Books & Bubbles Relieve Stress

Page: 1 2 (of 2)	Next

By Rachel Hauser
Photos by Marty Baldwin

Sink up to your neck in a fragrant bath and immerse yourself in a book that washes away your worries.

Got stress? A tub full of bubbles and a dreamy novel may help take your blood pressure down a notch. Scented oil dispersed into the steamy water helps soothe, too.

Because stress can be a significant contributor to heart disease, it is important to find ways to alleviate it, says Lori Mosca, M.D., director of preventive cardiology at New York-Presbyterian Hospital. Taking time to decompress in a quiet place works wonders. In fact, Mosca advises her patients to slip into something comfortable, like a toasty-warm, scent-filled bath. The combination of pleasant aroma and a relaxing read will put you in a peaceful mood.

"Our senses are very important in helping us relax," she says. The sense of smell can trigger memories and moods that aid the process of relaxation. A few drops of pine-scented essential oil in the bath can transport you to a quiet forest, where visions of nature surround and calm you.

In her book Heart to Heart (Health Communications, Inc.), Mosca recommends experimenting with fragrant oils, including lavender, orange blossom, sandalwood, and ylang ylang, until you find the one that provides the benefit you are seeking.

You can turn to your kitchen for inspiration, too. Fruits, vegetables, and even desserts, evoke a response that may reduce blood pressure and heart rate, says Alan R. Hirsch, M.D., of the Smell and Taste Treatment and Research Foundation in Chicago.

"The smell of green apple and cucumber may have a direct effect on the emotional part of the brain, lowering anxiety levels," Hirsch says. "Or such scents might evoke an olfactory nostalgic response from childhood that's associated with a happy mood state. And when you're in a happier mood, everything is less bothersome."

So pour scented bath bubbles, salts, or essential oils into the bath water, bring a book, and settle into bliss. For a smile-inducing touch, add lavender to the tub and read a little David Sedaris, such as Me Talk Pretty One Day (Back Bay Books), or consider T. S. Eliot's Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats (Harcourt). It's the book of poems upon which the Broadway musical Cats is based.

In a romantic mood? Add freesia scent and indulge in Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice. The classic love story sparkles with wit. Or try Winston and Clementine: The Personal Letters of the Churchills edited by Mary Soames (Houghton Mifflin). It shares the couple's correspondence over the years.

If your hectic day has led you to think about life's metaphysical possibilities, mix sandalwood scent in your bath, and grab The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho (HarperCollins). It's about a young shepherd named Santiago, who follows his heart to find happiness. Or opt for Eat, Pray, Love (Penguin). Part travelogue, part journey of self-discovery, this is Elizabeth Gilbert's memoir of her travels to Italy, India, and Bali.

Whichever book you choose, Mosca recommends a 30-minute break. A Do Not Disturb sign helps, she says.