Scent of vanilla helps to ease pain: Japanese researchers english.kyodonews.net

KYODO NEWS - Jul 13, 2019 - 16:37 | All, Japan, LifestyleThe aroma of vanilla extract can help to ease muscle pain and tension and may eventually factor into a treatment for stress headaches, a team of Japanese researchers has concluded.
[UIG/Getty/Kyodo]Although the scent of vanilla has long been used in aromatherapy to induce relaxation, it had not previously been confirmed through scientific study to affect the nervous system, the team said.
The result suggested that inhaling vanillin made the mice less sensitive to pain, said the team led by Hiroshi Ueno, an instructor of neuroscience.
"It would be difficult to look for the same effects (of vanilla scent) in humans, because sense of smell is subjective," Ueno said.
But the nervous systems of humans and mice have many similarities, he said, adding, "We hope smelling (vanilla) may help ease symptoms like shoulder stiffness and nerve pain."