Herbal Sleep Aids – A Detailed Guide to Herbal Sleep Aids
Many people think that herbal sleep aids are effective and say because they are perfectly natural. This may not be the case, however. Additionally, there are a lot of herbal aids to select from, so it may be confusing for you which one to get and to use. You will find the answers to all your questions and plenty of useful advice in this guide on the most popular herbal remedies for lack of sleep.
Valerian
This is probably the most popular one among the different herbal sleep aids available. Valerian has been used to promote relaxation and good sleep since ancient times. However, scientists have not found out how it works exactly to this day. This has caused many doctors to question its effectiveness for insomnia relief. Studies on this herb have contradicting results. Still, many patients report to have improved their sleep with valerian.
According to the Food and Drug Administration, valerian is safe to use. It is not supposed to cause side effects in healthy individuals. Still, you need to know that there have been occasional reports from patients who have claimed to have experienced symptoms, such as headaches, excitability and unease and heart disturbance. Another important thing to keep in mind is that valerian may interact with a variety of medications, including other over the counter herbal aids, so it is best to consult your doctor before using this one of the herbal sleep aids.
You can use valerian herbal liquid extracts or take pill supplements directly. For best results, you should take valerian for at least two or three weeks preferably an hour before going to bed. The treatment should not last longer than two to three months.
Herbal Teas
Herbal teas are perhaps the most widely used herbal sleep aids. They are easily accessible and generally safe. You can readily choose to drink traditional chamomile tea before going to bed or opt for lemon balm, hops or passionflower tea. All of these are know to promote relaxation of the body and some level of stress relief. In turn, you will be able to fall asleep more easily and sleep better. In general, the warm liquid also aids for relaxation.
In general, the herbal teas produce good results, but they are not as strong as the results produced by valerian. Still, they tend to be safer.
Lavender
This herb is not to be taken orally, but its light aroma is known to have a sedative effect. In fact, lavender has been used for promoting relaxation in bedrooms since ancient times. Some recent studies have concluded that is has a sufficiently powerful sedative effect to promote healthy sleep.
Despite the promising findings, the effects of this herb have not been fully studies yet. What we know now is that its use does not produce side effects of any type.
There are various ways in which you can use this one of the herbal sleep aids. You can use lavender oil for aromatherapy or apply a few drops of lavender oil to a warm bath. You can also put a sachet of dried lavender under your pillow.
Now you know all about herbal sleep aids.