RESEARCH

People-Plant Programming: Nightshade Fruit and Vegetables

The memory-smell connection can be used therapeutically to trigger reminiscence, counter negative responses to smells, and stimulate positive moods, utilizing tools like aromatherapy and plant activities.
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Summary

The Nova Scotia Horticulture for Health Network article highlights memory-smell connections as a pathway to health. The research referenced shows that odors evoking positive autobiographical memories can increase emotional and physiological responses, decrease negative mood, disrupt cravings, and reduce stress. Activities using this connection include aromatherapy, horticultural therapy/recreation therapy sensory stimulation, and plant activities. Plant aromas can be used to trigger reminiscence, counter negative smell associations, and stimulate positive moods. Ultimately, practitioners can use this knowledge to design therapeutic interventions that leverage the power of scent to improve client well-being.

Link

Fleming, L. (2020). Memory-smell connections: Horticulture for health applications. Digging In, 6(3).

 

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