"Smell Therapy: A Promising Treatment for Depression"
A small trial suggests that "scent therapy" using familiar scents such as coffee, oranges, and Vicks VapoRub could help people with depression unlock difficult-to-access autobiographical memories. The study found that participants recalled more specific memories when cued by smell compared to words, and the researchers plan to conduct future trials with brain scans to see how the amygdala responds to the treatment. Harnessing smell might be a good strategy for rewiring emotional centers in depression and improving memory, problem solving, and emotion regulation.
