Does Lavender Help You Sleep?  

Tweet

As far back as I can remember I was always told that the scent of Lavender helps induce sleep. Is this just an old wives tale or does lavender help you sleep?

I had pretty much forgotten about the link between lavender and sleep until recently when a member of my family bought me a lavender spray which is to be applied to your pillow before sleep. I did have some lavender scented stones in my room some years ago, and whilst they were aromatically pleasant, I didn’t really notice any major sleep improvements at the time. What I always find strange about herbal remedies and smells is that we grow up believing in their mood enhancing or body altering powers, yet we rarely actually seek evidence to support the claims.  

Is There Any Evidence of Lavender Helping You Sleep? 

For many years people have recommended a range of lavender scented products to enhance sleep, but is there any supporting evidence for this old wives tale which has been passed down through generations. The answer is yes. According to a study at Southampton University, England, lavender can increase your sleep quality by 20%. This study took a group of 10 people; 5 were exposed to lavender during sleep and the other 5 people were exposed to almond oil as a placebo. The 5 people exposed to lavender reported a 20% overall better sleep experience.  

But Can Lavender Make You Sleep? 

No, that just isn’t possible; otherwise bees would be falling asleep all the time J . Seriously, what lavender does is relax you, it prevents agitation and stress. Other research has documented that lavender may slow the activity of the nervous system. Lavender is effectively a natural relaxant; of which there are many others of course, including Camomile tea which contains similar mood relaxing properties. Even burning incense in your room will induce a relaxed state of mind. 

For those who endure serious bouts of bad sleep lavender is nowhere near a solution, you won’t just pass out from the smell, but it won’t hurt to have the scent around you to help you relax and slip into a sleepy state. So can lavender help sleep? Yes. And combining lavender with Good Sleep Hygiene techniques is a very positive discipline, not just some old wives tale that your grandma passed down from her mother to your mother. 

Sharing Is Caring...

Digg Facebook Stumbleupon Delicious Google Bookmarks Reddit Technorati Twitter