A number of quotes that may be of added interest in the use of odours as an ergogenic aid.
A series of studies has recently begun to emerge centering on the ability of
odors to influence mood. Knasko (1992) found that participants report fewer health
symptoms in the presence of lemon odor
although there is evidence that these odors have significant
and widespread effects on the central nervous system (Kobal & Hummel,
1989; Lorig & Schwartz, 1988; Van Toller, 1988). These researchers noted substantial
changes in EEG activity when various odors were administered.
Even during sleep, the presentation of peppermint odor results in a greater incidence of high frequency EEG bursts (similar to awake EEGs), increased heart rate, and inhibition
of EMG activity (Badia, Wesensten, Lammers, Culpepper, & Harsh, 1990).
Peppermint odor significantly reduced perceived physical workload,
temporal workload, effort, and frustration. Self-evaluated performance was also
greater in the peppermint condition, as participants rated their level of vigor higher
and their level of fatigue lower.
While the mean difference between the no-odor and the peppermint-odor conditions was quite small, effect-size measures for the statistically significant tests approached the moderate range. In addition, the use of peppermint as an ergogenic aid appears to be associated with larger effect sizes than other aids such as caffeine (Spriett, 1995) and nasal dilators (Connel & Fregosi, 1993; Griffin, Hunter,Ferguson, & Sillers, 1997), and appears comparable to aids such as relaxation and imagery (Meyers & Schleser, 1980; Predebon & Docker, 1992; Wrisberg & Anshel,(1989) and "psyching up" (Caudill, Weinberg, & Jackson, 1983; Weinberg, Gould,& Jackson, 1980, 1981).
"If you don't have conditioning it doesn't matter how big your muscles are they ain't gonna reach their full potential!"
21st century Takism
"wyrd bið ful aræd" Destiny is Everything
what would be your 'hunch'?
