Bedroom

There have been many well-documented scientific studies in recent years, showing that nighttime light exposure is detrimental to our health, increasing our risk for several types of diseases. Even dim light can interfere with our melatonin production. So if you find it hard to sleep unless it’s totally dark, that’s probably not a bad thing – it’s healthier to sleep in the dark. If your room isn’t dark enough, this can be easily fixed with a good high-quality comfortable sleep mask. What’s not so easy to fix is the inability to sleep caused by other factors such as stress, anxiety, or just by having a messed up circadian rhythm. We know we should try to relax and unwind before bed but with such busy lives, sometimes we forget how.

In the light of some promising, but small, studies indicating the usefulness of lavender to reduce anxiety and aid sleep, I have been looking at the best ways we can use lavender in our nighttime routine.

 

The Lavender Eye Pillow and Sleep Mask by LotFancy is No 5 on my list of “Five Ways to Reduce Anxiety and Help You Sleep” – it’s last but by no means least.

The Lavender Eye Pillow and Sleep Mask has a super soft polyester velvet casing which is filled with organic Flax seeds and natural Lavender flowers.

It is perfect for relieving headaches, muscle tension, and migraines. A 2012 study showed Lavender may be effective in easing symptoms of migraine headaches, but it’s also great for meditation, and yoga sessions.

Not only that but the Eye Pillow and Sleep Mask will block out all light and because it has an adjustable strap – a feature that most don’t have – it will fit all sizes and is comfortable enough to wear for the whole night.

The scent is that of fresh sweet lavender so it is natural and by no means overpowering. It may, however, be a little strong when first removed from the packing. A good tip is just to leave it to air for a little while, it will soon settle and give off a natural soft lavender scent.

Where the Lavender Eye Pillow and Sleep Mask by LotFancy goes beyond most, in my opinion – apart from the adjustable strap – is that the super soft casing has a concealed zipper. This means the inner contents can be removed to allow the outer casing to be machine-washed. Or you can remove the inner contents if you wish, and just use the sleep mask on its own. You may find the using the mask without the contents more practical for regular use.

At 8.6 x 4.3″ it is a generous size, is well made with neat seams, and the addition of the extra-wide, soft velvet sides will ensure that no light seeps through.

The Lavender Eye Pillow and Sleep Mask can be used at room temperature or can be heated or cooled.

The instructions for this are the same as those for the Lavender Eye Pillow. For a cooling treatment simply place the pillow in a plastic bag and freeze for 1 -2 hours. You can even keep it in a zipper bag in the freezer. That way it will always be cold and on hand when you need it. It will retain it all its suppleness – flax seed will chill but never bunch together and freeze. Cold therapy is fantastic for reducing bags under the eyes.

You can also heat the pillow for a warming therapy if you wish. First remove the inner contents, mist the inner pillow with water and microwave for 30 seconds. Be very careful that you don’t overheat it, though. My suggestion is to press the inner pillow over the back of your hand after heating it to check for any hot spots, before putting the inner part back into the mask for use anywhere near your eyes.

Whether you want to lie back, relax and let the stresses of the day melt away, or you want to be able to sleep undisturbed by the light, the Lavender Eye Pillow and Sleep Mask by LotFancy is your perfect solution for travel or home.

To view or buy, click here.

What better way to relax, and relieve tension and stresses of the day, than with this soothing eye pillow. Lie back, close your eyes and let the soft, sweet, natural scent of lavender fills your senses.
Lavender has been used for centuries to treat various ailments from wound healing to headaches and is well-known for its soothing and calming properties.

Recent small studies have shown that lavender may be effective in reducing anxiety and improving sleep quality. A 2012 study showed that it may also be effective in easing symptoms of migraine headaches.

