Aromatherapy. Say that word to a modern medical doctor in the United States and you can expect a variety of reactions. From skepticism to vehement denial of effectiveness, medical professionals question whether or not scent and the body's reaction to it can actually have therapeutic effects. Aromatherapy is purported to work by affecting the limbic regions and emotional centers of the brain (from Wikipedia on Aromatherapy).

Scientists in Japan have research showing that inhalation of linalool during stressful periods triggers the release of neutrophils and lymphocytes and reduced the activity of more than 100 genes involved in normal stress reaction (cited article here). Linalool is a naturally occuring chemical found in over 200 plant species, mostly mints, scented herbs, laurels, lavender, cinnamon, rosewood, and citrus. While certain essential oils have been known for some time to have certain antibacterial, antifungal, and antiinflammatory properties, we now have scentiific evidence of the stress reaction reduction produced by linalool.