森林に入りその香気成分で癒されるのが森林浴。でも、多くの人は香りを感じていません。なぜでしょうか。
九州大学との研究で明らかになったのは、酢酸ボルニルを香りを感じる濃度まで高めると、脳はスルーしてしまう事実。嗅覚が刺激されると覚醒作用が働き、せっかくの成分効能が発揮されません。香りを感じない濃度だと、α波よりもリラックスした状態に近い、睡眠導入時に出現するθ波がより活発になることがわかりました。
私たちの体は意識していなくても反応しているのです。おそらく、これが森林浴のメカニズムです。
近年、香害と呼ばれる香りにまつわるトラブルが増えています。人の嗅覚は香りに慣れてしまうため、どんどん強い香りを求めることになります。それが抵抗力の少ない人にとっては、自律神経を過度に刺激しアレルギーに似た症状を生み出すまでになっています。人によって抽出された成分であるアロマも、正しい使い方をしたいところです。
普段から、自然な香気成分に触れて、自律神経を整えておくことはとても大切なのです。
Forest bathing is a way to enter a forest and be healed by its fragrant components. However, many people do not feel the fragrance. Why is this?
Research conducted with Kyushu University has revealed that when the concentration of borneyl acetate is increased to a level where the fragrance is perceived, the brain does not perceive it. When the sense of smell is stimulated, it has a stimulant effect, and the full benefits of the ingredients are not realized. It has been found that at concentrations where fragrance is not perceived, theta waves, which emerge during sleep onset and are closer to a relaxed state than alpha waves, become more active.
Our bodies are responding even if we are not consciously aware of it. Perhaps this is the mechanism of forest bathing.
In recent years, there has been an increase in the number of problems associated with fragrances, known as aroma pollution. People's sense of smell becomes accustomed to scents, leading them to seek out stronger and stronger scents. For those with low resistance, this has led to over-stimulation of the autonomic nervous system and the creation of allergy-like symptoms. Aromas, which are ingredients extracted by humans, should also be used in the right way.
It is very important to keep the autonomic nervous system in good shape through regular exposure to natural aromatic ingredients.