Elanso

Get patched up. The latest craze in wellness seems to be The Patch. Whether you are patching up a nicotine habit or patching prophylactically, patches are all the rage. And now there is even a patch to enhance your libido. If your desire for intimacy has been on the decline, perhaps a patch will help. The Scentuelle Patch is a clear patch that adheres to the soft skin on the inside of your wrist. According the Scentuelle Web site, "The patch is infused with a complex combination of aromas that are delivered directly to the smell receptors in your brain. Smelling the aromatic patch frequently throughout the day helps encourage sexual thoughts and feelings." Each box comes with a 30-day supply. Apparently, the patch becomes effective immediately but becomes consistently more effective with continuous use. I can certainly think of more conspicuous ways to maintain arousal. But perhaps there are more natural ways as well.

In my book, 52 Ways To A Healthy You, I explain the process in which smell impacts our physical, mental and emotional state of being. Smell travels directly to the limbic system, one of the most primordial parts of the brain. The limbic system is the primitive area of the brain that controls emotions, memory, and behavior. Smell can influence mood, memory, emotions, choices of mate, the immune system, and the endocrine system--the system that controls our hormones.

For thousands of years, people have taken advantage of this connection by using oils from the seeds, flowers, leaves, bark, and roots of plants to obtain a desired effect. Certain fragrances have the ability to produce specific results within all systems of the human body. The essential oil that is derived from roses, for example, serves as a natural aphrodisiac for both the woman wearing it, as well as her partner who is experiencing its aroma.

Interestingly, the very act of getting physical also produces a smell that increases arousal. So, if you and your sweetie are having a hard time getting in the mood, try hitting the gym together and stay close during the workout. The smell of male sweat is actually a turn on for women. Researchers at the University of California at Berkley found that women responded specifically to a male hormone called androstadienone, which is found in abundance in the sweat of men. By measuring blood pressure, heart rate, breathing, skin temperature, and fidgeting, as well as asking women certain questions that indicated mood, it was found that indeed the scent of a man can most certainly elicit a hormonal response in women.

So whether you patch your love life up literally or figuratively, it is interesting to know that your nose is always in the know!
Photo courtesy of Scentuelle Patch