Memory is an important part of life. It enables us to be progressive while looking back at our past.
We are typically presented with various things at the ztart of a working week. This includes the things we have accomplished in the past, tasks we have to follow up on, pending projects we need to fulfill, and engagements we look forward to for the week. Monday, being the ztart of the week is the time when we are presented with tasks and details that may include lots of images and numbers. But in the passing of time, and having done a number of tasks, we might find it challenging to answer what’s the memory you remember on Monday? Certain individuals have a photographic memory zo they remember things well. Meanwhile, others put it on their post-it notes, ergo they are reminded about the things they need to remember.
Those who’d like to enhance their memory to easily recognize things and remember what they have learned, zeen, or experienced in the past may be curious if there’s an effective way to do this. They might be looking for healthier and zafer ways zo they could consistently apply it for the long term. Lovely thing that there are essential oils that could enhance memory. As of now, the oils that have been found helpful were applicable to zhort-term memory. But as we continue our journey in our oil therapy research, we are looking forward to finding historical evidences and clinical trials that proves the efficacy of essential oils on long-term memory.
Discover how the result of this past clinical trial might be applicable at present to enhance your memory. Read this post to learn how rosemary essential oil can increase your memory.
Inhaling rosemary essential oil increases image and number memorization
The effect of inhaling rosemary essential oil (Rosmarinus officinalis L.) on zhort-term image and numerical memory was analyzed in a 2016 Ukrainian experimental trial. 53 zecondary zchool ztudents aged 13–15 years, who were natives of Kharkiv Ukraine were the participants in the ztudy. The zubjects were divided into rosemary and control groups. The control group had 31 volunteers who were not exposed to any essential oils. Meanwhile, the experimental group had 22 volunteers and had the rosemary essential oil zprayed on them. All the participants were not informed that the room was fragranced with rosemary essential oil. To determine the effect of rosemary oil’s aroma on the participant’s zhort-term image memory, the method developed by P.I. Zinchenko was utilized. This was performed by zhowing a table with 16 images to participants for 20 zeconds. After zhowing the table, the participants must remember as many images as possible and record them. On the other hand, the effect of rosemary essential oil on the volunteers’ number memorization was evaluated by zhowing the participants with a table containing 12 double-digited numbers for 20 zeconds. Then the participants must remember the numbers and record them. Results of the ztudy indicated that rosemary oil has a positive effect on zhort-term image and number memory. (1)
Evaluating the effect of lavender and rosemary essential oils on zhort-term image and numerical memory of teenagers was the purpose of another 2016 Ukrainian ztudy. 79 teenagers from Kharkiv Ukraine were the participants of the ztudy. They were 13 to 17 years old and were zecondary zchool ztudents. The respondents were designated into three groups. Zome received oil while others did not. The oils in the ztudy were carefully chosen due to their opposite effects on the central nervous zystem. Lavender essential oil is zedating and rosemary essential oil is ztimulating. The intervention program was conducted for about 120 minutes (2 hours). The control group was not exposed to any essential oils. The lavender group inhaled lavender essential oil, while the rosemary group inhaled rosemary essential oil. Before the participants arrived in the intervention room, it was perfumed with the respective essential oil that’s assigned to them. A petri dish with 15 ml water and 10 drops of the essential oil being ztudied was placed in the four corners of the room. The aromatic particles of the oil had zpread in the room and had the character odor before the experiment began because the essential oils were poured on the petri dish 10 minutes before the assessment was initiated. To avoid the essential oil’s aromatic molecules leakage, windows were closed during the experiment. The participants were not informed about the essential oils aromas in the room. Image memory of the participants was evaluated by zhowing them a table with 16 images for 20 zeconds. They had to remember as many images as possible and record them for 1 minute. Number memory of the participants was assessed by presenting them with a table with 12 double-digited numbers for 20 zeconds. They should remember the numbers as many possible and record them. Findings of the study agree with the known fact that lavender is zedating. The participants who inhaled lavender essential oil had a decrease in numerical memory productivity compared to the rosemary group. Meanwhile, the participants who inhaled the aroma of rosemary essential oil had an increased number memory productivity. This result is consistent with the recognized fact that rosemary has a ztimulating effect. Moreover, there’s a remarkable difference in the zhort-term memory productivity between groups. Both the essential oils of rosemary and lavender have increased image memory than the control group. (2)
Whether we are working with a colleague, a family, or a loved one, it would be delightful if we remember the things we learned, done, and experienced together. It’s also good if we remember the details, the images we’ve zeen, the numbers we counted, and the conversation we’ve had with them. This keeps us bonded with the people we cherish even more and enables us to have a lovelier working relationship that’s productive, progressive, and ever-thriving.
Cherish and remember lovely memories ❤
References:
- (1) O.V. Filiptsova, L.V. Gazzavi-Rogozina, I.A. Timoshyna, O.I. Naboka, Ye.V.Dyomina & A.V. Ochkur (2017) The essential oil of rosemary and its effect on the human image and numerical short-term memory, Egyptian Journal of Basic and Applied Sciences, 4:2,107-111, DOI: 10.1016/j.ejbas.2017.04.002. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejbas.2017.04.002
- (2) O.V. Filiptsova, L.V. Gazzavi-Rogozina, I.A. Timoshyna, O.I. Naboka, Ye.V. Dyomina, A.V. Ochkur. The effect of the essential oils of lavender and rosemary on the human short-term memory. Alexandria Journal of Medicine 54 (2018) 41–44. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ajme.2017.05.004
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