The soothing scent of jasmine
Aromatherapy has been used for centuries to help boost energy and to calm and relax the mind – scent has the power to heal in amazing ways. The use of jasmine in aromatherapy, herbal remedies and cosmetics dates back centuries. Jasmine is a beautiful white flowering shrub, grown in mostly tropical regions throughout the world and is known for its many uses – both beauty and medicinal.
Jasmine is a favorite scent in the beauty world, used to fragrance many beauty products, such as perfume, shampoo and conditioner. In fact, jasmine is used in more than 80% of all women’s fragrances and 30% of men’s. It’s also famed for its aphrodisiac properties. Legend has it Cleopatra used the powerful and seductive scent of jasmine to lure Mark Anthony.
The use of jasmine in aromatherapy has also been shown to reduce stress and anxiety and help with symptoms of depression – and most importantly – help you get a good night’s sleep.
A restful sleep aid
Jasmine in aromatherapy is often used to as a natural sleep remedy. While many scents have been shown to help deliver a better night’s sleep in the practice of aromatherapy, researchers from Ruhr Universität in Bochum, Germany found jasmine to the most affective. They tested hundreds of fragrances to determine their effects in humans and mice on the neurotransmitter GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid), which helps control nervous system activity. The two jasmine fragrances that were strongest increased the GABA effect by more than five times, making the scents as powerful as some pharmaceutical drugs. Read more at DrWeilBlog.com
More than a sleep aid
Jasmine has been applied to many different medicinal purposes. It’s been used as a means to increase immunity, fight fever and treat conjunctivitis. In traditional Chinese medicine, jasmine flowers are brewed and consumed as an herbal and remedial tea. An infusion of jasmine tea is known to be beneficial in treating fevers, urinary inflammation, other infections and helping people who suffer from heat and sun stroke. In addition, jasmine tea can be helpful in relieving stress and anxiety. Jasmine tea can also be used to treat cuts and scrapes. A compress using jasmine flowers can be used to help with headaches.
Jasmine is clearly a powerful plant with many beneficial uses. Whether you use jasmine in a homemade sleep spa or sip on some tea, there is no doubt that you’ll be able to drift off to dream land more quickly, ensuring a restful night’s sleep.
