If you’re reading this, we assume you’ve blacked out the windows and thrown every single piece of blue light beaming electronics out the room. Yet, you’re still having trouble getting to sleep or staying asleep. First of all, know that you’re far from being alone. As a matter of fact, this is a common problem that is affecting about a third of the population. An increase in stress is one of the most common causes. Hormonal imbalances and physical problems can contribute to insomnia or poor-quality sleep, too.
However, there are things that you can do to take action, and they don’t all require using drugs or getting a prescription. Here are 6 herbs that have been proven to help you sleep better at night.
Lavender
Lavender is a purple flowering plant originating from the Mediterranean region. It is famous for its rich aroma, but mainly as a very powerful relaxant and sleeping aid. Lavender essential oils can be inhaled, applied topically or ingested. You could also drink a glass of lavender tea or set up an essential oil diffuser to release its perfume in your room 30 minutes before you plan on going to bed. You could also use herbal linen sprays.
Chamomile
Chamomile tea is a popular, calming beverage. This is partially due to the antioxidant called apigenin. Chamomile tea can also calm digestive problems tied to anxiety and stress that may in and of themselves make it difficult to sleep. This is because chamomile is a natural tranquilizer, which is why we recommend taking chamomile tea in the evening as part of your bedtime ritual.
Oatmeal
Did you know that a bowl of oatmeal could be the key to helping you get to sleep? As a matter of fact, it was found that consuming a small bowl of it could help reduce stress.
If you want to enhance the benefits, add a little cinnamon to it. This won’t just improve the flavor. The cinnamon can help improve blood sugar levels and reduce insulin resistance. That decreases cortisol levels, which will facilitate sleep. Furthermore, the cinnamon can reduce indigestion.
Valerian
Valerian is another calming herb that can be used to treat both anxiety and insomnia. Furthermore, Valerian has been used forever to treat menopause, which makes Valerian an ideal solution if you’re having issues with hot flashes, for instance.
However, know that your mattress could be playing a major role too. For example, memory foam mattresses retain heat, and if you have one, you might want to look at options. Here are some excellent choices of cool mattresses you can choose from. Just switching to a better, cooler mattress could be all that it takes to enjoy a good night’s sleep.
Ashwagandha
Ashwagandha is an herb long used in Indian medicine. It helps to control stress levels, and by bringing down your cortisol levels, you should be able to sleep better. It has the side benefit of protecting your brain from the damage that stress can cause over the long-run.
Magnolia
Magnolia bark is a very powerful sleep supplement. If you haven’t tried it before, go with the lowest dose. This would be a single capsule shortly before bedtime so that you can reset your circadian rhythms.
Note that magnolia bark is a strong sedative, so you shouldn’t use it during the day or if you will be driving in the next few hours. Do not take it in conjunction with any other sleep aids either, whether it is another herb or melatonin.
Homeopathic sleep remedies are popular because they can improve sleep quality and duration. That, in turn, is essential to being awake, alert and fully engaged during the day.
Also check how to make Ranawara tea which is another healthy herbal tea.
