Wednesday, May 6, 2009

The Top Herbs for Insomnia Relief

Insomnia is a wide-spread problem in our society. With our increasingly hectic schedules and a disappearing divide between work and home, it is often difficult for our bodies to know when to wind down. Stress and anxiety from a hectic day can often keep a person from getting the rest needed to face another day.

If you’re having trouble sleeping at night, you might consider trying some herbs for insomnia relief. Herbal sleep aids have been around for centuries and do not have the side effects often associated with over-the-counter sleep aids.

  • Lavender: You might notice that lavender is a very popular addition to baby bath soap. That’s because lavender has calming qualities. It helps to ease the mind and induce a sense of calm. If you’re suffering from insomnia due to stress and anxiety, lavender may work to calm your mind at night. It comes in many forms. You can buy a sachet (small packet) and place it under your pillow. You can spray lavender essential oil in the room as part of a insomnia preventative bedtime routine. It’s also available in bath oils, linen sprays and fabric softeners.

  • Valerian: This is actually the root of a perennial flower valerian. It is used by herbalists because it is said to work well with other herbs to induce sleep such as passion flower.

  • The Passion Flower was used by the ancient Aztecs to induce sleep. It helps relax the mind and body. It can be ingested in pill form or in tea.

  • Chamomile: This is an age old remedy for sleeping problems. Chamomile can be most commonly found in tea. Having a cup of chamomile tea before bed is something that may calm your mind. It is widely available at local supermarkets.

No comments: