Cedarwood oil is one of the oils that have a natural chemical constituent that can make you feel drowsy. Though its drowsing effect is less known, it’s proven by research. Its drowsing potential has been seen in different populations and ages. Its ability to promote dozing has also been tested in animals. This post presents the efficacy of cedarwood oil in inducing sleep.
Drowsing chemical compound of cedarwood essential oil
Cedarwood essential oil is rich in cedrol (1) which is a chemical compound that promotes sleep. Essential oils containing piperonal, santol, linalool, and cedrol have a positive effect on sleep disturbance (2) as they can improve sleep length and lessen early morning awakening. To see this effect, you can simply wrap a towel with essential oil on the pillow and administer this for at least 20 days. (2)
Cedarwood essential oil’s potency and its sleep prolongation effect
An animal study conducted in 2003 reported the drowsing effect of inhaled cedarwood oil. It was observed that upon the inhalation of cedarwood oil, the accumulative spontaneous motor activity of Wistar rats had decreased. Moreover, the pentobarbital-induced sleeping time was prolonged among the rats that were treated with cedrol. It was also found that the aroma of cedrol is potent enough. Cedrol affected the prolongation of sleeping time even though the researchers tried to reduce the olfactory function of the rats by treating them with zinc sulfate (1) Meanwhile, the olfactory function of the rats that were exposed to lavender-roman chamomile mixed was impaired, as it has been observed that there was a decrease in their sleep prolongation effect. (1)
Improving dozing disturbance and EMA
The effect of inhaling cedarwood essential oil on sleep disturbance has been investigated in a 2017 study. The investigation was conducted in early summer to full summer and 19 elderly subjects with dementia were chosen to participate in the study. Their age is 65 years old and above (≥65 years old) and were diagnosed by their nurses to experience sleep disturbance. The 100% pure essential oils used in this study were (1) true lavender, true lavender, and sweet orange oil blend (2) Japanese cypress, Virginian cedarwood, cypress, and (3) pine oil blend. The oils contain the chemical compounds linalool, santol, cedrol, and piperonal. The study period ran for 40 days, and the first 20 days served as the control period while the next 20 days were set to be the intervention period. The participants chose the essential oil and the amount of oil that would be administered to them. The amount ranges from 2–5 drops (0.1–0.25 ml). The participants were able to inhale the essential oil blends as the researchers wrapped the towel with drops of essential oil around their pillow.
The results of the study suggest that inhalation of essential oils containing piperonal, santol, linalool, or cedrol can improve difficulties in maintaining sleep. The participant’s total length of sleeping time was longer during the intervention period than in the control period. Moreover, the documented longest sustained sleeping period was also longer during the intervention period than in the control period. Early morning awakening (EMA) decreased during the intervention period compared to the control period.
Parasympathetic effect of Cedarwood Essential oil
The use of essential oils with cedrol, piperonal, santol, and linalool makes the duration of the longest sustained sleep period (DLSSP) increase and the early morning awakening (EMA) reduced because the secretion of serotonin and endorphins are promoted. (2) This results in the activation of the parasympathetic nervous system. The hormones/body chemicals endorphins and serotonin are needed to induce sleep. Endorphins have sedative effects, while serotonin promotes drowsiness by producing melatonin (otherwise known as sleep hormone) by binding enzymes. As people age, the secretion of melatonin also declines, thus resulting in lesser and disturbed sleep and more waking time. Administrating drowsing essential oils before sleeping would help to keep endorphins and melatonin remain in the blood during the time that we need to sleep. Having enough endorphin and melatonin in our blood, would enable us to stay drowsy, go back to dozing, and nap better even if we wake up in the early morning, thus increasing our sleeping time
The effect of cedrol on parasympathetic was also documented in a 2007 clinical trial paper. The results of the study yielded that cedrol has a tranquilizing effect on women despite the differences in living environments and ethnicity. The participants in this clinical trial are women from Norway, Thailand, and Japan with an age range of the 20s-40s. The survey result showed that Japanese women have the highest degree of perceived stress, and their sleeping time was shorter compared to the other nationalities. Despite the differences in women’s backgrounds, it’s been observed from the study that cedrol had a positive effect on their autonomic nerve activity, as the miosis rate of the participants that were exposed to cedrol increased. This proves that cedrol affects the parasympathetic nervous system. (3)
There are different oils out there, and the need to play with sedative oils might be fun. However, it’s important to remember that not all oils are effective in addressing a particular health concern. Remember that your goal is to find the most effective and therapeutic essential oil for you.
Happy playing
References:
- (1) Kagawa, D., Jokura, H., Ochiai, R., Tokimitsu, I., & Tsubone, H. (2003). The sedative effects and mechanism of action of cedrol inhalation with behavioral pharmacological evaluation. Planta Medica, 69(7), 637–641. https://doi.org/10.1055/s-2003-41114
- (2) Takeda A., Watanuki E., Koyama S. Effects of Inhalation Aromatherapy on Symptoms of Sleep Disturbance in the Elderly with Dementia. Hindawi Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine. 2017. http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2017/1902807
- (3) Yada, Y., Sadachi, H., Nagashima, Y., & Suzuki, T. (2007). Overseas survey of the effect of cedrol on the autonomic nervous system in three countries. Journal of physiological anthropology, 26(3), 349–354. https://doi.org/10.2114/jpa2.26.349
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