Fall Asleep Naturally with Herbs
I have a chronic insomnia problem and I’m not a pill taker. While I have been known to take an Ambien or two every so often, it’s definitely not one of my preferred sleep aids. I’m more likely (as you know) to turn to natural sleep aids to help me fall asleep than I am to turn to sleeping pills.
Try these natural herbal solutions to help you fall asleep fast, reduce nighttime anxiety, and wake up feeling well-rested and refreshed in the morning.
• Take a warm bath with soothing aromatherapy oils. Oils that are known to relax include lavender, melissa, and sage.
• Try placing three pills of coffea under your tongue. Coffea is a homeopathic treatment that’s derived from…that’s right, coffee! Just the right amount of caffeine can calm you down and get you ready for bed. But don’t try and make adjustments-three cups of coffee are an inappropriate substitute!
• Try 300-500 mg of valerian root an hour before bed for a calming effect on the brain and on the body. You can obtain the root either in the pill form as a tincture from any of your preferred health food or herbal supplement stores.
• Drink a cup of chamomile tea. Chamomile is a soother, inside and out and drinking warm liquid before bed is another way to calm your body and prepare for sleep. (You can also take chamomile capsules.)
• Dinner or pre-bed snacks should include foods that contain tryptophan like warm milk, dates, nut butter, tuna, yogurt, turkey, figs, and bananas. Once your body converts the trytophan into serotonin, it’ll help you fall asleep and stay asleep all night.
• St. John’s Wort is another effective all-natural sleep aid. St. John’s Wort can help reduce anxiety which can help you fall asleep fast, but just be sure not to use this herb if you’re taking an anti-depressant (like Zoloft).
• Dose up on Vitamin C to help your body deal with stress, which can in turn help you fall asleep better. Take 3000-6000mg a day.
Most importantly, try and relax, meditate, do some night time yoga, and make sure that if you have a more serious condition that’s preventing sleep, that you take care of it.
Goodnight!
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