anxiety insomnia

Valerian, a hardy perennial flowering plant with sweetly smelling white or pink flowers, grows in many parts of Asia and Europe and now also grows naturally in areas of the USA. Other names commonly used for valerian include: garden valerian, and garden heliotrope (no relation to Heliotrope - Heliotropum).

Valerian is also known by various folk names: St. George's Herb, Bloody Butcher, Cat's Valerian, Phu, Red Valerian, Set Well, English Valerian, Vandal Root, Fragrant Valerian, Amantilla, Sets Wale, All-Heal, and Caopn's Trailer.

The primary components used for medicinal purposes are the roots, rhizomes (underground stems) and stolons (horizontal stems). Usually harvested in September, the dried roots can be used to prepare teas and tinctures, while the dried plant materials ordinarily find their way into capsules or tablets.

Reference is made to the use of valerian as a medicinal herb as far back as the time of rome and ancient Greece. Hippocrates wrote about its therapeutic uses and, in the 2nd century, Galen prescribed valerian for insomnia. The 16th century saw it used to treat heart palpitations, headaches, nervousness, and trembling. In the mid-19th century, many considered valerian a stimulant that caused some of the same complaints it is thought to treat and held it in low esteem as a medicinal herb. During World War II the English used it for the relief of stress during air raids.

Unlike many other natural herbal sleep aids, to gain the benefits of the effects of valerian you need to use it regularly, with the full effects building over time.

Results should appear after about a month and regular use promotes deep relaxation and sleep. Several studies suggest valerian as far and away the best natural solution for insomnia and general sleeplessness.

Frequently prescribed as a calming sleep aid, valerian also plays a useful role in the treatment of anxiety-related sleep problems.

Unlike other frequently prescribed sleep medications, valerian lacks toxicity, does not impair your ability to drive or operate heavy machinery and does not exaggerate the effects of alcohol.

Hops are the fruit of a member of the cannabis family native to Europe, North America, and Asia. Grown widely in the Pacific Northwest of the USA, hops appear as a central ingredient in adding flavor to beer.

Hops are generally used together with other flowers and herbs. They are typically mixed with chamomile, lavender or valerian, but also holds their own as a relaxing natural sedative. The dried fruits, from which you can make tea, are frequently available, as are tablets, tinctures, and capsules.

Generally, no side effects or adverse drug interactions are reported from the use of hops, but some individuals have experienced a rare allergic reaction or contact dermatitis from the pollen crystals in the fruits.

California poppy contains the compound protopine, which has been described as being similar in effect to a lighter form of morphine.

Unlike its cousin the Opium poppy, this flower doesn't contain morphine, although it has a similar structure. Because of this, the California poppy doesn't have any of the addictive properties of its narcotic relative.

Right now no dosage guidelines have been established as there have been very few clinical studies of the effects of the California poppy.