help for insomnia

Indigenous to the mountains of the western Mediterranean, Lavender is a flowering shrub which 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 showed up as one of the very first garden plants in Australia during the 1800s. It is found in abundance in the wild in many parts of the world as well as being garden grown in sunny, well-drained areas, preferably in a slightly alkaline soil. The smaller species can also be grown quite easily in well-drained pots.

This popular flowering herb's essential oil acts to depress the central nervous system in a manner comparable to many pharmaceutical tranquilizers.

Lavender is both useful and very effective when used as a sleep aid. On top of the use of lavender flowers in a tea, it can also be used in the form of an essential oil distilled from the flowers, stems and leaves 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 most 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 put onto a tissue and breathed in. The essential oil from the flowers and leaves can also be employed in a sachet under your pillow.

It should be noted however that allergic contact dermatitis has been documented in some people using lavender products externally. In order to safely detect an allergic reaction it is sensible to do a spot test before administering a full application.

It should also be noted that not all varieties of lavender are tranquilizing - some, such as Spanish lavender, can have just the opposite effect.

It is believed that honey has sleep inducing properties. Dark honey possesses more antioxidants than light colored honey. Honey can be used either in herbal teas or mixed with warm milk.

Valerian, a hardy perennial flowering plant with sweetly smelling pink or white flowers, grows in large parts of Asia and Europe and now also grows naturally in parts of north America. 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: Vandal Root, English Valerian, Cat's Valerian, St. George's Herb, Bloody Butcher, Fragrant Valerian, All-Heal, Sets Wale, Amantilla, Phu, Caopn's Trailer, Red Valerian, and Set Well.

The primary components used for medicinal purposes are the roots, rhizomes (underground stems) and stolons (horizontal stems). Normally harvested in September, the dried roots can be used to make teas and tinctures, while the dried plant materials often 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 about its therapeutic uses and, in the 2nd century, Galen prescribed valerian for insomnia. The 16th century saw it used to treat heart palpitations, nervousness, headaches, 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 a variety of other natural herbal sleep aids, to gain the benefits of valerian you should 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. Some studies suggest valerian as by far the best natural solution for insomnia and general sleeplessness.

While often 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, doesn't impair your ability to drive or operate heavy machinery and doesn't amplify the effects of alcohol.