The Lullaby of Purple Flowers
What do purple flowers and quality sleep have in common? Passionflower and lavender, two beautiful plants with purple flowers, have been shown to improve sleep quality and no you don’t need...
What do purple flowers and quality sleep have in common?
Passionflower and lavender, two beautiful plants with purple flowers, have been shown to improve sleep quality and no you don’t need to sprinkle flower petals on your pillow (unless that's your thing, no judgment here).
Let's start with Passionflower. This beautiful flower has a rich history of use in the New World. It was originally domesticated by the Aztecs, Incas & many ofter Native American indigenous populations and used for medicinal purposes for thousands of years. The Cherokee, for example, used passionflower to treat nervousness and insomnia, while the Aztecs used it to treat seizures and hysteria.
Passionflower contains several compounds that have been shown to have sleep-promoting effects. One of the most well-known of these compounds is called harmane, which acts as a natural sedative by increasing levels of GABA in the brain, reducing an overactive mind and promoting relaxation. Additionally, passionflower also interacts with the serotonin system increasing the release of Melatonin after dusk.
One study published in the Journal of Clinical Pharmacy and Therapeutics found that a passionflower extract improved sleep quality and increased total sleep time in adults with sleep disorders.
Now let’s move onto Lavender.
Lavandula or Lavender is another purple flowered plant indigenous to the mountainous areas of the Old World. Lavender has been used medicinally for at least 2,500 years. We know the ancient Egyptians used lavender in their mummification process, and the Romans used it for bathing, cooking, and as a therapeutic medicine.
Lavender has been shown to have several benefits for improving sleep quality and duration. One of the main ways that lavender helps to promote quality sleep is by reducing anxiety levels. In addition to its anxiety-reducing properties, lavender also has a calming effect on the nervous system. Very similar to Passionflower, Lavender has been shown to interact with GABA and serotonin in the brain. This makes lavender a valuable tool for those suffering from insomnia or other sleep disorders.
The calming nature of lavender also extends to its effects on the autonomic nervous system, which controls various bodily functions such as heart rate and digestion. Research has shown that lavender can help to reduce sympathetic nervous system activity, which is associated with the "fight or flight" response, and increase parasympathetic nervous system activity, which is associated with relaxation and rest.
By incorporating lavender and passionflower into your daily routine, you can tap into the art of deep sleep and reap the many benefits that these purple flowers have to offer. With their natural, gentle approach to sleep promotion, lavender and passionflower can help you achieve the restful, rejuvenating sleep that your body needs to function at its best.
Passionflower and lavender, two beautiful plants with purple flowers, have been shown to improve sleep quality and no you don’t need to sprinkle flower petals on your pillow (unless that's your thing, no judgment here).
Let's start with Passionflower. This beautiful flower has a rich history of use in the New World. It was originally domesticated by the Aztecs, Incas & many ofter Native American indigenous populations and used for medicinal purposes for thousands of years. The Cherokee, for example, used passionflower to treat nervousness and insomnia, while the Aztecs used it to treat seizures and hysteria.
Passionflower contains several compounds that have been shown to have sleep-promoting effects. One of the most well-known of these compounds is called harmane, which acts as a natural sedative by increasing levels of GABA in the brain, reducing an overactive mind and promoting relaxation. Additionally, passionflower also interacts with the serotonin system increasing the release of Melatonin after dusk.
One study published in the Journal of Clinical Pharmacy and Therapeutics found that a passionflower extract improved sleep quality and increased total sleep time in adults with sleep disorders.
Now let’s move onto Lavender.
Lavandula or Lavender is another purple flowered plant indigenous to the mountainous areas of the Old World. Lavender has been used medicinally for at least 2,500 years. We know the ancient Egyptians used lavender in their mummification process, and the Romans used it for bathing, cooking, and as a therapeutic medicine.
Lavender has been shown to have several benefits for improving sleep quality and duration. One of the main ways that lavender helps to promote quality sleep is by reducing anxiety levels. In addition to its anxiety-reducing properties, lavender also has a calming effect on the nervous system. Very similar to Passionflower, Lavender has been shown to interact with GABA and serotonin in the brain. This makes lavender a valuable tool for those suffering from insomnia or other sleep disorders.
The calming nature of lavender also extends to its effects on the autonomic nervous system, which controls various bodily functions such as heart rate and digestion. Research has shown that lavender can help to reduce sympathetic nervous system activity, which is associated with the "fight or flight" response, and increase parasympathetic nervous system activity, which is associated with relaxation and rest.
By incorporating lavender and passionflower into your daily routine, you can tap into the art of deep sleep and reap the many benefits that these purple flowers have to offer. With their natural, gentle approach to sleep promotion, lavender and passionflower can help you achieve the restful, rejuvenating sleep that your body needs to function at its best.