Sleep is as important to our bodies as food and drink. Your mind and body cannot get the recuperation and regeneration it needs without good-quality, sustained deep sleep. Many people can struggle to get the recommended six to eight hours a day of sleep, and even if they do, their bodies might not get the rest they need if the sleep is light and disturbed.
There are a lot of things anyone can do to help them get a better night of sleep and invest in their rest, and one of the best value investments is in simple herbs and spices that can help you rest and relax. Some of these helpful herbs have been used for centuries to help people sleep in many different ways. Some can help just by having their scent in the air, and some can be used in herbal teas or meals to help your body get set up for deep sleep. Here are some you can try.
The Scent of Lavender
Lavender has long been recognized as a sleep aid and has been used for hundreds of years to help people get a good night of rest.
A potted lavender plant is a great plant to keep in your bedroom, but you can also use lavender oils and an oil diffuser to get the same effect. If you do this around half an hour before you plan on going to sleep, your bedroom should be waiting for you, pleasantly filled with a lavender scent. Lavender is also used in a number of sleep products like night creams and bath bombs to help people relax before bed, so look out for products that have lavender as the main ingredient.
Take Valerian Root Supplements, or Diffuse Its Oil
The Valerian flower is an attractive plant with a pleasant scent that has been used for all sorts of medicinal purposes for thousands of years. The ancient Greeks and the Roman Empire made use of valerian to help them relax, clear their mind, and sleep.
You can find valerian root in supplement form in many health and fitness stores, and you can also find it as a powder that can be added to herbal teas or food. Its oil can be diffused much like lavender, but pairing valerian root supplements or teas with a diffused lavender oil scent can be particularly effective if you are trying to get a better night of sleep.
Chamomile Tea is the Perfect Bed Time Beverage
One of the most well-known herbs for helping sleep is Chamomile. It has been used in herbal teas for thousands of years and is a great natural remedy for restlessness and insomnia. Studies of chamomile have shown that it is a natural mild tranquilizer that can ease anxiousness and aid relaxation. It has also been shown to boost the immune system and improve cardiovascular problems.
Chamomile is a plant that looks similar to a daisy and is often used in natural sleep remedies and medicines. Using it in herbal tea is a simple way to add it into your diet, and is one of the many herbs and foods, that can help your body prepare for rest. Making a tea from chamomile, maybe with some valerian root added, is the perfect addition to a late-night self-care ritual.
Herbs and spices can offer some relief from sleeping problems and insomnia, but if you have persistent problems getting to sleep at night, you should consider consulting your doctor. Extended periods of interrupted or poor-quality sleep can cause physical and mental health problems that should not go unaddressed. Hopefully, by adding one or two of these herbs to your self-care routine, you can get the good-quality, deep sleep your body needs night after night.
