Wednesday, April 27, 2011

Dr Breus Sleep Tip: Can the Smell of Lavender Aid in Sleep?

Ask any sleep expert and they will tell you, a good night of sleep starts with creating a good sleeping environment. Dr Michael Breus has spoken on a variety of topics, and of note is his discussion about how aromas in your bedroom might be able to aid in sleep. According to Dr. Breus, aromatherapy can be very relaxing and serves as a sleep aid. Try herbs such as lavender, yin lang and chamomile in your bedroom to create a relaxing environment.

We often forget about the true power of the human sense of smell, until something reminds us - like encountering a foul smell, or not being able to taste your food when you have a cold. But did you know that our sense of smell can have a significant impact on our behavior and even our mood? Odors and scents enter the body through the nose and continue on to the limbic system, which is the area of our brains that controls such things as memory, emotions, and mood.

So how can the smell of lavender aid in sleep? Researchers have conducted brain wave studies that suggest smelling lavender increases Alpha brainwaves in the back of the head. In essence, our brainwaves slow down and increase in amplitude, which is associated with states of relaxation and peacefulness. *Just as a side note, you probably would not want to use a Jasmine-scented fragrance, as it increases betawaves in the front of the head, which is associated with a more alert state.

So if you are looking to create a better sleep environment, you might want to give Dr Breus's suggestion a try and using some lavender, yin lang and chamomile in your bedroom.




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