Road Rage? Maybe This Could Help
We’ve talked about it on the show before… but I have really bad road rage. I try to keep myself in check, but sometimes my patience is nonexistent! While I do have road rage, I don’t typically show it to other drivers. I mainly keep it to myself and pass by the offender without looking at them. Either way, road rage isn’t good. I’m sure there’s got to be some sort of study on the effect of that type of stress. But for today, we’re going to talk about something that might be able to help relieve some road rage – peppermint oil!
An Air Freshener? For Road Rage?
The NY Post says an air freshener could help relieve road rage. This is based on a recent study that shows that the smell of peppermint oil can reduce aggressive driving behaviors. The researchers suggest investing in a peppermint-scented air freshener for people who deal with stress and aggression in the car.
Peppermint Benefits?
I’ve always been one to look for natural remedies. And when it comes to essential oils, I have way too many. But now I may need to use some of that peppermint in my Jeep! Apparently, peppermint oil has a positive effect on the brain to help with depression and anxiety. These issues could be one of the root causes of road rage. I have heard that peppermint oil is good for pepping you up, and being alert, but I never knew it might help on the road!
The Study
For the study, participants used VR headsets, and had a seat, steering wheel, and pedals. The first 5 minutes were “calm,” but then they were introduced to situations that might trigger road rage.
Aggressive behavior showed up an average of 21.6 times with those who had exposure to peppermint oil. For those without the oil, aggression shows up 25.2 times. That’s a 16.7% increase.
And just like I though, those in the study that had the oil, they were considered “more alert and calm” in addition to being less stressed.
What Now?
Looks like I’ve got to get my essential oils out and maybe find a diffuser for the Jeep! While you could get an air freshener in peppermint scent, the study used actual peppermint oil… So you might need a high quality air freshener to get the full effect?
