SHANGHAI, June 5 -- CHINA'S first herbal health garden is expected to open in Shanghai's southwestern Minhang District next month, with plants claimed to be helpful in decreasing blood pressure and inducing sleep, Youth Daily reported today.

The 300-square meter garden inside Minhang Sports Park is divided into two sections according to the different functions of the plants, the report said.

Plants such as lavender and rosemary in the "sleep area" can help visitors to have a peaceful rest at night at home while the smell of salvia and basil can decrease blood pressure, the report said.

Before the garden's official opening, plant researchers carried out an experiment among 54 volunteers to see how helpful those plants can be to keep people healthy. The volunteers, who are mostly retired workers and suffer from high blood pressure and insomnia, were required to spend half an hour to take in the sweet floral aromas every day, the report said.

After one month, 90 percent of the volunteers said their sleep has been improved while over 70 percent found lower blood pressure, the report said.

With the encouraging results, researchers are now planning to grow more "sleep-friendly" plants in the park, but they are still working out the best combinations with different plants, the report said.

However, the report also reminded that the aroma treatment is not suitable for everyone as two volunteers were found allergic to the smells.

"The patient needs to be fond of the smells in the first place, otherwise, the result won't be satisfactory," said a researcher at the Plant Research Center under Shanghai Jiaotong University.