For different reasons, we can get distracted. It can be a result of a challenging situation, triggered by a traumatic event, or any dangers or it could also be due to entertaining things.
The problem with distractions is that they can affect our ability to be alert and focused. Distractions can lead you to danger, hence for our safety and wellness, we can’t allow ourselves to lose our sense of control just because of distractions.
Whatever may be the reason for your distraction, it is crucial to stay focused at all times. Keeping yourself alert and focused will enable you to do the right thing and achieve your goals and objectives.
Though there are distractions around, it’s a good thing that there are remedies. Some essential oils are known to be effective in keeping you focused and alert. One of them is peppermint oil. Due to its stimulant properties, some aroma therapists say it is used as an emergency treatment for shock (1)
This post presents the efficacy of peppermint aroma in keeping our alertness and attention. The case studies are categorized into three to show the effects of peppermint aroma in different situations. The first is neutral, and the second has medium efficacy. Meanwhile, the third category presents the cases that are found to be effective.
Neutral
The efficacy of peppermint scent on human vigilance performance was investigated by using the inhalation method. The subjects of the study are 240 healthy participants with an age range of 16 to 66. The study investigated the effect of peppermint oil as well as 1,8-cineol, jasmine absolute ether, and linalyl acetate. The participants in the aroma group were exposed to the peppermint odor by wearing a surgical mask for 10 minutes for the first and second trials and 15 minutes for the third or fourth trials. A visual vigilance test was performed in each trial to see the alertness of the participants. The result of the study showed that for basic functions such as simple reaction time or vigilance, there is no significant difference between the control and the experimental group. However, there is a difference for the more complex tasks such as choice reaction and word recognition. (2)
Medium effect
A 2019 study showed that there is a medium positive effect of peppermint aroma on subjective alertness, attention, and memory. In this study one hundred, healthy young adults were selected and assigned to two groups, the peppermint aroma group, and the no aroma control group. For the participants to inhale the peppermint aroma, drops of peppermint oil were applied to skin patches or blank patches which were plastered on the participants. The subjects were tested two times on the same day. The first session was conducted between 9:00 and 10:00 am and after five minutes after the application of the patch, the cognitive performance measure of word recall was tested. The participants were instructed to wear the peppermint oil patch for six hours while doing their normal routine. Then the second session was conducted between 3:00 and 4:00 pm which is six hours after the first morning session. The participants for this study were tested for their cognitive performance measures which include word recall, prospective memory, verbal fluency, and letter cancellation, as well as subjective mood. (3)
Effective
Researchers of a 2015 study purported that peppermint oil can help maintain drivers’ alertness. Their study investigated the impact of peppermint as an in-vehicle fragrance. The participants in this study were assigned to two groups, the peppermint exposure group and the placebo where participants will have the non-fragrance situation. The participants in the aroma group, inhaled the peppermint scent continuously for 30 minutes using an electronic aroma vaporizer while they were driving. Although the difference between the two groups was not significant, the researchers reported that the aroma of peppermint is effective in maintaining the alertness of the driver since their investigation has demonstrated that its odor can keep the driver’s alertness level high. (4)
A comparative study on the effect of peppermint and ylang-ylang on cognition and mood among healthy individuals revealed that peppermint can enhance memory and increase subjective mood alertness. The participants of the study were one hundred and forty-four volunteers and were assigned to three groups. The groups are the ylang-ylang aroma group, peppermint aroma, group, or no aroma control group. The cognitive performance and mood of the participants were assessed during the study. (5)
Distractions might be there, but a focused individual knows how to control them. With the help of peppermint oil and your eagerness to stay focused, you can achieve your objectives for the day and goals for the future.
References:
- (1) Aromatherapy and A-Z, Patricia Davis, C.W. Daniel Company Limited (1988)
- (2) Heuberger E., Ilmbergerb J. The Influence of Essential Oils on Human Vigilance. Natural Product Communications Vol. 5 (9) 2010. 1441 – 1446
- (3) Hoult, L., Longstaff, L. and Moss, M. (2019) Prolonged Low-Level Exposure to the Aroma of Peppermint Essential Oil Enhances Aspects of Cognition and Mood in Healthy Adults. American Journal of Plant Sciences, 10, 1002-1012. https://doi.org/10.4236/ajps.2019.106072
- (4) Mahachandraa M., Yassierlib, Garnabyc E.D. . The effectiveness of in-vehicle peppermint fragrance to maintain car driver’s alertness. Procedia Manufacturing 4 ( 2015 ) 471 – 477
- (5) Moss M., Hewitt S., Moss L., Wesnes K. (2008) Modulation Of Cognitive Performance And Mood By Aromas Of Peppermint And Ylang-Ylang, International Journal of Neuroscience, 118:1, 59-77, DOI: 10.1080/00207450601042094. https://doi.org/10.1080/00207450601042094
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