Herbal Treatment for Insomnia

Herbs and Herbal Therapies

Insomnia can be naturally relieved with herbal teas, infusions and baths. Professional herbalists do not prescribe herbs simply to treat symptoms such as insomnia but aim to correct the imbalances within the body that cause those symptoms. For example, sedative herbs such as hops and valerian are used to relax the nervous system to that you enjoy natural, restorative sleep. Each herb contains a variety of active constituents and has a main action and several subsidiary actions which determine the conditions for which it is most appropriate. Numerous plants have sedative action. Plants commonly prescribed as aids in promoting sleep include: passionflower (Passiflora incarnata), hops (Humulus lupulus), valerian (Valeriana officinalis), skullcap (Scutellaria lateriflora), and chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla).

How Much and When

Unless otherwise specified, for insomnia, take one or two cupfuls of an infusion or decoction in the evening about 30-60 minutes before bedtime. An additional cup can be taken in the night if you wake up. Where a remedy that will not make you drowsy is indicated for conditions associated with insomnia, you can take it three times a day. Reduce the dosage of herbs taken by mouth by a quarter for children under five years old and by a half for children under twelve. Consult a professional herbalist and your doctor before administering any herbs to children.

Valerian (Valeriana officinalis)
Jamaica Dogwood (Piscidia piscipula)
Hops (Humulus lupulus)
Californian Poppy (Eschscholtzia Californica)
Chamomile (Chamaemelum nobile)
Balm
Oats
Wild Lettuce
Herbal Bath
Herbal Teas
Lemon balm Tea
Valerian Tea
Another Valerian Herbal Tea Recipe
Young Pine or Fir needle Tea

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