Aromatherapy for better golf

LAS VEGAS -- The PGA Expo here features all manner of ways to help your golf game without the burden of lessons and practice, from negative ion bracelets to energy drinks. Our personal favorite? Aromatherapy.

The product is Swing Trust, Golf Swing Essential Oil Therapy. Its literature says this: "Aromatherapy is the art and science of capturing the amazing calming and confidence building benefits one derives from the aromatic essential oils derived from natural plant materials. The foundation of your mental game begins with your trust and confidence in your swing. When you trust your swing, you build confidence in your game and play your best golf. That's why we created Swing Trust Oil."

This is not meant as an endorsement of the product; we have yet to try it. But we are intrigued with the creative, and often unique, efforts made on behalf of playing better golf.

Swing Trust contains Bergamot oil, ylang-ylang oil, clary sage oil, red cedarwood oil and cedar atlas oil. A whiff of Swing Trust before you swing can "improve any part of your game where stress, anxiety, fear and general lack of confidence causes you to perform below your true still level," the company says.

"The smell travels across your olifactory nerves located inside your nose and then up into the part of the brain that controls your moods, hyour memories and your ability to learn. This area is called the Limbic System and when stimulated it releases endorphins, neurotransmitters and other beneficial chemicals that affect your heart rate, blood pressure, breathing, memory, stress level and hormone balance. This is why the essential oils in Swing Trust have such a powerful, positive effect on your mood and general state of mind."

If this potentially is the counter to the game's ability to alter your mood in a negative fashion, we're game.

-- John Strege