Scents and fragrances - how they affect your health

[Guest guest]

Scents and fragrances - what you could be inhaling in the name of air freshners, fragrances, etc...

 

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http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2007/09/29/mind-control-through-your-nose.aspx

 

Using scent when trying to sell something seems to work quite well. I'm sure these companies wouldn't spend millions on something that didn't impact their bottom line. Most of you, I'm sure, have had the experience of being transported back to another time and place, or being put at ease by a certain scent, like your mother's perfume, or grandma's apple pie.

 

Unfortunately, this practice may cause a stink for quite a few people, especially those of you suffering from chemical sensitivities. Like Mr. Vogt said, you cannot turn off your nose.

 

You do have to breathe.

Scent and Irresponsibility

Although many who suffer from chemical sensitivities are viewed as hypochondriacs by the medical establishment, it is a very real, and very serious affliction that can have an enormous, negative impact on your life. I know, as I used to be married to a physician who was debilitated with this illness, so I have had some first-hand experience.

 

It seems everything is scented today, from toiletries to cleaning products to upholstery. It's a very difficult thing to avoid, and when they start piping it into the air ducts of every other store, it can make life unbearable for some.

 

Several types of chemically scented products have been found to be detrimental to your health.

Scented candles, for example, may release lead, mercury, and other toxins into the air that you breathe. Particularly hazardous are the slow-burning types of candles that offer hours of inviting coziness. These types of candles often have shiny metal wicks made of pure lead, or a mixture containing lead. The lead particles are small and may float through the air for extended periods of time, then settle on furniture and carpet where they can be touched and ingested by children, adults, and pets.

In large amounts, candle emissions can harm your nervous system, heart, and circulatory system; particularly in children, the elderly, and people with weakened immune systems. Before purchasing candles, look to see if the core is made of metal. Also, look for candles made without additives, such as those made of bees wax.

 

Air fresheners and toilet deodorizers are other sweet smelling culprits that can damage your health. They often contain a chemical called 1,4-dichlorobenzene, or 1,4-DCB, which has been linked to lung damage. This chemical is present in the blood of nearly all Americans. If you have high amounts of this chemical in your blood you're more likely to experience diminished lung function, which could be serious if you have asthma or other lung problems.

Reduced lung function is also a risk factor for heart disease, stroke, and lung cancer.

Common Sense Scents

If you use air fresheners, candles, or dryer sheets because you like the scent, therapeutic essential oils are an excellent, and safe, alternative for all of them.

 

Most essential oils have antibacterial qualities and have varying physical and emotional effects depending on the oil, such as stimulation, relaxation, pain relief, and healing. The most common ways to use essential oils include:

 

 

Aromatherapy Massaging them (blended with a carrier oil) into the skin Adding them to bath water Using them in a compress Burning them in a diffuser

If you want a non-toxic alternative to dryer sheets, simply dab a drop or two of an essential oil onto a washcloth and put it in with your laundry in the dryer.

It's important to note that essential oils are not the same thing as fragrance oils.

Essential oils come from plants, while fragrance oils are artificially created and often contain synthetic chemicals. While they may smell good and are typically less expensive, they will not give you the therapeutic benefits of organic essential oils--and you don't want to be inhaling any synthetic chemicals! So, please be sure that the essential oil you use is of the highest quality and 100 percent pure.

 

Also note that essential oils should be used with caution, especially during pregnancy, as they can produce very strong and significant changes in tiny amounts. It's a good idea to consult someone knowledgeable in aromatherapy before experimenting with these oils.

 

Can a Good Smell Improve Your Health?

Scents can be a wonderful addition to your healthy lifestyle, offering soothing relief for various problems, both emotional and physical. In fact, researchers have found that the smells of certain foods -- such as green apples -- may help ease migraine pain, for example.

Headache experts agree that certain odors seem to either provoke or warn of migraine onset. Many migraine sufferers believe smells such as cigarette smoke, cooking odors, or perfumes can trigger an attack, while others recognize various scents as part of the 'aura' that signals migraine onset.

In one study, researchers asked 50 chronic headache patients to rate the severity of their pain before and after smelling an inhaler impregnated with the scent of green apples. Then, 35 of the 50 patients reported that they disliked the green apple odor, while the remaining 15 said they found it pleasant.

 

The authors reported that patients who liked the smell experienced a statistically significant reduction in the severity of their headaches, while patients who disliked the smell experienced no significant effects, either for better or worse.

They speculate that the green-apple scent may have induced a positive mood state in the 15 patients, and such a state would tend to reduce perceptions of pain.