The Organic Flax Seed and Lavender Eye Pillow by Eye Pillow Vacation is filled with a combination of organic flax seeds and pure lavender flowers. It’s simply good design, softly contouring your face abd blocking out light, while the sweet smell of natural lavender fills your senses. Eye pillows are more comfortable than traditional eye masks and ideal for meditation, or for a soothing, cool or warm treatment. For a cooling treatment, simply place the pillow in a plastic bag and freeze for 1 -2 hours. You can even keep it in a zipper bag in the freezer. That way it will always be cold and on hand when you need it. It will retain all its suppleness and feel especially wonderful after a workout, to cool you down after a hot day or to soothe away tension headaches.

You can also heat the pillow for a warming therapy if you wish. Mist the eye pillow with water first, and microwave it for 30 seconds. Be very careful that you don’t overheat it, though. I suggest you press the pillow over the back of your hand after heating it to check for any hot spots, before putting the pillow anywhere near your eyes.

The Organic Flax Seed and Lavender Eye Pillow comes in a choice of either a silky soft fabric casing or a 100% organic cotton casing.  It is generous in size measuring 9″x 4.5″ and it comes in a fabulous selection of colors.

Is The Organic Flax Seed and Lavender Eye Pillow by Eye Pillow Vacation right for you?

A lavender eye pillow is perfect for relaxing, reducing stress and anxiety, for meditation, to cool you down or to soothe a migraine headache. If you are a back sleeper you will be able to comfortably fall asleep with it.
If you want to use an eye pillow for sleep in place of an eye mask, however, you would be better off with a comfortable lavender eye mask here. Unless you are a back sleeper, the eye pillow isn’t really designed for sleeping. However, it gives off a wonderfully relaxing scent and isn’t overpowering in any way, so taking it to bed with you and keeping it close by while you sleep will give you a gentle and relaxing aroma that will help you to sleep soundly. What’s more, if you tend to wake up in the night and can’t get back to sleep, you can prevent yourself from getting wound up in a tight knot of anxiety by simply placing the pillow over your eyes and allowing it’s soothing properties to take effect.

The only downsides to the eye pillow are that you can only spot clean it. However, it is well made (in the USA) and though the organic cotton casing option costs a few dollars more than the silky fabric casing option, they are both priced at under $18 so are very cost effective. If you find the scent a little too strong when you first remove it from its packing, a good tip is just to leave it to air for a little while and it will soon settle and give off a softer scent.

Eye Pillow Vacation even offer you a 100% Money Back Guarantee and Lifetime Warranty.

To me, these wonderful eye pillows are an absolute must. I can be calm cool (well maybe not cool) and collected in the daytime, but catch me past the witching hour, and there is absolutely no (zero) reasoning with my brain. These lavender eye pillows really help to calm the mind and send you off to sleep. The 100% organic cotton, Black, and the Ultra Silky Soft Satin, Aqua are my two favorites.

To view, click here.

One of the most effective ways to get the benefits from your essential oils is to buy a good diffuser. I will be covering ultrasonic and nebulizing diffusers here.

While there are some fundamental differences between the two, which I will cover, neither type will alter the molecular composition of your essential oils making them an ideal way to fill your room with the soothing sweet aroma of your favorite oils.

Ultrasonic Diffusers

Ultrasonic Diffusers use electronic frequencies to create vibrations which vaporize water along with your essential oil and disperse it into the air without the need for heat. This leaves the composition of your essential oils unaltered and creates a cool fine mist that fills your room with the aroma of your essential oils.

Don’t confuse a diffuser with a humidifier. Humidifiers increase the moisture in the air and are often used in areas of low humidity or dry climates. They can also be useful for relieving cold or flu symptoms, however, they are unsuitable for diffusing essential oils.

With a diffuser, the output of moisture is less than a humidifier. The aroma it produces is usually only enough to fill a room, not your whole house.

How Do Ultrasonic Diffusers Work?

Ultrasonic Diffusers have a reservoir that you fill with either tap, filtered or distilled water depending on the instructions. Most, on average, hold about 100ml. You then add a few drops of your essential oil to the water, press a button and voila! – instant mist with the wonderful aroma of your essential oils.

You should make sure you clean the tank out regularly as a stagnant tank of residue water will develop bacteria and the next time you use your device, this bacteria will also be dispersed into the air along with the mist!

