Author: Lorena Tran

Lavender’s ability to promote and enhance sleep has long been recognized by traditional medicine. In Europe, lavender-scented bath salts, teas, and laundry detergent are traditionally recommended for restless sleepers and those with difficulty falling asleep. In traditional Chinese medicine, lavender is said to relax the mind and relieve the body’s tension, which can aid stress and sleep problems[1].

In contemporary times, several studies have investigated lavender as a treatment for insomnia. Aromatherapy, or exposure to diffused lavender oil in the air, was found to increase blood melatonin levels in adults over the age of 60. Melatonin regulates a person’s sleep and wake cycle, so this increase in melatonin levels indicates that lavender facilitates falling asleep and reduces sleep disorders. This is especially significant for older people, as insomnia becomes more prevalent with aging[2]. Smelling lavender essential oil was also found to increase sleep quality in patients with diabetes. Improved sleep is especially important for diabetics – it can lead to reduced blood sugar, which lessens diabetes symptoms[3].

[1] Buchbauer G, Jirovetz L, Jäger W, Dietrich H, Plank C. Aromatherapy: evidence for sedative effects of the essential oil of lavender after inhalation. Zeitschrift fur Naturforschung C Journal of Biosciences. 1991 Nov-Dec;46(11-12):1067-72.

[2] Velasco-Rodríguez R, Pérez-Hernández MG, Maturano-Melgoza JA, Hilerio-López ÁG, Monroy-Rojas A, Arana-Gómez B, Vásquez C. The effect of aromatherapy with lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) on serum melatonin levels. Complementary Therapies in Medicine. 2019 Dec;47:102208.

[3] Nasiri Lari Z, Hajimonfarednejad M, Riasatian M, Abolhassanzadeh Z, Iraji A, Vojoud M, Heydari M, Shams M. Efficacy of inhaled Lavandula angustifolia Mill. Essential oil on sleep quality, quality of life and metabolic control in patients with diabetes mellitus type II and insomnia. Journal of Ethnopharmacology. 2020 Apr 6;251:112560.