Do you slide into sleep easily? Lavender's sweet, camphoric aroma may be just what you need to enhance your zzzz's. No wonder our grandmothers filled pillows with sprigs of lavender or placed lavender sachets beside the bed. They were right on track! University of Miami researchers discovered that lavender affects both alertness and ability to think clearly ....Mood and Alertness: Lavender aromas soothe, boost contentment and enhance drowsiness. People in the lavender group of this study "felt less depressed." And, surprisingly, they were significantly less alert and scored lower on cognitive tasks. And like lavender, the scent of coffee can get your day off to a good start as well.
Memory and Reasoning: Researchers Moss, Cook, Wesnes and Duckett followed brain activity with an EEG machine, finding that the brainwaves of the group exposed to lavender aromatherapy suggest drowsiness. Lavender produced a significant decrease in performance of working memory, and slower reaction times for both memory and attention based tasks compared to participants not exposed.
Hmmm... lavender potpourri might do the trick to slide me to slumber. Think I'll try lavender sachets in my pillow, too. Grandma's wisdom makes lots of sense!I'll certainly avoid lavender air freshners for my car! Thoughts?
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