(Yuganov Konstantin / Shutterstock.com)
Sleep is the way your body rejuvenates itself. In fact, getting a night of good quality sleep actually prepares you for the next day. If you get enough zzzs you wake up feeling rested, relaxed, and raring to go.
But if you are like many, you may not be getting enough sleep. According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), more than a third of Americans are not. The American Academy of Sleep Medicine recommends that healthy adults aged 18-60 should sleep at least 7 hours a night. Are you?
If you have difficulty falling or staying asleep, you don’t have to turn to sleeping pills. Try these seven natural herbs that can help improve the quality of your sleep.
Chamomile
Drinking a cup of relaxing chamomile tea before bed is a well-known sleep remedy because this yellow and white flower has natural sedative effects. According to Healthline, The flowers of chamomile contain apigenin which is an antioxidant that may induce muscle relaxation and help you fall asleep faster.
(teatian / Shutterstock.com)
Lavender
This purple flower has long been used in aromatherapy to help calm restlessness, explained a blog from Alaska Sleep. Lavender is so calming that it is used in so many baby products. In fact, a study in the International Journal of Psychiatry in Clinical Practice found that using lavender essential oil could help soothe anxiety and help you sleep better.
(Chamille White / Shutterstock.com)
Valerian Root
People have been using valerian root as a natural sleep aid since the 18 th century according to Medical News Today. That’s because this herb could help you fall asleep faster by improving sleep latency (the time it takes you to fall asleep after you go to bed). This root is available as an extract, tea and as a supplement.
(Chatham172 / Shutterstock.com)
Passionflower
Passionflower is also a natural herbal remedy for insomnia because of the herbs calming properties. WebMD explained that people have traditionally used passionflower as a folk remedy for anxiety, stress, and to help them get better sleep.
(Katinkah / Shutterstock.com)
Ginkgo Biloba
This herb is normally used for its memory and cognition benefits according to the Alaska Sleep blog but it also has an effect on sleep quality. That’s because it may help to reduce the symptoms of anxiety that frequently include sleep issues. The effects of sleeplessness can make anxiety even worse. Drinking ginkgo biloba tea or taking a supplement 30-60 minutes before bed may contribute to better sleep.
(Heike Brauer / Shutterstock.com)
