Feeling sad? Sniff a lemon
The bright light plays across my closed eyelids and, as I breathe in, a tangy waft of citrus fills my nostrils. But far from lounging under a Mediterranean sun, surrounded by lemon trees, I’m in a medispa in London’s Belgravia, trying out the latest 15-minute therapy for stressedout execs who want a quick reboot.
It combines the sort of light stimulation used by lamps shown to alleviate SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder — seasonal depression, thought to be caused by lack of exposure to sunlight) with aromas scientifically proven to have an effect on the mind and body — a cross between light therapy and clinical aromatherapy.
The man behind it, tim Jacob, is Professor emeritus at Cardiff University’s School of Bioscience. he’s spent his career looking at the psychophysiology of smell: how we smell, why we smell, what we smell and how it affects us physically — and mentally.
‘I was interested in the potential impact that smell could have on conditions such as anxiety and depression,’ he tells me.
Research established that three smells seem to have a measurable impact on how people feel and behave. ‘Lavender contains a natural anaesthetic called linalool, which is why it has a reputation for being relaxing,’ he says. ‘Citrus scents have antidepressive effects and mint has been shown to enhance sports performance.’
But rather than just developing a form of scientific aromatherapy, Professor Jacob decided to combine the light used to treat SAD with the aromas he knew could affect mood.
‘Some things we look at are physical indicators of stress — blood pressure, heart rate, skin conductance [a measure that shows how nervous, or stressed, you are] — but we also used a standardised questionnaire to assess the person’s psychological state,’ he says.
Tests showed that a combination of light and smell was more effective at boosting mood than light or smell on its own — and best of all, it only took 15 minutes to create that change.
The device, called Kodobio, is exclusively available at Belgravia’s MichaelJohn Medispa.
You simply sit back, relax, allow the therapist to position the lamp correctly and load up your chosen capsule. then breathe for 15 minutes.
It is being marketed as a relaxation device, rather than a medical one.
‘The light levels we use are, at their highest, those found in SAD lamps, but at the moment, this isn’t a clinical treatment for depression. however, it has a positive impact on many markers we use to assess depression,’ says Professor Jacob.
The light and smell work in one-minute cycles. ‘this synchronised rising and falling engages the brain’s attention,’ says Professor Jacob — this prevents you from being distracted by nagging thoughts.
It’s forcing your brain into the sort of state that people who meditate attempt to achieve. As someone who’s never managed to master the art of thinking about nothing, that’s a very appealing prospect. And it works.
After a busy day, I’ve picked the citrus mood booster and for the first few minutes I’m aware of the changes in the levels of light and smell, and wait for them to change. But as time passes, I find I don’t focus on anything. I’m just, well, being.
When 15 minutes is up, I feel a bit dazed. It seems like no time at all, but I feel calmer and, as promised, energised. According to Professor Jacob, a longer session would be even better.
Well, I’m sold. I’m pushing him to create a home version of the device, so rather than trying — and failing — to find inner peace with the meditation app everyone swears by, I can just breathe.
Until that happens, the medispa staff can expect to see quite a lot of me . . .
Kodobio is available at the MichaelJohn Medispa, from £35 a session, or six for £175.