Why Choose an Ultrasonic Diffuser?

They are very easy to use and will give you a gentle, natural aroma that won’t overpower the whole house.

The 2019 Model Zen Breeze, Essential Oil Diffuser by Zen Breeze

The Zen Breeze, Essential Oil Diffuser is a good choice if you a looking for an ultrasonic diffuser.

I chose this one because it’s super stylish and quite small at 4.75 x 6.6″ across so it will fit nicely onto a bedside table. It features 14 different color LED light settings which you can choose between, leave on the color-changing mode, or you can turn the lights off if you prefer.

It’s very simple to use: You add water using the measuring cup provided, and a few drops (try 3 -4 at first) of your essential oil, press the mist button and let the beautiful natural scent fill your senses.

You can set it to run for 1, 3 or 6 hours, or you can just set it to “on” and it will run until it runs out of water, at which point it will cleverly shut itself off automatically.

The Verdict

The only downsides, and to me, they aren’t really downsides but it should be noted that

• The instruction manual hasn’t been translated very well, it’s still better English than any second language I could speak and it is readable, just not very clear. This has no bearing on the quality of the diffuser, though.
• The beautiful wood you see in the photo is only a wood effect, not real wood, it is actually made from plastic.
• Once you have filled the unit with water and your oil/oils, don’t attempt to move it, as it will spill very easily.
• It’s quiet but not silent. I actually find it quite soothing but it may put those off who need total silence to sleep.
• The lid, which just sits on top of the base, can sometimes be a little tricky to lift off.

View the Zen Breeze Essential Oil Diffuser, here.

Nebulizing Diffusers

Nebulizers use only pure essential oils. Since you do not add any water to these devices, they create a powerful aroma that is usually emitted at intervals preventing them from becoming too overpowering. They will use a lot of essential oil relatively quickly.

How Do Nebulizing Diffusers Work?

Nebulizing Diffusers have two small glass tubes inside them. Basically, when you turn the device on, an air current is forced through one of the small tubes, creating a suction that causes the essential oils in the bottom of the glass chamber to rise up through a separate feeding tube.

A stream of pressurized air then hits the essential oil and causes it to atomize into microscopic particles that fill the glass chamber and disperse into the air.

You generally add around 20 -25 drops of your essential oil directly into the reservoir at bottom of the diffuser and then switch the device on.

Not all essential oils are suitable for Nebulizing Diffusers, Sandalwood, for example, has a thick viscosity and so would need to be blended with a thinner oil – you cannot use a pre-diluted oil or carrier oil to do this.

The 2019 Raindrop 2.0 Nebulizing Essential Oil Diffuser For Aromatherapy By Organic Aromas

This Raindrop 2.0 Nebulizing Essential Oil Diffuser is quality-made from real, solid plantation hardwood and hand-blown pyrex glass. It will fill your home with the wonderful aroma of pure essential oils up to 800 sq ft. But don’t worry if you think this would be a little too overpowering – you can limit the amount of essential oil emitted with a handy volume control button.

It measures approximately 7-10″ x 4-6 ” wide and has a durable, energy-efficient electric pump that is whisper quiet, but not silent.

This diffuser also features rainbow-carousel LED lighting that can be turned off if you prefer. It operates for 2 mins “On,” 1 min “Off,” for 2-hours then conveniently shuts itself off. The scent that it emits after shut-down, should last around one hour.

How to care for your Nebulizing Essential Oil Diffuser 

Organic Aromas suggest you keep a small bottle of rubbing alcohol so that you can regularly give your glass reservoir a clean.

If you don’t regularly do this, residue oil will harden and build up, clogging the tubes and preventing the pump from working properly. They provide you with pipettes for regular cleaning.

To clean the device once a week, or if you want to change oils and don’t want any of the previous essential oil to remain, add some plain rubbing alcohol to the reservoir using the dropper provided and turn on the diffuser for 5 – 10 minutes to diffuse the alcohol.

