Abstract
Fragrance(aroma) have many effects on body. Recently, aromatherapy was used to treat dementia, atopicdermatitis, alopecia areata, perineal disease, lymphatichydrops, and articularrheumatism. And people are interested in physical and mental effects of aroma, especially in mental. People empirically have been known the effects of aroma on soul and used aroma in life from long ago. They have had a meditation and had a sacrificial rites burning incense. Scholars also burned incense when reading books or tasting tea. Until now, there is no physiological study about recognition process and effects of aroma on body, but only many clinical studies using aromatherapy. Fragrance(aroma) is different from smell and good flavors of herbs. And it goes through nose and has effects on body in harmony on So-mun(素問). Also flavors of herbs are spreaded ki of herbs and have many effects on body. Aroma coming through the nose is recognized by co-operation of five-viscera(五臟), especially heart and lung. The nose and pectoral qi(宗氣) are related with lung. The lung opens into the nose, reflect its physiological and pathological conditions. Pectoral qi(宗氣) is the combination of the essential qi derived from food with the air inhaled, stored in the chest, and serving as the dynamic force of blood circulation, respiration, voice, and bodily movements. Because of the heart-spirit(心神), Heart is the organ can recognize the aroma, although the nose is the first organ of receiving aroma. Five spirits(五神: ethereal soul(魂), spirit(神), ideation(意), corporeal soul(魄), will(志)) and seven emotions(七情: joy(喜), anger(怒), anxiety(憂), thought(思), sorrow(悲), fear(恐), fright(驚)) are rerated with five-viscera(五臟) and essence-spirit (精神) processing steps and express of emotions. And aroma effects on five-viscera(五臟). So aroma have many effects on body, especially mentally.
