____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Aromatherapy helps calm stress with pleasant smells. Some
smells relax people. Others make people more energetic.
Popular scents include fruit, grasses, and flowers. In Japan,
engineers have created aroma systems in public buildings. They
send different scents into the air to create a better environment.
For example, customers who are waiting in long lines at some
banks might smell fresh flowers to help them relax.
Pet therapy uses animals to help calm and comfort people,
especially young patients in hospitals and older people in nursing homes. The
animals are brought to the hospitals and homes so that patients can see and touch
them. This has an amazingly relaxing effect. Pet
therapists usually use dogs and cats, but sometimes
rabbits, birds, houses, and even llamas are used.
Color therapy uses colors to change your mood and
emotions. Color therapists believe that the colors around
you affect you in different ways. For example, the
color blue can relieve pain, and the colors red and
orange can make you energetic. Some therapists even believe different parts of the
body are influenced by different colors. They believe that having the right colors
around you can help you get better when you are sick.
Humor therapy helps you find ways to laugh or smile. Laughter reduces stress and
fear and anger. Many hospitals encourage their nurses to laugh with their patients,
or put funny pictures on the walls. In India, there are “laughing clubs” where people
come together in the morning to tell funny stories. Just to have a good laugh to start
the day. Laughter is often the best medicine.