Is Lemon Zinger your nightcap of choice?

Aromatherapy uses essential oils from flowers or herbs to promote health. And if you happen to be a rat and prefer working out on your exercise wheel instead of sleeping, than lemon oil is your odor of choice.

Japanese neuroscientists worked with a group of good-smelling rats (rodents with a working sense of smell--we can only guess how they smelled). As the rats prepared for bed, the researchers presented them with a number of oils to sniff.

Whiffs of valerian and roses sent the animals into a prolonged snooze shortly after they settled down. But did lemon aid their sleep? Insomnia city for the citrus snorters; they scuttered about until the wee hours of the morning.

The researchers concluded: "The present results may suggest the possibility that lemon inhalation may cause a worsening of insomnia symptoms." So pass up the lemon meringue pie at bed.

For more information on valerian, check out the latest issue of femailhealthnews which will be e-mailed to subscribers in the next few days.