The use of aromatic substances for health, healing, sleep, and spiritual attainment is among humankind’s most ancient practices. Historians tell us that Egyptians were known to use a variety of aromatic agents as far back as 4,300 B.C. Papyrus records show Egyptian medical practitioners had highly developed protocols for using aniseed, myrrh, cedar, grapes, and more to make perfumes, medicines, and inhalants that could do everything from clear the mind to induce a good night’s sleep.
Fast forward to today and we find that aroma therapy has enjoyed a resurgence in use. While aroma therapy never truly went away, it rapidly became popular again in the late 1980s. According to researchers with New York’s Mount Saini Hospital, aroma therapy has gained renewed interest as an alternative treatment for stress, infections, sleep disorders, and other common health issues.
Safe and Natural Sleep Aid
Over the past 40 years, researchers have learned a lot about the benefits of using aroma therapy sleep inhalers to help people with insomnia or other sleep disorders. First, let’s define what an inhaler is. In mainstream medical science, inhalers are used to treat serious conditions like asthma and obstructive pulmonary disease. Three types of inhalers are metered dose inhalers, soft mist inhalers, and dry powder inhalers.
But in terms of general use aroma therapy, a sleep inhaler can be a simple device that resembles a lip balm container, except in this case, the device contains a wick that is soaked with a variety of essential oils, such as lavender, chamomile, bergamot, cedarwood or clary sage oil. All the user needs to do is place the delivery system in a nostril and breathe in.
1. Sleep Inhaler Reduces Stress
One of the primary blockers of a good night’s sleep is stress and anxiety. Aromatherapy has proven to be an incredibly simple, non-toxic, and drug-free way to de-stress and calm the mind. One of the best scents for stress reduction is lavender. Numerous studies have shown that two substances in lavender — linalool and linalyl acetate – work directly on the human brain’s limbic system. The latter is connected to the olfactory system of the brain. That allows a lavender sleep inhaler to reduce stress and let the mind relax into sleep.
2. Sleep Inhalers Improve Breathing
A study completed in 2013 showed that breathing in peppermint essential oils helped relax the muscles of the windpipe, better known as the bronchial muscles. Other aroma therapy oils that free-up breathing are cajeput, Eucalyptus, Tea Tree, and Rosemary. Breathing better translates to sleeping better.
3. Sleep inhalers for Reducing Pain
Of course, a major cause of sleep deprivation is pain. Here, again, a variety of essential oil scents and aroma therapy inhalers are effective. For example, a scientifically rigorous study of aroma therapy for pain published in the December 2016 issue of the National Library of Medicine stated that “olfactory stimulation related to aromatherapy” resulted in the “reduction of pain” – but that it also “changed physiological factor,” including pule, skin temperature, blood pressure, and brain activity.
4. Sleep Inhalers for Headaches
Many people suffer from “sleep headaches” or “morning headaches.” Several causes have been identified. That includes getting too much sleep and not getting enough sleep. Whatever the case, a study conducted by the Cleveland Clinic showed that aromatherapy treatments of peppermint essential oil were effective at reducing headache pain, including those irritating headaches people sometimes wake up with.
5. Sleep Inhalers for Menstrual Cramps & Pain
For women, menstrual discomfort is often a major disruptor of sleep. This is another area where aromatherapy can offer relief. The Cleveland Clinic cites a study conducted in Korea in which 45 high school girls underwent an abdominal massage with a blend of certain essential oils. Another group was massaged with oil-based acetaminophen.
Those who were treated with essential oils saw a greater reduction of pain. Note that the scent of the essential oil used for the massage was also believed to contribute to the overall pain reduction effect.
Sleep Benefits and Much More
In this article, we’ve only scratched the surface of an enormous volume of research conducted on aromatherapy by major medical research groups around the world. Interest is growing within the medical community about the significant potential of aromatherapy to deliver verified results across a wide range of well-being issues.