strong>. The association between smell and emotion are closely linked, and breathing in pleasurable scents can elicit positive responses in the brain, resulting in a sense of well-being.
\nAromatherapy can also lessen our food cravings!<\/strong> A recent study at the St. George’s Hospital in London showed that vanilla might aid in weight loss. Overweight people who wore vanilla-scented skin patches reported that they ingested smaller amounts of sweets. Catherine Collins, a state registered dietician, concluded (although not proven in a clinical setting) that strongly scented sweet vanilla candles or essence may have a similar effect. (My home smells like a Vanilla Factory!)
\nAnd – by massaging the appropriate essential oils into the skin – physically, aromatherapy can ease aches and pains, heal burns and even – some say – diminish cellulite! (What?? Did you say diminish cellulite?)
\nHere are a few aromatherapy suggestions from OLofWL that you can either add to your bath, massage into your skin, inhale directly (put a few drops on a handerchief) or diffuse the scent into an entire room. Ahhhh….<\/p>\n