What happens when you don’t get enough sleep, and how can you use lavender to help you sleep?
Our behaviour affects the internal processes of the body. It’s known that one in five people experience chronic stress. Negative thoughts and general anxiety not only prevent individuals from sleeping but also affect the depth of the sleep. Sleep becomes intermittent. This condition deprives a person of the ability to concentrate, robs him/her of self-confidence and causes low self-esteem.
Matthew Walker, a professor of neuroscience and psychology at the University of California, Berkeley, and author of Why We Sleep, identified the physiological consequences of sleep deprivation:
Humans are the only creatures who can consciously deprive themselves of sleep. This is self-destructive behaviour. Systematic disruption of sleep-wake patterns leads to insomnia, which can be overcome by changing behaviour. In behavioural psychotherapy, olfactory stimuli are used to reinforce positive behaviour patterns. The effectiveness of aromatherapy in the fight against insomnia is confirmed by many studies. Since ancient times, the aroma of lavender is considered to be one of the best remedies for insomnia. You can put a sachet of dried lavender flowers or a cotton pad soaked in lavender oil at the bedhead, or use a spray with the aroma of lavender—as they do, for example, in expensive hotels. Oral capsules are another option for utilizing lavender oil.
Some researchers note the effectiveness of lavender in reducing overall anxiety. For example, tomographic studies of the brain have shown that the aroma of lavender oil affects serotonin receptors type 1A, reducing their binding potential. As a result, the level of free serotonin and the corresponding neurotransmitters increase and the level of anxiety decreases. At the same time, there is no undesirable sedative effects.
The problem of sleep deprivation has many solutions. Perhaps lavender aromatherapy will help you.