04.01.07
Insomnia - A Natural Remedy
Many people experience difficulty sleeping. We are reminded of this almost daily if we watch television. Although most of us may not be depriving chess playing beavers of our company, sleeplessness does take it toll on us during the day.
If you are looking for a natural sleep aid you might try Lavender essential oil. Research has shown that breathing the aroma effects the alpha waves of the brain creating a sense of relaxation and well-being.
My own expereience is been amazing. When I diffuse Lavender oil into my bedroom I rarely have trouble sleeping or wake up in the middle of the night. My sleep seems deeper.
I use a simple diffuser placed near my bed that blows air through a pad containing a few drops of the oil. You can create a makeshift diffuser by taking a cotton ball and partially breaking it apart until you have flat piece of cotton which allows the air to pass through. Place a 5 to 15 drops of oil on the cotton and tape it to a small fan or heat/air register.
A simpler method is to place the cotton under your pillow where it will be close to your nose.
Another effective technique is to sit in a warm tub with 3 to 7 drops of Lavender before retiring.
One thing I have noticed is that after using Lavender every night for weeks it started to seem less effective. I stoped using it for a few weeks and then it was very effective again. Now I use it when I think I might have trouble and make sure I don’t use it every night.
Everyone is different and this may not work for all but it’s certainly an inexpensive, safe remedy to try.
For more information see two articles of The Healing Connection website, Lavender—King of Essential Oils? and Aromatherapy - A Beginners Guide.
Pleasant dreams!
