7 Herbs for Sleep

A major and common problem facing each one of us today is that of sleeplessness and people world over are affected with the condition regardless of age and sex. The medical term for lack of sleep is insomnia and the increasing cases of the condition have left the medical community baffled as well.

Insomnia is not an isolated problem in itself; it is an indication of other disorders and also results in many other conditions related to our mental health. Lack of sleep could be a result of nervous disorders like anxiety, stress and tension and sleeplessness could result in weight gain, hypertension, high blood pressure and irritability.

The human body requires at least 7-9 hours of sleep every night for the body and mind to feel rejuvenated. Sleeping restfully and uninterrupted is as important for our mind as it is for our body.

Insomnia is curable by use of tranquilizers and sedatives; however, these strong chemicals should only be used as a last resort lest our bodies form an unhealthy addiction for them. There are many beneficial herbs that can help us sleep better at night and have no side effects unlike the OTC and prescribed medications. Let us find out more about these herbs that can be safely used for inducing quality and quantity sleep.

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Best Herbs for Sleep

Lettuce

Wild lettuce should not be confused with the lettuce that we use for preparing salads though both the herb and the vegetable belong to the same class of families. The herb is well known for its many medicinal values that help with the treatment of various illnesses. Wild lettuce is popularly used in Ayurvedic medicine because it is a sedative and a nervine.

Therefore, it not only helps us sleep better and longer at night but can also be used for numbing the nerves in extreme cases of insomnia. The herb is sold in tincture form and a herbalist should be consulted for the correct dose of the herbal concoction.

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Hops

Hops has always been a favorite herb in alternative form of medicine and was widely used during the two world wars for treating soldiers suffering from insomnia. The number of soldiers who found it difficult to fall alseep was huge because of the fear of being killed while sleeping. Therefore, a number of them preferred keeping the watch rather than going to sleep. Herbal medication prepared using hops kept the soldiers calm and also helped them sleep peacefully at night.

Hops tea bags are available in health food stores and drinking 3-4 cups of the herbal tea every day is recommended in order to cure insomnia.

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Lemon Balm

Lemon balm herb is often used by Ayurvedic doctors to treat various mental disorders rising from irregular functioning of the nervous system. The herb is widely used for treating people suffering from lack of sleep since it makes one feel mentally healthy and strong. It calms and soothes the agitated nerves and also helps relax the muscles; this helps us sleep easier and better at night.

Lemon balm teas are sold in many organic and health food stores and drinking 3-4 cups of the tea through the day is extremely relaxing and a good way of de-stressing. However, one cup of lemon balm tea should definitely be had at least 20 minutes before going to bed.

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Valerian

Roots of the valerian herb were used as anesthesia during the ancient times and the herb was especially administered to pregnant women who were about to give birth but were unable to bear the pain of labor or had to be operated upon. The herb would put them to sleep effectively thus making it easier to operate. However, the herb is no longer used on pregnant women because studies have revealed that incorrect dose of the herb can cause harm to both mother and child.

Valerian is now used for treating patients who suffer from severe insomnia along with other mental health conditions like depression. The herb is also helpful in the treatment of somnambulism as well as somniloquy, both of which can disturb regular sleeping patterns.

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Dandelion

Dandelion is medicinal herb with bright yellow flowers but it is actually the root of dandelion that is used in medicinal preparations. The herb is an excellent remedy for insomnia and drinking three cups of the herbal tea is known to correct the problem of sleeplessness. The herb is sold in powder form and one can prepare herbal tea using the dandelion powder.

Once the problem of insomnia is under control drink only one cup of dandelion tea each day and at least 30 minutes before your bed time. Making this your regular routine will ensure you are never troubled by lack of sleep again.

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Lavender

The flower of lavender was popularly found in all English homes mainly because the fresh smell of the flowers helped keep at bay the other offensive odors. Apart from the aromatic use, the smell of the lavender would infuse calm and peace in the air thus helping people sleep better at night. The delicate smell of the flower of lavender herb is a great relaxant as it effectively calms and de-stresses both your mind and body. These days extracts of lavender are extensively used in beauty treatments because of the peaceful effect it has on mind and body.

Lavender tea is also a popular and preferred way of encouraging quality sleep at night; drink three cups of lavender tea every day if you suffer from insomnia. Do not add sugar or milk to the tea for best results.

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Chamomile Tea

Like Lavender tea, Chamomile tea is also a popular remedy for sleeplessness. The aroma and taste of chamomile tea makes it a favorite among people suffering from insomnia. Due to the popularity of the herb, chamomile tea bags and chamomile essential oil is available in almost all health and food stores these days. Drinking 3-4 cups of plain chamomile tea is a sure way to ensure quality sleep at night. A warm cup of the delicately flavored tea is enough to warm your insides and help the muscles and nerves relax. The tea is best had without sugar, honey and milk.