Natural Sleep Remedies

Aromatherapy for sleep:

 Clary Sage essential oil : For relaxation and restful sleep,add a few drops of clary sage oil to your bedtime bath, and drink a cup of warm verbena tea, you will enjoy a sound restful sleep.

Lavender essential oil : Add a few drops to your bedtime bath,add a few drops to a diffuser,  and drink a cup of warm chamomile tea and relax into a soothing restful sleep.

Neroli essential oil is warm soothing and relaxing, add a few drops to a diffuser, and a few drops to your bath water, and enjoy the delicious scent of orange flowers before you relax into a sound restful sleep.

Lemon Verbena essential oil, a few drops added to a diffuser, or added to your bath produces sound restful sleep.

Herbs for sleep:

Lemon Balm (melissa officinalis):

Add a couple of teaspoons of the dried herd to a cup of boiling water, allow it to infuse for five minutes, and drink .

Valerian tea can be made in a similar manner to the lemon balm, and it's a very effective sleep inducer.

Passionflower, chamomile,and hops all have a sedative action and can be made in a similar manner to the other two.

Do not mix the herbs, and do not take more than one cup per day. Although these herbs can be taken by most people without side effects, in some sensitive people they may have a reaction, and that's why it is essential not to mix the herbs.

Australian Bush Essences:

Black-eyed Susan, Boronia, Crowea, Paw Paw, Peach-flowered Tea-tree. These flower essences are taken in drop doses, from the dosage bottle, which contains a diluted preparation taken from the stock bottle. The usual dosage is seven drops taken under the tongue twice a day,it may be added to a glass of water. The essence is usually taken over a period of two weeks.

Australian Flower Essences:

Brown Boronia, frees the mind of anxious thoughts, relieves stress, and allows for a deep restful sleep.

Dosage will vary according to the severity of the problem.

North American Flower Essences:

Black-eyed susan, insomnia due to troubling thoughts.

Chamomile, calming emotional upset, very beneficial for children's sleeplessness.

Chaparral, for intense dreaming which disrupts sleep.

Dill, insomnia due to irritability which disturbs sleep.

Lavender, relaxes exhausted nerves.

Mugwort, the intense dreams disturb the sleep.

Red Chestnut, insomnia resulting from worry about others.

Saint John's Wort, dream disturbances connected to fears and stress.

Bach Flower Remedies:

Aspen, for fears of unknown origin which keep you awake, and for repeated nightmares.

Impatiens, for those who want everything done yesterday, and lay awake worrying about what hasn't been accomplished.

Olive, for those who are too exhausted to sleep.

White Chestnut, for those who are kept awake by persistent unwanted thoughts.

Homeopathic remedies for sleep:

This is a broad and non-classical application of homeopathy, however, the particular remedies listed if given appropriately for the particular type of sleep disturbance, then positive results will be achieved.

For those who have disturbed sleep, wake up after some sleep, and then find it difficult to return to sleep. Give Ignatia 200c.

For people who overstudy and become sleepless. Give Kali Phos3x or 6x,

For elderley people who wander around during the night and disturb others.

Give Hyocyamus 6c.

Over fatigue, brain fag. Give Picric acid 200c.

Insomnia in heart disease or high blood pressure. Give Aconite 200c

Although this is not classical homoeopathy, it works!

Tissue Salts:

Exhausted unable to tune out, Kale phos 3x, or 6x.

Muscle relaxant, Mag phos, 3x or 6x.

Nutrition,

  Silicon rich foods: rice, oats, barley, cucumber, celery, lettuce improve calcium metabolism and calm the nervous system.

Grains: whole wheat, brown rice and oats calm the nervous system.

Mushrooms: With few exceptions, mushrooms mostly have a soothing effect on the nerves, the reishi mushroom in particular, is used to strengthen the nervous system.

Fruit: Mulberries, schishandra berries, mandarin, and lemon calm the spirit.

Reference: Healing with Whole Foods, Paul Pritchard.

Re the old remedy of a glass of milk before bed:

According to Jean Carper, The Food Pharmacy, milk for insomniacs,never!

Milk, particularly low fat milk wakes you up. " Milk deliver tyrosine to the brain, which in turn triggers production of dopamine and norepinephrine, stimulating you to think more quickly, and accurately".

NB.If you are taking prescription medications,speak to your doctor first before taking herbs.

Read more: Melatonin, tart cherries and sleep

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