Get Better Sleep With Aromatherapy

 November 1, 2021

Getting quality sleep is important to your health and well-being. But settling your mind and body before bed is sometimes difficult when worries and anxiety take hold.

A recent study points to a potential ally in the battle for better sleep: aromatherapy.

Study Parameters

Anxiety and sleep disorders are common in cardiac care patients, so researchers set out to examine the effect of Rosa damascene fragrance on anxiety and sleep quality of hospitalized patients in cardiac care units.

This randomized clinical trial included 60 patients randomly allocated to either the experimental or control group. From October 2018 to December 2019, patients were enrolled in the study 24 hours after hospitalization, and those diagnosed with dysrhythmia, acute coronary syndrome and congestive heart failure were included.

From 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. on three consecutive nights, patients received the intervention in addition to routine care. Participants in the experimental group inhaled five drops of Rosa damascene essence 40 percent in distilled water. The control group inhaled five drops of distilled water as placebo.

Before and after the intervention, anxiety and sleep quality were measured using the St. Mary’s Hospital Sleep Quality Questionnaire and the Spiel Berger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory questionnaire.

The Results

The use of Rosa damascene aroma significantly reduced anxiety and improved sleep quality for patients hospitalized in the cardiac care unit when compared to the control group. “Along with other treatment measures, Rosa damascene can be used as a complementary method to reduce anxiety and improve sleep quality,” researchers noted.

So, next time you find yourself tossing and turning, consider adding a bit of aromatherapy to your bedtime regimen.

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