Herbal Combinations for sleeplessness
| Generally, herbalists recommend the use of the above herbs in combination with each other to help with sleep.A very commonly used combination of Herbs used in the treatment of sleeplessness is Lemon Balm, Passion flower, Lavender, Hops and Valerian. This combination is widely recognised to offer a non sedating alternative to sleeping tablets which has a very high success rate.
The combination of Lemon Balm, Hops and Valerian in a trial of 225 individuals with disturbed sleep showed an improvement in sleeping of over 80%. Passion flower is commonly included in herbal combinations used to help sleeplessness and anxiety. |
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Lemon Balm Lemon Balm is widely used to treat tenseness, restlessness and irritability. It is a very pleasant smelling herb. A significant number of laboratory studies have shown its effectiveness as a sedative. It has no known contraindications.  |
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Passion Flower The name passion flower arises in memory of the passion of Christ. Its medicinal use is relatively recent, dating back to the late nineteenth century in the USA. It is now probably one of the most popular herbal sedatives used in the UK. Herbal pharmacopoeias describe its uses as being for the treatment of tenseness, restlessness and irritability with difficulty in falling asleep.Passion flower has a quieting activity on the central nervous system. It helps to slow down the breakdown of neurotransmitters and aids sleep without leaving one feeling hung over the next morning. Passion flower is not addictive. It can help relieve headache pain due to stress. It has no known contraindications. |
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Valerian Valerian root smells of a combination of old socks and old shoe leather. Legend says that the Pied Piper of Hamlin used Valerian to lure the rats out of the city. There is extensive scientific evidence of its effectiveness as a calming herb and also of its safety. During World War I, Valerian was given to shell-shocked soldiers and stressed civilians. In Europe, Valerian is the most common herb used for helping people achieve a natural nights sleep.  |
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Hops Hops are of course well known to beer drinkers. Because of the economic importance of Hops, there has been an enormous amount of interest in their chemical composition and those chemicals that may be responsible for the plant’s soporific qualities. In France and Germany the relevant authorities have recognised its value as a sleeping herb. They specifically note that combinations with other calming herbs might be advantageous. In summary, Hops can help a person sleep without causing a headache.   |