When the diffuser is dry the process is complete. Once a month you should give your diffuser a deep clean. Organic Aromas suggest you soak your glass in boiling hot water, with a tiny amount of dishwashing soap for about 30 minutes to remove any remaining residue. Full instructions are provided to guide you through this process, though.

The Verdict
On the plus side, the Raindrop 2.0 Nebulizing Essential Oil Diffuser comes complete with a one-year free parts and service warranty.

If you live in an area of high humidity and don’t want to add more moisture to your room, a nebulizing diffuser would be your best choice.

The device is made from ‘Plantation Hardwood’ or ‘Rubberwood,’ as it is sometimes known. It is eco-friendly in that it comes from plantation trees that have already served their useful purpose.

Some downsides are, that the aroma may be too intense for some when the scent is first emitted, but the fact that this model has a volume button will certainly help.

Being made from glass, the device is quite fragile. You will have to be careful when handling it. If you knock it, it may break.

However, if you do, all is not lost, fortunately, you can buy a Glass Cap Replacement for your Organic Aromas Essential Oil Diffuser.

Because nebulizing diffusers are more difficult to clean than ultrasonic diffusers, more maintenance time is required to look after them.

Organic Aromas are obviously very proud of their Nebulizing Essential Oil Diffuser and have taken steps to ensure a good relationship with their customers. They have taken the time to answer more of Amazon customer’s questions than most companies do. I have to say I am greatly impressed, and for this, they get a full 5 stars from me! 

To view the Raindrop 2.0 Nebulizing Essential Oil Diffuser, Click here.

Glass Cap Replacements for Organic Aromas Essential Oil Diffusers are available, Click here.

Yes it is, and here’s a handy guide to how you can use it if you’re struggling with anxiety or insomnia:

Top 5 Ways to Reduce Anxiety and Help You Sleep with Lavender

Make Your Own Lavender Massage Oil with This Easy Recipe To Reduce Anxiety and Help You Sleep

A great way to relax with a little ‘you’ time is to make your own natural lavender massage oil. This easy free recipe is wonderfully soothing and very easy to make yourself!

First, you will need a few drops of pure essential lavender oil. Tisserand is an excellent well known and trusted brand, but there are other high-quality brands out there too.

Choose an Essential Oil Diffuser

Use an Essential Oil Diffuser to fill the air around you with the sweet natural scent of Lavander.

Both the Ultrasonic Essential Oil Diffuser by Zen Breeze and the Nebulizing Essential Oil Diffuser by Organic Aromas will ensure that the molecular structure of your favorite essential oils remains unaltered when you diffuse them.

However, they work in very different ways.

I will be taking a look at what each has to offer and including full reviews of the 2017 Models of the Essential Oil Diffuser by Zen Breeze, and the Raindrop 2.0 Nebulizing Essential Oil Diffuser by Organic Aromas.

• Continue to full reviews…

Vacation Organic Flax Seed Filled Lavender Eye Pillow by Eye Pillow Vacation

What better way to relax, and relieve the tension and stresses of the day, than with this soothing lavender eye pillow.

It’s like having a mini eye massage. Lie back, close your eyes and let the soft, sweet, natural scent of lavender fills your senses.

The Organic Flax Seed and Lavender Eye Pillow by Eye Pillow Vacation is filled with a combination of organic flax seeds and pure lavender flowers and is suitable for warming or cooling therapies.

You can choose from either a silky soft satin or a 100% organic cotton casing and it comes in a fabulous selection of colors.

Click below to view price and color choices on amazon:

The Organic Flax Seed and Lavender Eye Pillow by Eye Pillow Vacation

or continue to full review...

This Works Deep Sleep Pillow Spray

This Works is a company that specializes in quality skincare products but they regard their Deep Sleep Pillow Spray as their ultimate beauty secret. Why?

Because a good night’s sleep will do more for you than any face creams.

Made only with ingredients that are kind to you and your home.

This Pillow spray not only gives you a most heavenly scent, but it really does help to reduce anxiety and help you to relax and sleep.

