home remedies for insomnia

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

The chief 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 make teas and tinctures, while the dried plant materials usually 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 described its therapeutic uses and, in the 2nd century, Galen prescribed valerian for insomnia. In the 16th century saw it used to treat trembling, headaches, nervousness, 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 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 the effects of valerian you must use it on a regular basis, with the full effects building over time.

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

Although commonly prescribed as a calming sleep aid, valerian can also play a useful part in dealing with anxiety-related sleep problems.

Unlike other commonly 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 mountains of the western Mediterranean, Lavender is a flowering bush that was 'domesticated' by the Arabians after which it was spread widely throughout Europe by the Romans.

The Pilgrims brought Lavender to North America and it appeared as one of the first garden plants in Australia during the 19th century. 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.

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

Lavender is both useful and effective when it is used as a sleep aid. As well as the use of lavender flowers in a brewed tea, it may also be used as an essential oil distilled from the leaves, flowers and stems 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 a most effective method of application, as anything rubbed into the feet is absorbed quickly.

Lavender oil is used extensively in aromatherapy and can 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 employed in a sachet underneath your pillow.

You should note that allergic contact dermatitis has been documented in some people using lavender products externally. So that you can safely detect an allergic reaction it is 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, such as Spanish lavender, may have just the opposite effect.

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 the USA, hops form a central ingredient in flavoring beer.

Hops are normally used in conjunction with other herbs and flowers. They are commonly coupled 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 typically available, as are tablets, capsules, and tinctures.

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