effects of insomnia on the mind

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

Lavender was brought to the United States by the Pilgrims and it appeared as one of the first garden plants in Australia in the 19th century. It is found abundantly in the wild in many areas of the world as well as being garden grown in sun drenched, well-drained areas, ideally in a somewhat 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 similar to many pharmaceutical tranquilizers.

Lavender is both useful and effective in its usage as a sleep aid. On top of the use of lavender flowers in a brewed tea, it may also be used as an essential oil distilled from the leaves, stems and flowers of the plant.

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

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

It should be noted however that allergic contact dermatitis has been well documented in some individuals using 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 have a tranquilizing effect - some, like Spanish lavender, can have just the opposite effect.

Chamomile is a common flowering plant that grows in various parts of central and southern Europe (Slovakia, Hungary, Croatia, Germany, and Italy), as well as in north western Asia. Chamomile is also now widely cultivated in Argentina, North Africa, Egypt, Australia, and the United States.

Normally packaged as a tea, the dried leaves and flowers can be purchased over the counter in both bagged and loose form.

For many hundreds of years Chamomile has proved itself to be a very effective sleep aid and it can be administered in various ways including as a tea and used in a sachet placed under your pillow.

Unlike some other sleep remedies, chamomile does not have to be used on a regular basis to enjoy its effects as a sleep aid. It can be used as required to give fast relief for both anxiety and sleeplessness.

Chamomile tea, which is made from the dried flowers and leaves of this common plant, often proves most effective when sipped a half an hour to forty-five minutes before going to bed.

Chamomile can prove especially helpful in alleviating the symptoms of mild, or transient, insomnia.

Chamomile can also reduce the histamine-based swelling produced by some allergic reactions, and is an excellent solution when congested sinuses or food allergies are a contributory factor to sleeplessness.

It should be noted that hay fever sufferers who demonstrate an allergic reaction to ragweed and its close botanical relatives (such as aster and chrysanthemum) often display a similar reaction to Chamomile.

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

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

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