best cure for insomnia

Hops are the fruit of a member of the cannabis family native to Europe, Asia, and North America. Grown widely in the Pacific Northwest of the US, hops form a major ingredient in flavoring beer.

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

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

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

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

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

There is reference to the use of valerian as a medicinal herb as far back as the time of ancient Greece and Rome. Hippocrates wrote of its therapeutic uses and, in the 2nd century, Galen prescribed valerian for insomnia. In the 16th century saw it used to treat headaches, nervousness, trembling, and heart palpitations. In the mid-19th century, many people 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 The Second World War the English used it to relieve the stress of air raids.

Unlike a variety of other natural herbal sleep aids, to gain the benefits of the effects of valerian you must use it on a regular basis, with the full effects building over time.

Results ought to appear after about a month and regular use promotes deep relaxation and sleep. Many studies suggest valerian as by far the best natural solution for insomnia and general sleeplessness.

Frequently prescribed as a calming sleep aid, valerian can also play 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 magnify the effects of alcohol.

A native of the mountainous regions of the western Mediterranean, Lavender is a flowering shrub that was cultivated by the Arabians before being spread across Europe by the Romans.

The Pilgrims brought Lavender to North America and it appeared as one of the first garden plants in Australia in the 19th century. It can be found abundantly in the wild in many parts of the world as well as being garden grown in sun drenched, well-drained areas, preferably in a slightly alkaline soil. The smaller species can also be grown quite easily in well-drained pots.

The essential oil in this popular flowering herb depresses the central nervous system in a manner that is comparible to many pharmaceutical tranquilizers.

Lavender is very useful and extremely effective when used as a sleep aid. As well as the use of lavender flowers in a brewed tea, it may also be used in the form of an essential oil distilled from the stems, flowers and leaves of the plant.

Lavender oil can be applied topically as a muscle relaxant or its aroma can be inhaled if you want a calming effect. Rubbing lavender essential oil on the feet is an especially effective method of application, as anything rubbed into the feet is absorbed quickly.

Extensively used in aromatherapy, Lavender oil can also be added to bathwater, dispersed in a vaporizer or simply popped onto a tissue and breathed in. The essential oil from the flowers and leaves can also be added to in a sachet underneath your pillow.

You should note that allergic contact dermatitis has been described in some people using lavender products externally. To safely detect an allergic reaction it is judicious to carry out a spot test before administering a full application.

Also note that not all varieties of lavender have a tranquilizing effect - some, such as Spanish lavender, may have just the opposite effect.