Monday, January 26, 2009

Managing Insomnia With Herbal Remedies

By Keira Adams

If you regularly suffer from insomnia, you know that it's a real problem that can cause you considerable difficulties. When you're short on sleep, it can have a major impact on your ability to carry out your day to day routine.

It's possible to get a prescription medication to deal with the problem. However, the side effects of these medications can sometimes be as disturbing as the symptoms of your insomnia. If so, why not take a look at herbal treatments that have been shown to be an effective insomnia remedy.

Consider beginning with something relatively mild, such as chamomile. For countless generations, chamomile has been considered an effective means of inducing sleep. It's actually considered to have some anti-inflammatory properties as well. So it might help to relieve your minor aches and pains, which you might not even be aware of. Have a cup of chamomile tea before turning in for the night for the best results.

Lavender is another herbal treatment you might want to take a look at. This herb is widely used because it's so effective at calming the nerves. People who experience insomnia due to stress and anxiety find this to be a particularly effective remedy. Some people like to gently mist their pillow with some lavender oil before they go to sleep.

Passion flower is considered by many herbalists to be a highly effective natural remedy for insomnia. It has calming and sleep inducing properties, and can even help to relieve pain. It was used by the ancient Aztecs as a sedative and analgesic.

Another commonly used treatment for insomnia is St. John's Wort. It's been used for ages as a treatment for insomnia, as well as for other health concerns like depression and anxiety.

Or there is Valerian Root. This herb has been used for centuries in the treatment of insomnia. It is one of the most commonly used herbs for insomnia due to its natural sedative action. It is also frequently used as a muscle relaxant. It is known for its sedative action against not only insomnia but also restlessness and nervous conditions.

Be sure that you carefully follow the directions when using any herbal remedy, no matter what it's for. The fact that they're a natural product doesn't mean that there can't be side effects. Also, taking higher doses than recommended won't speed up your treatment. It might even make it worse.

Any one of these herbal treatments might be successful for managing your insomnia. However, keep in mind that it may take some trial and error until you find the one that works best for you.

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