A new study has found that having a jasmine plant in your room can reduce anxiety, panic attacks, and depression.

Believe it or not, the soothing aroma of this plant can do wonders for your mental health. The researchers looked at mice who had been exposed to the aroma of a jasmine plant and to jasmine essential oil. They concluded that these mice calmed down significantly, leading them to find that the smell of jasmine is a good natural alternative to medication.

Professor Hanns Hatt from the Ruhr University in Bochum, Germany, who led the study, said that the results of the research “can be seen as evidence of a scientific basis for aromatherapy.”

The researchers found that the fragrance of jasmine augments the effects of the chemical GABA on nerve cells. This chemical both relieves anxiety and heightens the desire to rest.

“We have discovered a new class of GABA receptor modulator which can be administered parentally and through the respiratory air,” said Hatt. “Applications in sedation, anxiety, excitement, and aggression relieving treatment and sleep induction therapy are all imaginable.”

The researchers concluded that jasmine can help:

– Reduce anxiety and nervous tension
– Boost mood
– Improve cognitive performance and alertness
– Improve sleep quality
– Balance hormones
– Treat hot flashes and mood swings
– Increase libido

The smell of jasmine will help you sleep better, even if you aren’t necessarily sleeping longer.

“Research at Wheeling Jesuit University by Dr. Bryan Raudenbush, assistant professor of psychology, shows dispensing jasmine odor into a room where participants were sleeping led to greater sleep efficiency and reduced sleep movement,” stated Kaliana.com.

If you’ve been having issues with any of the problems listed above, you might want to look into getting a jasmine plant for yourself!