When you think about the scents you smell in healthcare environments, what feeling does it evoke in you? It should come as no surprise to you that smell is a sense that can affect your state of mind. Even in healthcare settings! In fact, smells can have a lot of effect on how patients, their visitors and healthcare staff feel.
1. Helping patients recover faster
Lavender scent is a familiar scent when it comes to rest. And for good reason! For example, a 2017 study by Karadag showed that lavender scent affects healing in heart patients. A group of 60 people participated in this study. Half of the group was exposed to lavender scent, while the other half received a placebo drug. What turned out: the sleep quality of those who smelled lavender scent improved; their restlessness also decreased. As a result, they healed faster, and in a natural way. Brilliant, even if we say so ourselves!
2. Lowering stress levels in nurses
And that's not the only thing lavender scent can bring about! In fact, research shows that the scent of lavender not only has a positive effect on patients, but also on healthcare staff. Kashiwadani concluded in 2018 that staff stress levels drop when exposed to this scent. What such a flower can do! Wondering what else lavender can do?
3. Calming visitors
In addition to lavender, lemongrass is also a fragrance with special effects. In fact, lemongrass contains the compound citral, which can mask unpleasant odors very well. A hospital is a good example of a place where these unpleasant odors can occur. Feces, urine and the smell of injuries can be very unpleasant. Even for the people visiting. Aromatherapist Rijpkema concludes from research in 2021 that this, in fact, can evoke tension in visitors. But that this feeling is reduced by spreading the scent of lemongrass. How nice!
4. Processing events
That scent can relieve both physical and mental tension has not escaped scent psychologist De Vos. He conducted research (2020) on the effect of scent on people's well-being. It turns out, for example, that scent is healing and encourages recall. Did you know that this is due to the limbic system in the brain? This part of your brain is connected to your emotion and memory. Smelling certain scents can take you back to moments in the past, thus making it easier to access a particular memory. This approach in treatments helps patients revisit certain memories more easily, making it easier for them to talk about and reflect on those experiences. Conclusion: using scent can thereby contribute to recovery!
5. Reducing waiting time perception
Whether at the psychologist, physical therapist or hospital, a natural green scent seems to speed up time in the waiting room! This is what Darabi & Mirabi (2018) did research on. One group of subjects was exposed to a natural green scent, the other group was not. As it turned out, the group with the added scent felt that time went faster. How? The scent made people more aware of their surroundings and less concerned with time! Wondering about more effects you can achieve in the waiting room?
Whether the wait seems shorter, stress is reduced or healing processes are accelerated, one thing is certain: scent can make a valuable contribution within healthcare. Interested in learning more?