Clinical studies show that lavender aromatherapy has excellent and positive effects on insomnia, especially with women through midlife.
Most of us have experienced insomnia at one point or another in our lives, and this is especially true for women in mid-life. Insomnia is a disorder that prevents you from getting adequate sleep, including difficulty falling asleep and staying asleep. It can also mean you are not getting past the REM level of sleep into the deeper, rejuvenating sleep your body and mind require.
People suffering from insomnia may:
- Take 30 or more minutes to fall asleep
- Get less than six hours of sleep per night several times a week
- Have trouble staying asleep/wake up far too early
- Not fall into the deep sleep levels and not feel rested after sleeping
- Feel sleepy or drowsy throughout the day
Over time, this affects your health in several ways such as:
- Anxiety
- Irritability
- Stress
- Focusing
- Memory
- Headaches
- Other health issues such as gastrointestinal problems
Lavender Aromatherapy Study
A 2011 study published by the US National Library of Medicine examined the effects of lavender aromatherapy over 12 weeks on heart rate variability (HRV) in midlife women with insomnia. Sixty-seven women aged 45 to 55 participated.
One group received lavender inhalation for 20 minutes twice a week for 12 weeks. The study showed that lavender inhalation had persistent short-term effects on HRV. The women receiving lavender aromatherapy experienced a significant improvement in sleep quality.
Since sleep problems are common in both pre- and post-menopausal women, the study sought to explore natural solutions like aromatherapy as an alternative to Western medicine.
Aromatherapy and Sleep
Aromatherapy has been used for millennia to induce better sleep. Lavender inhalation, in particular, has long been known in alternative medicine to encourage a better state of mind for deeper sleep.
Study Results
The study found a significant decrease in mean heart rate after 20 minutes of lavender aromatherapy. After 12 weeks, midlife women with insomnia had substantial improvements in sleep quality.
Numerous other studies have since confirmed the positive effect of lavender aromatherapy on insomnia.
For more information on lavender, join our newsletter and follow us on Facebook and Instagram, or on Pinterest. You can also shop for Belvedere Lavender skincare products online!