11.15.05
Lavender improved sleep in men and women in a study conducted by Wesleyan University’s Dr. Namni Goel, and supported by the Sense of Smell Institute. Dr. Goel found that lavender increased the amount of time subjects spend in slow wave or deep sleep, resulting in higher vigor scores on the Profile of Mood States (POMS) test and more alertness and energy the next day. Results also found it worked better for women. Dr. Goel speculated this could be due to the effects of reproductive hormones in women. The study also found women tend to sleep longer, have better sleep efficiency and fall asleep faster than men do. More info: www.senseofsmell.org.