Lavender as a Natural Sleep Aid

Lavender has been used as a natural sleep aid in the United States since the early 19th century. It is a flowering bush that produces an essential oil (lavender oil) that depresses the central nervous system. Its effects are very similar to tranquilizers which also calms and relaxes the body. The Sense of Smell Institute in New York conducted a study that found lavender increases the amount of time that subjects spend in deep sleep thus producing a more restful sleep.

Lavender was first brought to the United States by the Pilgrims but it has been used for over twenty five hundred years. Egyptians used it to mummify people and the Romans used it for bathing and cooking. Christians believe the Lavender plant to have been taken from the Garden of Eden and is regarded as a safeguard against evil.

There are many uses for the Lavender plant. Lavender oil is distilled from the leaves of the plant and comes readily available in pillow sprays, candles and sachets. It can also be added to bathwater or "dabbed" onto skin. These applications aid in helping people fall asleep faster.

The flowers of a Lavender plant can be used to brew tea that also provides a soothing and calming effect. The sweet aromatic smell provides a natural aid to going to sleep. People with insomnia generally use a combination of lavender oil and lavender tea to fall asleep quicker and produce a more restful sleep.

Lavender is also a remedy for a range of other ailments including anxiety, migraines, mood swings and depression. Lavender provides aroma therapy benefits that soothes and calms nervous tension and irritability often associated with anxiety and depression. It also increases alpha waves in the brain that are associated with relaxation.

Lavender is non habit forming, and is actually a more effective sleep aid than sleeping pills. It's even safe to use on babies.

A 2005 study in the Journal of Chronobiology International found that lavender acts as a mild sedative which promotes a deeper slow-wave sleep. Participants in the study not only reported feeling well rested but also reported a higher level of energy the next morning after using lavender.