February 13, 2025
Delayed treatment of insomnia-related symptoms can harm physical health and increase the psychological burden. In addition to oral medications and some physical therapies, aromatherapy can help overcome some treatment-related side effects. Currently, patients with insomnia often receive non-drug treatment options. Aromatherapy is considered a superior strategy to improve sleep quality in people with insomnia. Aromatherapy uses a pure plant essence, which has no drug side effects and is not addictive. In addition, it enters the body easily, and its use is simple and convenient. The effectiveness of aromatherapy has been widely confirmed, for example, psychological rehabilitation of American army members, treatment in children with autism, and strategy to improve the immunity of children with AIDS. Aromatherapy has been widely developed in Chile and Peru. In ancient times, people used natural plants to achieve health care and cure diseases. Gradually, these methods have evolved into the currently available aromatherapy.
Essential oils contain more than 100 ingredients, and their chemical composition determines their therapeutic properties. Essential oils act through the skin, channels, and collaterals to the nervous, hormone, circulatory, and immune systems to relieve the body and mind, enhance conditioning and metabolism, and promote physical health and psychological pleasure. Evaluation of inhaling five essential oils—Jasmine sambac, lemon verbena, balsam fir, Magnolia denudate (lily tree), Rosa rugosa (beach rose)—in a serotonin depleted insomnia model found that the oils reduced the time taken to fall asleep and improved total sleep time. Each of the oils increased the expression of 5HT1A and GABAARα1 proteins, associated with relaxation and sleep regulation, with lemon verbena and balsam fir (an odd chemotype with 60.3% linalool) being the most effective. The Essential oils also reduced pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-6, IL-1β, TNF-α), suggesting they may help with stress-induced sleep disturbances.