Dr Asma Inayatullah Khan

Figure 1. Essential oils and diffuser commonly used in aromatherapy practices. Image generated using OpenAI Introduction The scent of lavender after a long day, peppermint during a headache, or eucalyptus when dealing with a cold—many people use fragrances to feel better. But can pleasant scents actually improve health? Aromatherapy is a complementary therapy that uses essential oils extracted from plants to promote physical and emotional well-being. Although it has roots in ancient...

What Is Nostalgia? Nostalgia is a feeling that most people experience at some point in their lives. The term is derived from the Greek words nostos ("return" or "homecoming") and algos ("pain"). It was first coined in 1688 by Swiss medical student Johannes Hofer, who described nostalgia as a medical condition affecting individuals who longed for their homeland. Today, nostalgia is understood very differently. Rather than being considered a disease, it is recognized as a complex emotional...

Conceptual illustration of the nocebo effect generated using Open Ai Introduction The nocebo effect refers to the experience of negative symptoms or worsening health outcomes after a treatment or medical procedure due to negative expectations rather than the treatment itself. It is the opposite of the placebo effect, in which a person experiences positive outcomes after receiving a treatment, even when the treatment is inactive, such as a sugar pill or saline injection. The nocebo effect is...