Insomnia Sleep Herbal
Insomnia episodes are due to psychological disorders - grief, stress, depression, and anxiety. Herbs help to get sound sleep by calming down & nourishing the nervous system as well.
Ayurvedic Causes of Insomnia
In the Ayurvedic teachings insomnia is a fire disorder and its health restoring strategies encompass cooling off the burning in vata (nerve humour) and pitta (fire). The treatment concentrates on cooling off this bad junction by re-balancing pitta.
Herbal remedies sleep insomnia
Calamus root sleep herbal [Acorus calamus L.]
Calamus was first to be discovered by the Indian herbalists. The dried root has been used to treat memory impairment, melancholia, insomnia and epilepsy. In Europe, in the late 1800s, physicians used Calamus extract for stomach upset, but also use them as a sedative and painkiller. In North American, some Indians cultivated Calamus and used it as a hallucinogen.
Chamomile sleep herbal [Anthemis nobilis]
It has proved a very effective sleep aid and it can be administered in a variety of ways including being brewed as a tea and used in a sachet placed under your pillow. Unlike some herbal sleep remedies, you do not need to use Chamomile on a regular basis to enjoy its effects as a treatment for sleeplessness. It can be used on the spot to provide quick relief for sleeplessness and anxiety. 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 relieving the symptoms of mild insomnia (also known as transient insomnia).
Valerian root sleep herbal [valeriana officinalis]
It is used as a sleep aid to help insomnia and other sleeping problems. Herbal remedy, that is being promoted for its ability to promote relaxation, sleep, and improve stress symptoms. Valerian is a central nervous system relaxer, and as such has been used as a calming sleep aid for over 1,000 years. When taken in the proper dosage, Valerian can induce restful sleep without grogginess the next morning, unlike prescription drugs.
Valerian has a fairly wide range of uses in the home medicine cabinet. It is an effective stress reducer, and has benefit in cases of nervous tension, depression, irritability, hysteria, panic, anxiety, fear, stomach cramping, indigestion due to nervousness, delusions, exhaustion, and, of course, nervous sleeplessness. It also appears to have real benefits in cases of sciatica, multiple sclerosis, epilepsy, shingles, and peripheral neuropathy, including numbness, tingling, muscle weakness, and pain in the extremities. Testing has also revealed that it eases muscle cramping, rheumatic pain, migraines, uterine cramps, intestinal colic, and stress-related heart problems and hypertension. It has shown some benefit in behavioral problems in both adults and children, and is used to treat attention deficit disorders, hyperactivity, anxiety headaches, and bedwetting, and it has shown some promise in helping reduce thumb sucking and nail biting in children. It has a stabilizing effect on blood pressure and can help regulate arrhythmias.
Lastly, Valerian is useful as a digestive aid, is helpful in cases of gas, diarrhea, and cramps, and alleviates the pain of ulcers. In the respiratory tract, it is believed to be of benefit in reducing the discomfort of asthma attacks. Valerian often seems only to work when taken over longer periods (several weeks), though many users find that it takes effect immediately.
Jatamansi sleep herbal [Nordostachys jatamansi DC]
Its root is used in Ayurveda. The plant is commonly found in Himalaya. Jatamansi is used for treating insomnia, mental instability, and is used as a memory enhancer. Paste if applied externally helps in inflammation, burning sensation and inflammation due to injuries. Internally it helps in indigestion, flatulence, liver diseases, breathing difficulty, dysurea and for mental alertness. Hair oil helps to promote hair growth and calms anxiety. It is used in Ayurvedic formulations for headache, loss of memory, improves renal function, regulation of blood pressure, aphrodisiac and induces sleep. It is helpful in general debility and weakness caused by insomnia. The plant has a rich history of medicinal use and has been valued for centuries in Ayurvedic (Indian) and Unani (ancient Greco-Arab) systems of medicine. The scientific literature contains primarily phytochemical and animal studies of the plant's activity on the nervous system.
Passion Flower sleep herbal
It has been described as sedative, hypnotic, anxiolytic, and antispasmodic. Sources reveal the ability of passion flower to decrease aggressiveness, restlessness, hypermotility (unable to stop or slow down physical movement), and to raise the pain threshold. There are several other applications of passion flower; these include neuralgia (nerve pain), seizures, spasmodic asthma, nervousness, palpitations, high blood pressure, and pain. Other non-nervous system related conditions for which passion flower may be of use include stomach upset, menopause symptoms, burns, and hemorrhoids (topical application). Outside of its use in the central nervous system as a calmative, it appears to have some antibacterial and antifungal effects.
