There are many sleep-deprived people these days. This has led to the increased interest in herbal sleep aids.. Among the most sleep deprived are college students. In fact, it has been reported in a study that only 11% of the college students have good sleep quality. As many as 73% of them have occasional sleep issues. This is perhaps due to the irregularity of their sleeping habits, exam stress and maybe burning the candle at both ends. If you have trouble getting to sleep or wake up frequently, you may have wondered what is the best solution for sleep problems.
A good sleep is necessary for our good health. This is the reason for the market growth in sleep aids and over-the-counter prescriptions. However, I and many other people prefer natural solutions to our sleep problems rather than pharmaceuticals. We have a healthy wariness towards pharmaceuticals mainly about their safety. We believe that herbal sleep aids are much safer and effective and prefer natural solutions to our sleep problems.
Herbal Sleep Aids – Natures Answer
Our ancestors used natural treatments. I can’t help wondering whether the promotion of commercial products is mainly down to the financial interests of the Big Pharma companies.
Personally I now always look to see if there is a natural alternative to pharmaceutical products. If like me you think we should consider natural herbal solutions to our health problems you may want to hear what Dr Apelian has to say. You may have seen her on the TV. She has a pretty shocking story which has motivated her to write a book.
“The Lost Book of Herbal Remedies” includes recipes of tinctures, teas, decoctions, essential oils, syrups, salves, poultices, infusions and many other natural remedies that our grandparents used for centuries. I like this book as it has between 2 and 4 high definition, color pictures for each plant and detailed identification guidelines to make sure you’ve got the right plant.
If you are going to make your own treatments it is very important you identify the plants correctly. Not all herbal sleep aids labeled as natural are necessarily safe and effective. Some of them can interact with other prescriptions and medications. If you are taking other medications you should always check with your doctor before taking anything new.
Speaking of herbal sleep aids, these products come in different forms. Some come in the form of fresh or dried herbs, while others are in the form of pills, tinctures, and powders. As mentioned above, herbal sleep aids are considered as natural alternatives to certain drugs and, if taken as instructed, have a good safety record. However they do contain active chemicals that are powerful and can even be toxic. So, you should consider talking to a herbal expert in addition to a doctor before taking any form of herbal sleep aids.
The Best Herbal Sleep Aids
Chamomile
Among the most well-known herbal sleep aids is chamomile. Numerous clinical trials have shown that chamomile has a mild sedative effect. Aside from that, it has also been taken for the purpose of soothing the stomach in cases of indigestion, gastrointestinal spasms, flatulence, and gastrointestinal tract inflammation. The Food and Drug Administration have certified that this form of herbal sleep aid is safe for both pregnant and nursing women.
Hops
A common ingredient in beer known as hops is also considered as one of the best herbal sleep aids known. Now I am not suggesting you drink a lot of beer. In fact alcohol in excess can make your sleeping problems worse. However sleeping on a pillow distended with dried hops is a traditional treatment for sleeplessness as well as for nervous conditions. You can also take this as a bitter tea or even as a freeze-dried extract in a capsule form.
Lavender
Finally, another herb that is widely considered as one of the best herbal sleep aids sold in the market today is lavender. Most aromatherapists and herbalists love lavender for its great healing quality. As one of the most effective herbal sleep aids, the lavender oil can be sprinkled on your pillow or in a warm bath with some lemon balm. The comforting aroma will lead you to feel sleepy. However, you should watch out for the Spanish lavender since that herb can be stimulating.
All of these plants, lavender, lemon balm, hops and chamomile are all easy to grow in your garden. Lavender in particular is loved by bees. If I ever have a sleepless night I often spend time relaxing in my garden just watching bees. It’s strangely soporific. So you could have beautiful flowers in your garden, be good for the environment and grow your own herbal sleep aids.
