~Writing Well Wednesday Tip~
If you’re having trouble falling asleep,
the last thing you want to do is pop a sleeping pill.
A 2012 study discovered that those taking these pills had a higher risk of death.
More specifically, researchers compared over 10,000 people receiving prescription sleep aids with about twice as many people who did not use them. Those using the sleeping pills were four times as likely to have died during the study’s 2.5-year period as those who didn’t. Those taking the pills also had a 35 percent increased risk of cancer.
What can you use if you need to get to sleep but your brain is running wild? After all, sleep is important to your health and your creativity, too.
Here’s a new idea: try jasmine oil.
Studies have reported that the scent of jasmine helps soothe nerves, relieve anxiety, and promote rest. In one experiment, jasmine created changes in brain chemistry that resembled the effects of sedatives and sleeping pills, and worked just as well as valium.
How can you use jasmine yourself? Simply add about 9-10 drops of jasmine oil to a steaming cup of water and place it on your nightstand where you can breathe in the aroma. You can also use an aromatherapy diffuser.
Give it a try and see if it helps!
Source:
Park, A. (2012, February 28). Study: Sleeping Pills Linked with Early Death | TIME.com. Retrieved from http://healthland.time.com/2012/02/28/study-sleeping-pills-linked-with-early-death/
Have you ever tried Melatonin?
I have, Becky. It didn’t really work for me—left me way too sleepy for a couple days. But I know it does work for many people, especially when dealing with jet lag.