As mentioned earlier, the passion flower has a wonderfully calming and sedative action, and it also acts as a muscle relaxant. When one uses passion flower extract before going to sleep, one can wake up feeling completely refreshed and alert as never before. This is because passion flower has a sedative and antispasmodic action, and this relaxes spasms and tension if any in one's muscles.
St John's wort sleep herbal [Hypericum]
It is today most widely known as a herbal treatment for major depression. In some countries, such as Germany, it is commonly prescribed for mild depression, especially in children, adolescents, and where cost is a concern. Standardized extracts are generally available over the counter; however, in some countries (such as Ireland) a prescription is required. Extracts are usually in tablet or capsule form, and also in teabags and tinctures. St. John's wort has been used for centuries to treat mental disorders and nerve pain.
St. John's wort has also been used as a sedative and a treatment for malaria, as well as a balm for wounds, burns, and insect bites. Today, St. John's wort is used by some for depression, anxiety, and/or sleep disorders. In Germany, more than fifty percent of depression, anxiety, and sleep disorders are treated with Hypericum.St. John's Wort, can limit the effectiveness of many prescribed medications such as blood thinners, birth control pills and some anticancer medications.
Skullcap sleep herbal [Scutellaria lateriflora]
Skullcap is a powerful medicinal herb, it is used in alternative medicine as an anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic, slightly astringent, emmenagogue, febrifuge, nervine, sedative and strongly tonic. Some valuable constituents found in the plant are Scutellarin, Catalpol, other Volatile oils, bitter iridoids and Tannins. Scientific studies are proving this to be a valuable plant in many areas for mental disorders. Skullcap is used in the treatment of a wide range of nervous conditions including epilepsy, insomnia, hysteria, anxiety, delerium tremens, withdrawal from barbiturates and tranquilisers. A medicinal infusion of the plant is used to promote menstruation, it should not be given to pregnant women since it can induce a miscarriage, the infusion is also used in the treatment of throat infections. The infusion is given for nervous headaches, neuralgia and in headache arising from incessant coughing, pain, and inducing sleep when necessary, without any unpleasant symptoms following. Skullcap is currently being used as an alternative medicine to treat ADD and a number of nerve disorders. It should be used with caution, because in overdose it causes giddiness, stupor, confusion and twitching.
Ashwagandha sleep herbal [Withania somnifera]
"Indian Ginseng" directly opposes the reaction of stress by reducing the amount of Cortisol released by the adrenal glands of our body. Long term production of Cortisol has adverse effect on our health like: High Blood pressure, Stomach Ulcers, Immune depression and Insomnia. Ashwagandha also has a sedative effect which claims the adrenaline fueled anxiety that accompanies stressful life styles, thereby dealing with another factor that is a result and a cause of stress indeed. Ashwagandha has often been used to treat primary anxiety states. If your sleep is disturbed, this sedative effect can be used to encourage restful sleep, again helping the body or recover from the effects of stress. This ayurvedic herb has been used in India as an adaptogen for centuries. It is thought to help increase the body's resistance towards adverse influences. It is used for Stress, general debility, depression & moodiness, aging, fatigue (temporary and chronic), anxiety, depressed immunity, sexual debility in males, infertility, memory loss, and hormonal imbalances. Take with lots of liquid, milk, honey and ginger when under weight, bone weakness and premature aging are present.
Are Herbal remedies safe?
Remember that herbal remedies are medicines, thus it too has some side effects. Herbal remedies can also interact with other medicines. It is best to get registered herbal practitioners advice before taking herbal remedies, particularly if the treatment is for pregnant women, breast-feeding mother, child or older people.
Other interesting pages
Insomnia Sleep herbal - Herbs help to get sound sleep by calming down & nourishing the nervous system as well.
Homeopathic sleep remedies - Homeopathy is nano-pharmacology (uses very small dosage), which treat Insomnia by calming down mind & stimulating the body system.
Yoga Sleep therapy - Yoga has the ability to balance body, mind & spirit. It believed to give good result for sleep disorders such as insomnia.
Acupressure Sleep healing - Acupressure is particularly effective in treating insomnia. Many people report immediate improvements in their sleeping habits.
Reflexology sleep massage - It not only induces sleep, but provide goodness for overall body system.
Pranayam for sleep insomnia - Several researches suggest that the power of pranayam in treating stress related disorders such as insomnia is appealing.
Yoga Nidra asn sleep aid - It works very effectively on mental resolve, will power, resolutions and calms the mind, thus useful for insomnias.
Next Homeopathic Sleep remedies
