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Fans of aromatherapy may sprinkle lavender essential oil on their pillows to help them get a good night's sleep, or inhale the oil when they feel tense. But there's a new calming fragrance in town – jasmine.

According to a German study recently published in the Journal of Biological Chemistry, the fragrance naturally found in jasmine as well as it's man-made version have the same effect on the brain as commonly prescribed sleeping tablets and mood enhancers, including valium.

Drugs like valium work by boosting the effect of a brain chemical called gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) that promotes relaxation and sleep, with low doses increasing the GABA effect by two to three times. However in tests on mice the German researchers discovered the natural and synthetic jasmine fragrances increased the GABA effect by up to five times.

The trouble with sleeping pills and other sedatives is that they can be addictive and have a range of potential side effects, including depression, dizziness and low blood pressure. But so far no one has found any risks associated with the smell of jasmine - and the researchers suggest it could be used for a variety of health problems including sleeplessness, anxiety and even aggression.

Ways to get your jasmine hit include growing your own plants (different varieties flower at different times of year), treating yourself to a bottle of jasmine essential oil, or splashing out on a designer perfume such as Jo Malone White Jasmine and Mint Cologne, Estée Lauder Private Collection Jasmine White Moss Eau de Parfum, or Bulgari Jasmine Noir Eau de Parfum.

At least you'll smell good.
Article by Christine Morgan, health journalist and freelance writer
find out more about Christine here
 
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