Herbal Insomnia Remedies

Poor sleep can affect all aspects of life. It can cause depression, anxiety, weight gain, or unhealthy skin, and it can get in the way of your work, your home life, and your exercise routine. Unfortunately, because of the busy nature of modern life, more people than ever are suffering from insomnia, and many people don’t think of it as a serious health problem. Instead, they consider it to be a fact of life that just comes with being an adult.

However, this is the wrong approach. Getting enough sleep can have astonishingly positive effects on one’s life. In fact, it’s an essential part of a formula of good health that leads to happiness and well-being. Without it, you will never be as physically and mentally healthy as you could be.

There is a range of remedies for insomnia, and many people use a combination of things. The most important thing is to have a healthy diet and to get plenty of exercise. If you can accomplish that, some combination of medication and other types of therapy should do the trick.

Many people are uncomfortable with prescription sleep medications. They’re made of strange laboratory-produced chemicals, and they often have startling side effects. That’s why herbal remedies are sometimes the best solution, particularly for people whose insomnia is moderate or sporadic. Here are just a few herbs that are known to have sleep-promoting properties.

Chamomile: Chamomile is a mild sedative, which is why many people take it before bed. It relaxes the nerves and calms any anxieties lingering from your day. It also tastes good; try drinking a cup of chamomile tea 1 to 2 hours before putting your head on the pillow.

St. John’s Wort: St. John’s Wort is regarded as a sort of wonder herb with many beneficial properties. Some are well-established, while others have been doubted by various researchers. However, if you ask anyone with experience taking the herb, they will tell you that it has benefits not only for long-term depression, but also for long-term insomnia. Taken daily over an extended period of time, it deepens and lengthens the sleep cycle. Unlike with prescription sleep medications, you have to give this one time to work, rather than expecting results in a single day.

Valerian: Similar to chamomile, valerian root is used mainly as a sedative that helps to calm anxiety and restlessness, which makes it useful for treating mild insomnia. It’s also great as a mild tranquilizer to use during times of heightened stress or mental trauma.

Kava: Although there have been doubt about its long-term benefits, Kava has been proven quite effective as a short-term remedy for headaches, depression, anxiety, and insomnia. It calms the nervous system, which helps relieve stress and promotes relaxation.

Passionflower: Passionflower helps to relieve tension in the muscles, and it can calm stress and anxiety. It has been used in treating withdrawal symptoms for people who are coming off of cocaine or opiates, which is evidence of its calming powers. One of the benefits of passionflower is that it promotes deep sleep while not being addictive and causing no grogginess in the morning.