TITLE:
Prolonged Low-Level Exposure to the Aroma of Peppermint Essential Oil Enhances Aspects of Cognition and Mood in Healthy Adults
AUTHORS:
Lauren Hoult, Laura Longstaff, Mark Moss
KEYWORDS:
Aromas, Plant, Essential Oils
JOURNAL NAME:
American Journal of Plant Sciences,
Vol.10 No.6,
June
21,
2019
ABSTRACT: The possible positive impact
of aromas of plant essential oils is an area with a long history and one that
is receiving increasing interest from modern science. Previous research has
demonstrated beneficial effects of acute exposure on a range of variables. The
current study set out to investigate for the first time whether extended
exposure to the aroma of peppermint essential oil could provide benefits to healthy
young adults. One hundred participants were
randomly assigned to either wear a peppermint infused non-transdermal skin patch or a blank patch, for a period of six hours during which time they
went about their normal daily routine. Cognitive and mood assessments were
completed and a multivariate analysis of variance indicated a significant
difference to exist between the two groups when all variables were analysed
together. Further analyses on the individual variables revealed small to medium
positive effects of peppermint aroma on aspects of memory and attention and
feelings of subjective alertness. These findings add to a growing body of
evidence that suggests aroma of peppermint essential oil may act as a positive
and easy intervention delivering beneficial objective and subjective outcomes.
The findings are discussed in terms of putative mechanisms that might underpin
the effects with a focus on possible pharmacological influences.