AromaFocus (tm)
Relaxation training, meditation, and biofeedback are among the best treatments for pain because they establish a state of calm and
relaxation, which is the opposite of the fight or flight response to pain. By defusing the emotional component of pain, they can greatly reduce our suffering. These
techniques also have many beneficial side effects, such as reduced anxiety, and greater peace and calm. One problem with these techniques is that it can be hard to apply them in overwhelmingly intense situations. For example,
when we are in severe acute pain, it can be very difficult to go through the body and progressively relax the muscles. A similar situation is when we are about to give an important public talk and we are trying to calm our
anxieties. It would be nice if there were some way we could automatically invoke calm and relaxation in these intense and difficult situations. Some researchers have had great success with the use of a "cue stimulus". A cue
stimulus is something that sets the stage for a response because the two have been paired in the past. For example, if you always eat popcorn when you go to the movies, then the next time you go to the movies you will feel hungry
for popcorn. The movies are a cue stimulus for eating popcorn. Similarly, if you like to relax with a glass of wine, the wine becomes a cue stimulus for relaxation. The key is that the cue stimulus should be reliably paired with
the response. Herbert Benson, originator of the term "relaxation response", recommends pressing together the thumb and middle finger as a cue stimulus for relaxation. For example, as you perform relaxation training and you
become very relaxed, press together the thumb and middle finger. This is a good technique because this hand gesture is unusual. Later on, when you are stressed and you feel the need to relax, you can perform this gesture and your
body will automatically relax. Try this for yourself. Use relaxation training, meditation, or biofeedback to enter a very relaxed state. Then press your fingers together as described above. If you practice this over several
sessions, you will have a "cue stimulus" you can use to create relaxation in painful or stressful situations. Some cue stimuli are potentially much more powerful than others. For example, tastes and smells are processed by the
automatic, emotional part of the brain. Certain disgusting smells can make us wretch automatically, while other soothing smells can relax and delight us. Why not use one of these pleasing aromas as a cue stimulus for
relaxation? That way, we have the intrinsic calming effect of the smell and the benefit of pairing it with relaxation. Aromatherapy involves the use of aromatic, essential oils for health benefits. Certain essential oils
are reputed to have calming, stress relieving effects. Anything that can reduce the emotional component of pain should be able to soothe our suffering, so these essential oils should reduce pain to the extent that they can replace
the fight or flight defensive reflex of pain with peace and calm. Among the essential oils recommended for their pain relief and calming properties are frankincense, lavender, and sweet marjoram. AromaFocus (tm) involves the use
of these oils as a cue stimulus for the benefits of relaxation, meditation, or biofeedback. You can purchase an AromaFocus kit that includes an instruction booklet and a small vial of specially blended essential oils. The booklet
teaches you how to do relaxation training and meditation, and how to use the essential oils to enhance and extend the benefits of these practices to pain relief. The AromaFocus kit is only $14, postpaid.