New Delhi: Sleep is your body's natural healing mechanism. A good night's sleep prepares you for a productive day. You need 7 to 9 hours of sleep per night to feel rested and revitalised, yet getting adequate sleep can be challenging at times. Herbs can help you sleep better by addressing some of the root reasons for sleep deprivation. A hurried lifestyle, worry, and stress are common causes of sleep deficiency. Stress affects the production of the neurotransmitter serotonin. Increasing serotonin levels offsets the chemical imbalance causing the most common sleep disorder, insomnia.
Listed below are some herbs that help to induce sleep:
1. Passion Flower:
Passionflower contains nerve-relaxing flavonoids that aid in relaxation and sleep. This tropical flower has a pleasant flavour and is widely used in herbal, over-the-counter sedatives. Passionflower is often used to quiet the mind before surgery, and some people use it to treat pain, sleeplessness, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.
2. Holy Basil:
Holy basil, a herb that has been used in medicine to treat a variety of health ailments such as nausea, bug bites, skin rashes, and bronchitis, has been shown to have significant impacts on sleep disorders. This potent plant promotes improved sleeping by reducing worry and tension, both of which can interfere with a good night's sleep. It also helps with aches and pains whether you're awake or asleep!
3. Chamomile:
Chamomile is a natural herb that promotes sleep and relaxation. It has mild sedative qualities that can help to soothe the mind and body, lowering stress and worry that can disrupt sleep. A popular approach to incorporate this natural cure into a sleep routine is to drink chamomile tea before bed. Inhaling or applying chamomile essential oil to the skin might also have a relaxing effect.
4. Lavender:
For generations, lavender has been used as a natural medicine to promote sleep and calm. Lavender is believed to help soothe the mind and body, lowering tension and anxiety, which can interfere with sleep. Inhaling lavender essential oil or applying it to the skin has also been demonstrated to help calm down nervous system activity, resulting in a more pleasant and restful sleep.
5. Ashwagandha:
Ashwagandha is a medicinal herb that is often used to treat insomnia since studies have shown that it improves sleep onset latency and quality of sleep. The true sleep-promoting chemicals of Ashwagandha are found in the plant's leaves—out of which triethylene glycol acts to decrease sensations of stress or anxiety, create serenity, and make it easier to fall asleep.