Smell: The Scent Lab – Ayurvedic Aromatherapy

• Wisdom Tradition: South Asian medicine (Ayurveda)
• Spotlight Cultures: Bangladeshi, Indian, Nepali, Pakistani, Sri Lankan
• Date & Time: Wednesday, April 30 | 10:10 AM–12:00 PM
• Location: Mission Bay | MH-2106
• Takeaway: A personalized dosha-balancing aromatherapy vial to take home

What scents are you drawn to—and why?

In this interactive scent lab, Sudha Prathikanti, MD and Selena Chan, DO introduce participants to the role of scent in Ayurvedic healing. For over 5,000 years, aromatic herbs and oils have been used in South Asian medicine to regulate mood, balance energy, and support physical and emotional well-being. Participants will explore the three doshas—Vata, Pitta, and Kapha—and discover how specific scents like lavender, peppermint, or eucalyptus interact with their individual constitution. Rooted in both ancient ritual and modern research, this session offers a personalized and sensory-rich experience of healing through scent.

Rooted in 8 Senses: Connecting to AANHPI Wisdom Traditions. This event is part of Rooted in 8 Senses, an experiential series co-created by clinicians, faculty, and trainees from the UCSF Osher Center for Integrative Health. The series explores time-honored healing traditions rooted in whole-person, collective, and relational well-being. Beyond the individual experience of sight, smell, sound, taste, and touch, many Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) healing traditions recognize three additional senses—balance, resourcefulness, and wholeness. These senses expand how we engage with the world: through community, in connection with nature, and within ecosystems of interdependence and care.

View the full April 28–May 9, schedule: apasa.ucsf.edu/aanhpi-wellness-week. The inaugural 2025 UCSF AANHPI Health & Wellness Weeks is a multi-organization collaboration co-led by the Asian Pacific American Systemwide Alliance (APASA). All events are free and supported by the UCSF Human Resources Community Wellbeing Grant. Everyone is welcome. To request a reasonable accommodation, please email apasa@ucsf.edu.