A scent to knock you out

Jasmine is better than a Valium claims German researchers who published their findings in the July edition of the 
Journal of 
Biological Chemistry.

 

 

In a Ruhr-Universität Bochum July announcement, a collaborative research team led by Hanns Hatt, PhD, MD, professor of cell biology at Bochum, Dr. Olga Sergeeva, and Helmut Hass, a professor at the Heinrich Heine University, have found two scents "Vertacetal-coeur (VC) and the chemical variation (PI24513) have the same molecular mechanism of action and are as strong as the commonly prescribed barbiturates or propofol."

In other words inhaling the scent of jasmine from gardenias can quell anxiety and put you to sleep.

Hatt explained, "We have discovered a new class of GABA receptor modulator which can be administered parentally and through the respiratory air. 

"Applications in sedation, anxiety, excitement and aggression relieving treatment and sleep induction therapy are all imaginable. The results can also be seen as evidence of a scientific basis for aromatherapy."

A gardenia plant costs under €8 and jasmine essential oils ( from brands like Aura Cacia, NOW Foods, Oshadhi) can run between $4-22 (€3-17.50). There is even Absolut Jasmin vodka but that might put you to sleep another way.

Also many perfumes are heavy on the jasmine (Bulgari's  ) and might not be the best scent to spritz on if you are looking to have a high energy day. 

Full study, "Fragrant dioxane derivatives identify ?1 subunit-containing GABAA receptors": http://www.jbc.org/content/early/2010/05/28/jbc.M110.103309.full.pdf+html