Small Study Explores Hinoki Root Oil Aroma and Sleep in Middle-Aged Women
Researchers at Kyushu University report that sleeping near the scent of Hinoki, or Japanese cypress, root essential oil was linked to fewer nighttime awakenings in a small home-based study, according to a university release carried by ScienceDaily. Twelve women aged 35 to 60 used the oil for two weeks and an unscented control for another two, placing three drops in a paper cup near the bed. They reported feeling less sleepy and more recovered in the morning, and recordings showed brain-wave changes associated with a smoother transition into sleep. The study, published in the Journal of Wood Science, was small and does not establish that the oil treats sleep problems. The release says more research is needed on doses and which products work best.