There are a large number of people that suffer from sleeping problems or insomnia. Difficulty in sleeping, waking up at irregular times through the night, and an uneven sleep cycle may all be as a result of stress, poor diet, or a symptom of an underlying disease. Whatever be the cause, sleeplessness is a worry one can do without. While treating the main cause of insomnia should be a priority, in the mean time one can try certain cures for the sleeplessness.
Some teas have relaxing properties that help calm the nerves, and get you a good night’s rest. The past few years have brought into light the scientific research to back the effectiveness of drinking herbal tea for insomnia. Although the research is still not conclusive, a cup of tea before bedtime will do more good than harm!
In case you are unsure which teas to pick, here are the basic herbal teas that are known for their sleep-inducing qualities:
1. Chamomile: Chamomile tea is of course the superstar of night time teas. There’s little evidence that it has any sedative effects, yet millions of people continue to drink it before going to bed. It has relaxing properties and a cup of chamomile tea can calm you down enough for a night’s rest. You can easily make it yourself by drying out the flowers and brewing them. And it’s also found in most brands of bedtime tea.
2. Valerian: Valerian is one of the few herbs which have actually been found by researchers to have sedative properties. It’s been used for centuries to help with sleep and also anxiety. Made from the root of the flower, it may take a couple of weeks of regular drinking before taking effect.
3. Lavender: Whilst Chamomile and Valerian reign supreme in the bedtime tea category, they aren’t alone. Another plant sometimes put into the mix is Lavender, which is thought to have relaxing and anti-stress properties.
4. Lemon balm: This lemony herb has long been used as a relaxant for many years. It is added to all teas that are sold in the market as a night time tea. Although not as popular as chamomile or lavender, lemon balm is as effective in inducing sleep.
5. St John’s Wort: St John’s Wort is most commonly used as a natural anti-depressant, but has also been found to help with anxiety. Since worry and stress are common reasons why people suffer from insomnia, it could be that it can help promote sleep by reducing the nightly worries. Some precautions need to be taken before this tea can be consumed as it is not suitable for everybody and consulting a physician would be best before investing in this tea.
6. Peppermint: More often used in teas that energizing or help with stomach problems, peppermint is lesser known for its calming properties. It’s thought to help calm your internal systems, and with that your mind.
7. Kava Kava: A risky plant when it comes to consumption, kava kava can be dangerous for people who are allergic or suffer from other ailments. Consult your physician before consuming this tea.
8. Chinese herbs: Chinese medicine is a complex world. There are some herbs typically used to help promote sleep:
- Sour Date Seed
- Poria Paradicis
- Arborvitae Seed
- Schizandra Fruit
And there are some formulas created to reflect the kind of sleep problems you might have. They tend to be connected to a body part as well. For example, problems falling asleep may be connected to the heart and so Chinese medicine would look at ways to restore balance to that organ.
