Does vanilla have any value in aromatherapy?
A. You bet! It calms the nerves and soothes the spirit. Sloan Kettering hospital pioneered experiments with fragrances to soothe patients going through MRI testing. They found that heliotropin – a major component in vanilla – helped patients endure the claustrophobic effects of MRIs so well that they use it routinely now and many other hospitals have also incorporated it into their MRI treatments as well.
