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Lemon Balm is an herbaceous perennial in the mint family. It grows naturally in southern Europe and northern Africa where it grows on disturbed land, along roadsides and in landfills from sea level into the mountains.

It grows in any well-drained soil and is especially tolerant of poor, sandy soils. It can also withstand the full force of the sun.

Lemon Balm demonstrates an effective sedative action and is commonly made into a pleasant, lemony-tasting tea.

Try making a tea with 2 teaspoons of dried lemon balm in a cup of boiling water. Steep the tea for 10 minutes, strain, and drink just before going to bed.

A native of the mountains of the western Mediterranean, Lavender is a flowering bush that was first 'domesticated' by the Arabians after which it was spread throughout Europe by the Romans.

Lavender was brought to North America by the Pilgrims and it was seen as one of the very first garden plants in Australia during the 1800s. It is found in abundance in the wild in many areas of the world as well as being garden grown in well-drained, sun drenched areas, for preference in a somewhat alkaline soil. The smaller species also grow quite easily in well-drained pots.

The essential oil from this flowering herb acts to depress the central nervous system in a manner comparable to many pharmaceutical tranquilizers.

Lavender is very useful and effective when it is used as a sleep aid. In addition to the use of lavender flowers in a tea, it can also be used as an essential oil distilled from the leaves, flowers and stems of the plant.

Lavender oil can be applied topically to relax the muscles or its aroma can be inhaled to get a calming effect. Rubbing lavender essential oil on the feet is a particularly effective method of application, as anything applied to the feet is absorbed rapidly.

Lavender oil is used widely in aromatherapy and can be added to bathwater, dispersed in a vaporizer or simply put onto a tissue and breathed in. The essential oil from the leaves and flowers can also be used in a sachet placed under your pillow.

It should be noted that allergic contact dermatitis has been reported in some individuals applying lavender products externally. So that you can safely detect an allergic reaction it is always a good idea to do a spot test before administering a full application.

You should also note that not all varieties of lavender are tranquilizing - some, like Spanish lavender, can have just the opposite effect.

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 United States, hops form a major ingredient in the flavoring of beer.

Hops are commonly used in conjunction with other flowers and herbs. They are commonly paired with lavender, valerian or chamomile, but also holds their own as a natural relaxing sedative. The dried fruits, from which you can make tea, are normally available, as are capsules, tablets, and tinctures.

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