• MUSCLES & JOINT ROLLER: Recommended for athletes (before and after exercise) and for those suffering from acute or chronic muscle and joint pain. The combination of the massage roller ball and the 14 essential oils with relaxing scents, is a natural way to support well-being and help relieve pain.
• MUSCLES & JOINT GEL: Helps to relax and soothe sensitive muscles and joints areas.Its practical format is suitable for small areas (fingers, toes, knees, ankles, etc) as well as larger areas (back, shoulders, etc.).
• ENERGY STICK: Olfactory stimulant with an invigorating scent, to breathe in which help awaken a feeling of physical and mental vitality.

The BEAUTY SLEEP GIFTSET includes 1 Beautiful Skin Organic Essential Elixir 30 ml and 1 Rest & Relax Air Spray 75ml, the perfect duo helps with relaxation and makes you feel refreshed and sun-kissed. 

Here’s some of the science behind the benefits of essential oils on sleep and respiration. 

For some years there has been growing awareness of the importance of sleep — and the corrosive impact insomnia has on our physical, cognitive and emotional health. Dozens of studies confirm that poor sleep increases the risk of heart disease, diabetes, and some cancers. People with poor sleep patterns are more likely to struggle with their weight, and are at much greater risk of suffering from depression and anxiety. Lack of sleep has even been shown to amplify pain problems, and one recent study found that just one night of sleep deprivation alters our perception of heat and cold.  

GP, Dr Gill Jenkins said during a conference I recently attended: “We all know that poor sleep patterns have been a serious health issue for some time, and these problems have been driven by social media and our constant need to feel ‘connected’, but the coronavirus has brought a new dimension to this modern-day malaise.” 

Now, as COVID-19 blurs the boundaries between work and home, the bedroom and the office and workdays and weekends, it is becoming harder to define — and separate — different aspects of our daily lives. Add anxiety around the coronavirus — fears as we live through Covid-19, the pressure it’s putting on relationships and the economic and social damage flowing from the measures taken to try to contain the pandemic — and it’s no wonder so many people are reporting sleep problems.

New research commissioned by Puressentiel reveals that four out of five people (83%) have suffered sleep issues. Worryingly, in these challenging times, three quarters (73%) say this deficit is making it difficult to deal with daily life and, on average, those surveyed scored their sleep quality — a major determinant in how rested we feel — just 6.6 out of ten.

Professor Jason Ellis, Professor of Sleep Science and Director of the Northumbria Centre for Sleep Research Department says: “It’s clear that the coronavirus and lockdown measures have had a huge, and sometimes unexpected, impact on our sleep patterns — and, as this dossier explains, it has overturned some long-established theories around sleep quantity.

“It has also underlined the importance of addressing sleep issues and seeking out effective long-term interventions including behavioural change and natural remedies — such as the Puressentiel Rest and Relax range — which support sleep quality and duration.”

Dr Chris Etheridge, medical herbalist and advisor to Puressentiel adds: “The coronavirus has also made us all acutely aware of the importance of respiratory health, and provides an important reminder of the way that breathing patterns can impact sleep pattern, and, conversely, how sleep patterns can influence our breathing.”

This report draws together the latest science and Puressentiel data on sleep and its importance for physical and mental wellbeing; explores the interplay between respiratory health and sound sleep; and showcases the latest additions to the Puressentiel range which provide proven, natural solutions for sleep and respiratory issues.

COVID-19 AND THE SCIENCE OF SLEEP

Research during coronavirus lockdowns has shed new light on one of the pillars of sleep science — the phenomenon known as ‘social jetlag’ — and has brought fresh focus to the importance of sleep quality, as well as quantity.

Social jetlag is the difference between the times we sleep, and the times our biological clocks want to us to sleep, and it is measured by comparing the midpoint of our sleeping hours on workdays compared to the midpoint on rest days.

Professor Jason Ellis explains: “This is a simple way of measuring the disconnect between our biological clock and any deviations from this which can disrupt that internal clock. We often focus on the number of hours we sleep, which is important, but it is this regular rhythm of sleep which is essential for keeping our sleep system functioning at its optimum.”

Social jetlag is often linked to ‘social sleep restriction’, another concept central to research around rest. Simply put, this is the habit — which many of us naturally slip into — of reducing our sleep duration on certain days.

Professor Jason Ellis says: “The most common pattern for this social sleep restriction is to cut back on sleep on work days and then try to catch up over the weekends or on rest days — that weekend lie-in we’re all familiar with.”