Click below to view the price on amazon:

This Works Deep Sleep Pillow Spray

Or continue to full review…

Sensacare Lavender Eye Pillow  

Last, but by no means least, this brand new plush sleep mask is ideal for cooling and warming therapy – and what’s more – it blocks out light to help with melatonin production which aids sleep.

The super-soft cloud-like feel of its velvet casing will help to gently soothe and relax you, while the heavenly scent of Lavender flowers will send you off into a land of peaceful slumber.

Click below to view the price on amazon:

Sensacare Lavender Eye Pillow

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If you are reading this at 3 a.m. Then you are looking for answers and you have my sympathy.

Although acid reflux is a common condition, it’s not much of a consolation when you are propped up with every pillow in the vicinity hoping it will give enough relief to let you drop off.

Unfortunately, trying to sleep with all your pillows propped up is not only lumpy and uncomfortable but is likely to make you feel worse putting your head at an angle that can increase pressure on the stomach making your reflux worse.

Once acid reflux kick in, you will feel miserable, your heartburn or acid indigestion can last for hours and while over the counter medication is usually the first thing you will want to reach for, they can make you feel nauseated and often aren’t 100 percent effective.

Prevention is key

So what steps can you take to avoid acid reflux and get a good night’s sleep?

According to a study in the Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology ‘Elevation of the upper body at night is generally recommended for all patients with GERD’ – ‘the height of the bed head elevation is critical and it must be at least 6–8 inches to be at least minimally effective to prevent reflux of gastric contents.’

So it’s a choice of either a full mattress elevator like the one shown below or opt for a foam wedge bed pillow.

Mattress Elevators

Full-length mattress elevators are the perfect solution – if you sleep alone or have a partner who would appreciate the benefits of a sloped mattress.

You won’t find yourself sliding off it as you might with a wedge pillow, but as we’ve said, they may not be practical in all circumstances.

Wedge Pillows

Wedge Pillows have the advantage of being easily portable, and you can easily just remove them if you find you don’t always need one.

They are more suitable if only one partner requires elevation, though you can find yourself sliding down in the night if the angle is too steep or too sudden.

But don’t worry we’ll take a look at those that will minimize the chances of this happening.

There are, of course, many other reasons you may need to sleep with your head elevated apart from acid reflux, if you have problems breathing, poor circulation, back or neck problems, are post-surgery or snore, for example, a mattress elevator or foam wedge bed pillow may help you enormously.

We’ll now take a look at the best ones out there.

Editor’s Award	Brand	Click Image to read review
Best Mattress Elevator – New Review	Avana Mattress Elevator
The Best 12″ Wedge Pillow	InteVision Foam Wedge Bed Pillow
The Best 7.5″ Wedge Pillow	InteVision Foam Wedge Bed Pillow

Also in this Guide:

• Is A Foam Wedge Bed Pillow Right For You?
• Best Bed wedge Pillow for the UK

Best Mattress Elevator: Avana Mattress Elevator

So you can basically sleep with your whole body completely flat (just not horizontal) in any position that feels comfortable for you – without rolling off, sliding down, or crunching over at the waist.

Made in the US at the Avana factory in Atlanta, by the same company who make Jaxx bean bags, this mattress elevator meets CertiPUR-US^® standards for content, emissions, and durability, and has been analyzed by independent, accredited testing laboratories.

What this actually means is that it is made without ozone depleters, PBDEs, TDCPP or TCEP (“Tris”) flame retardants, formaldehyde, phthalates, mercury, lead and other heavy metals and is regulated by the Consumer Product Safety Commission.

The mattress elevator we have featured here is the 7-inch version which slopes down to a 1 – inch depth, – the perfect sweet spot between the 6 and 8 inches you need for the slope to be effective, but you can choose a gentler 5″ version if you prefer.

What We Like:

• Elevates the Whole Mattress | So you can sleep completely flat without being horizontal – in any position that feels comfortable for you.

