Essential oils and sleep

Sleep is a natural recurring state of loss of consciousness (but without loss of sensory reception) to the outside world, accompanied by a gradual decrease in muscle tone, occurring at regular intervals. In humans, sleep occupies almost a third of the life on average.

The importance of bedtime seems to have an influence on the immune system, whereas the duration of sleep does not. In a 2010 study, subjects who went to bed late (around 2-3 a.m.) had 24% lower lymphocyte counts than those who went to bed earlier (between 11 p.m. and midnight). The granulocyte count of those waking up late was also 18% higher than that of those waking up early.

Teens going to bed after midnight would have a harder time controlling their impulses. Among the factors linked to going to bed after midnight are age, a significant number of hours spent looking at screens (smartphone, computer, tablet, television, etc.) and the absence of participation in an extracurricular activity, especially sports. .

A study of centenarians noted that all went to bed early at night, had no problems falling asleep, woke up early in the morning, took an afternoon nap, and did not take sleeping pills. Thus, the amount and patterns of sleep could have a big influence on longevity.

The average adult needs eight hours of sleep per night.
The human body physically restores itself during sleep , heals itself and eliminates wastes that accumulate during periods of activity. This restoration takes place mainly during deep slow sleep , during which the body temperature, heart rate and oxygen uptake of the brain decrease. While in the rest of the body the restorative processes can take place both during the awake and at rest phases, in the brain they only occur during the sleep phases. In both cases, the reduced activity of metabolism allows the appearance of restorative and compensatory processes.

What other factors can affect the quality of sleep ?

• Norepinephrine plays a role in waking and sleeping , dreaming and nightmares
• Dopamine plays a role in sleep and memorization
• Serotonin makes melatonin (the sleep hormone)
• GABAs play a role in reducing the activity of the neurons to which they attach themselves. When GABA secretion is dramatically increased, or when there is too much of it in the body (even exogenously), it can cause sleep disturbances

Discover our new range of essential oils to promote sleep in your pharmacy specializing in natural remedies.

For more information on essential oils against insomnia , do not hesitate to ask your pharmacist for advice.