Social jetlag and social sleep restriction are linked to many of the hallmark health conditions associated with poor sleep patterns, including heart disease, obesity, metabolic dysfunction and increased inflammation. They also impair cognitive function and reaction times,  increase the risk of depression and have been linked to hyperactivity disorders in children. And there is compelling evidence that social jet lag, in particular, triggers negative changes to the cardiovascular system and increases levels of stress hormones. 

But what happens when the line between work and rest shifts, or becomes fluid, as we’ve seen recently?

A new study by Christine Blume, a cognitive neuroscientist and sleep researcher based at the University of Basel’s Centre for Chronobiology, in Switzerland, came up with a surprising answer.

Data from 435 adults, collected during the height of coronavirus lockdowns in Switzerland, Germany and Austria, showed clear improvements in social jetlag — with the gap between sleep midpoints on work and rest days narrowing by 13 minutes — and in social sleep restriction, which was evidenced by a 13-minute increase in sleep duration.

Dr Blume says: “Usually, we would expect a decrease in social jetlag to be associated with reports of improved sleep quality. However, in our sample, overall sleep quality decreased.”

GP, Dr Nisa Aslam says: “This really was unexpected. Everything we have seen before has suggested that any reduction in social jetlag and social sleep restriction would automatically bring an improvement in sleep quality.

“But Dr Blume’s study proves it is far more complex, and it highlights the importance of sleep quality as well as quantity.” Despite getting more sleep, because of this slump in sleep quality, study participants also reported reduced physical and mental wellbeing.

“So, even though people slept more, worries around the coronavirus and lockdown meant that this sleep left them feeling less rested.”

THE LATEST BRITISH DATA

The University of Basel study findings echo the latest British evidence. Data for Puressentiel, which was also collected during lockdown measures in the UK, confirm that sleep quality is an issue for many people, with respondents reporting an average score 6.6 out of ten. Three quarters (72%) say they have sometimes struggled to sleep and a similar number (73%) confirm that lack of sleep makes it difficult to deal with daily life. Three out of five (61%) admitted they are often caught in a downward spiral, where worrying about their sleep makes it even harder to drop off.

Blurred sleep boundaries affecting sleep time and health: The Puressentiel research shows how boundaries have become blurred, with almost a third of those surveyed (31%) working from their bedrooms during the lockdown. This was most common among young adults, with 53% having worked from their bedroom. While working from home, almost a third (30%) of those surveyed have had trouble falling asleep and more than a quarter (29%) say their sleep time is shorter. A quarter (27%) have resorted to taking to daytime naps.

Dr Gill Jenkins says: “This can be a double-edged sword. Studies show that a short 20 or 30-minute nap is largely beneficial, but sleep for longer periods during the day has been linked to diabetes, depression and other issues.”

On the plus side, the Puressentiel research highlights the benefits of having a bedtime routine. 

The relationship between sleep and age

Despite the widespread belief that sleep problems become more common as we get older, the survey found that older adults were actually far less likely to report insomnia — with only 27% reporting problems, compared to 44% of under 60s. This is probably due to the fact that older adults (40 years +) are more likely to stick to a bedtime routine — 65% compared to 55% of 29-year-olds and 56% of 30 to 40-year olds.

Dr Nisa Aslam says: “Everyone knows — or should know — that routine is the key to sustained and restful sleep. It ensures our sleep times are in sync with our biological clock and gently trains the body and mind to begin slowing down as our bedtime approaches. I don’t think there is a sleep expert anywhere in the world who doesn’t stress the importance of establishing a sleep routine.”

Yet, when the Puressentiel researchers asked participants to identify the most common causes for sleep disruption, fewer than one in five (17%) identified lack of routine as an issue.

The Puressentiel findings confirm social jetlag is commonplace:

During the week, three out of five adults (60%) stay up until 11pm. Three out of 10 (29%) don’t go to bed until after midnight.

By comparison, at the weekend, three quarters of adults (73%) are still up at 11pm, and almost half (45%) are awake past midnight.

Similarly, during the week, one in four of those surveyed (24%) were up before 7am, and a further 30% were out of bed before 8am. In an effort to catch up on sleep, only 13% of adults rose before 7am and one in five (21%) were still snoozing after 10am.

As Professor Jason Ellis points out: “This will help with sleep deficits, but it is also a recipe for social jetlag, so this additional sleep often doesn’t necessarily provide the lift we’re expecting. It also highlights the value of any other strategies — such as breathing techniques and using essential oils — which can improve sleep quality.

At the weekend, three-quarters of adults (73%) are still up at 11pm, and almost half (45%) are awake past midnight.