Buying Factors to Consider:

If you have a partner to take into consideration, this may not be the most practical solution. You could go for the half mattress version or choose a bed wedge pillow – we’ll be looking at those next.

The Best 12″ Wedge Pillow: InteVision Foam Wedge Bed Pillow

At 12″ in height, it more than meets the minimum inches required in height to be effective against acid reflux.

What makes this foam wedge stand out from most, though, is its 1″ memory foam top layer for added comfort.

However, it does have a firm base made from highly resilient polyurethane foam and so the wedge feels medium-firm to lie on. Don’t expect to sink right into it.

As with all wedge bed pillows, you should think of it more as an extension of your mattress and you should add a pillow for head support.

Another great feature of this wedge is that it has built-in channels between the top memory foam layer and the base foam to enhance air circulation and give you a cooler sleeping experience.

The only downside is that because the pillow is quite steep, you may find yourself sliding down it a little in the night, but the fact that it has 1″ of memory foam means this is less likely since it will mold around you, keeping you more supported and in place than an ordinary wedge pillow of the same dimensions.

The Best 7.5″ Wedge Pillow: InteVision Foam Wedge Bed Pillow

Either 12″ or the 7.5″ wedges can be used in a number of ways, they are suitable for raising the legs by simply placing the wedge at the bottom of the bed to provide relief from varicose veins or swollen ankles, etc. and both make a perfect backrest when placed in the upright position for reading, watching tv or just relaxing in bed.

Although both the wedge pillows come with a machine-washable white cover, an optional 400 thread count, 100% Egyptian cotton pillowcase is also available in both white and dark blue.

Dimensions:
12″ wedge pillow 25″ x 24″ x 12″
7.5″ wedge pillow 26″ x 25″ x 7.5″

Click to view price and accessories for the 12″ wedge pillow:

• InteVision 12″ Foam Wedge Bed Pillow
• Spare pillowcase for the 12″ wedge pillow

Click to view price and accessories for the 12″ wedge pillow:

• InteVision 7.5″ Foam Wedge Bed Pillow
• Spare pillow case for the 7.5″ wedge pillow

The Aidapt Foam Bed Wedge

Don’t expect to sink into the Aidapt like a large soft wedge-shaped pillow. You have to think of this wedge in terms of a mattress extension. Memory foam lets you sink in, high-density foam doesn’t and this bed wedge is medium/firm. You are going to need your pillow if you don’t want your head to roll over to one side or the other but if you like a firm mattress, this may be the one for you.

At almost nine and a half inches in height, this foam bed wedge is reasonably steep. It more than fulfills the minimum requirement of at least 6-8 inches required to be minimally effective’ so will keep your upper body elevated enough to keep acid reflux at bay. The light-weights amongst us, however, may find ourselves sliding down it a little in the night. If you feel this bed wedge might be a little too steep for you, please do check out the Flex Foam Bed Wedge.

The fact that the angle is substantial, does mean that the cushion may be used very effectively in the upright position, as a backrest while reading, etc. Another advantage is that unlike some wedges, spare washable covers are also available to buy separately.

View the Aidapt Foam Bed Wedge on Amazon UK.

View the spare pillowcase for the 9.45″ x 23.62″ x 2.44″ Aidapt wedge here.

Is A Foam Wedge Bed Pillow Right For You?

What if you never had to sleep on lumpy stacked up pillows that crick your neck and hunch you over, just to get enough relief from gastric reflux to let you sleep?

Remember, one ruined night’s sleep spoils the following day too so even if you are one of the many occasional sufferers of acid reflux, a foam bed wedge will make you so much more comfortable helping you and your stomach to relax.

A Note About Gassing Off

As with all new foam products, there is going to be some degree of ‘gassing off’ (that chemical smell that dissipates over a period of hours to days) and so it is advisable to let the wedge air, preferably outside on a dry day or at least in a ventilated area or room for at least 24 hours. The amount of odor seems to vary between different brands and even between the same brand. Some people are more sensitive to this than others but it is sensible not to spend several straight hours in close proximity to any new foam product without first airing it out.