167. A folk remedy* for insomnia, the scent in lavender flow

[ditoman]

167. ------------------------------

 

A folk remedy* for insomnia, the scent in lavender flowers, has now been

proved effective. In a recent study, 30 volunteers with chronic insomnia

slept each night for three weeks on lavender-scented pillows in a controlled

room where their sleep was monitored. During the first week, volunteers

continued to take their usual sleeping medication. They slept soundly but

wakened feeling tired. During the second week, the volunteers discontinued

their medication. As a result, they slept less soundly than the previous

week and felt even more tired. During the third week, the volunteers slept

longer and more soundly than in the previous two weeks. This shows that over

a short period of time lavender cures insomnia.

 

A folk remedy is usually a plant-based form of treatment common to

traditional forms of medicine, ones that developed before the advent of

modern medical services and technology.

 

The author concludes that a short period of time lavender cures

insomnia. To support the conclusion, the author shows the experiments

conducted to 30 volunteers with chronic insomnia slept each night for three

weeks on lavender-scented pillows in a controlled room where their sleep was

monitored. The subjects slept soundly but wakened feeling tired during the

first week, they slept less soundly than the previous week and felt even

more tired with the stop of sleeping medication during the second week, and

they slept longer and more soundly than in the previous two weeks during the

third week. However, this experiment is flawed in several aspects.

 

First, it is unfair to assume that 30 volunteers represent the whole

patients having insomnia. It is entirely possible that 30 volunteers have

the specific vocation or live in the specific area. In either case, the

results of experiment could merely represent the people having the job or

living in the area. Without credible evidence their representing whole

insomnia patients, it is unpersuasive to me.

 

Second, even assuming that they represent entire insomnia patients, it

is not unfair to assume that their sound sleeps during the third week is due

to the scent in lavender flowers. There is no clear evidence that they are

occurred owing to it. It is entirely possible that they could sleep soundly

due to adoptation to the environment. Without ruling out this possibility,

it is unreliable to me.

 

In conclusion, the experiment leading to the conclusion is currently

unacceptable. To support it better, the author should show more detail the

experiment and the cause of sound sleep during the third week is the scent

in lavender flowers.