Yanira D. Kivi 
For many people, the thought of being in the hospital or having surgery can raise stress levels and trigger anxiety. All this angst can make difficult situations worse.
, director of the Complementary and Integrative Medicine program at the Mayo Clinic, leads research into how alternative therapies, when used in conjunction with traditional treatment, can benefit patients.
“Does everyone respond to aromatherapy, of course the answer is no,†says Dr. Bauer. “Does everyone react to acupuncture? Of course, the answer is no. But you find that some people react a lot to lavender aromatherapy, acupuncture, or massage. And we are grateful that we can add this as a complement. [to their other, standard treatments]. “
Dr. Bauer discusses two studies. One of them investigated whether or not aromatherapy helped the stress levels of infertile patients undergoing certain procedures and whether it reduced stress helped conception. The second study explored how interactive music therapy could reduce the burden for people with spinal cord injuries.
It also describes a third ongoing study on virtual reality. Does putting on gear that transports you into nature help reduce your stress? Listen to find out.
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