what is an herb that helps you sleep?

Question

i want to fall asleep more naturally. Sometimes whent I cant sleep I take tylenol pm, and then i feel tired in the morning. I feel like a raw herb would let me fall asleep. without any side effects.

Answer 1

Melatonin? It's an over-the-counter remedy. I'm not sure if it's herbal, though.

Answer 2

Technically opium is an herbal extract! However as you do not want any side effects..........try actually getting into a relaxation mode. Learn to switch off before you go to bed, relax, its far better than drugs and herbs.

OR

Try a meditation. This, although it may sound that way, is not a thing about religion, its more about the peace suggested by the act. This is an aural and visual meditation using your own imagination.

1. The Sound.
Imagine Tibetan Buddhist Monks, rows and rows of them, all chanting in a very deep voice, this is split into 8 syllables, chanted slowly and very rhythmically, NA ME OH HO REN GAY KEY OH, (don't worry about what it means, you are not trying to become a Buddhist, although you can say you have been praying for the good of mankind, a nice thought!), concentrate on the sound now, feel yourself unwinding and relaxing. You may even fall asleep while doing it.

2. The Picture.
You can see row after row of happy smiling Buddhist Monks and Nuns, thousands, millions,of smiling happy faces, try to catch the vibe, feel the happiness, relax and join in. This can be a bit difficult at first, so try the sound first then go for the picture.

Answer 3

Very sensitive individuals can react to herbs just like they do to any medication. As others have said, they are drugs. "Natural" is not necessarily better, or safer.

The brain makes sleep-inducing melatonin naturally. You can help it do that by dimming the lights in your house around sunset. Ever notice that when the power is out, you tend to go to bed much earlier than usual, and fall asleep almost immediately? That's your brain making melatonin in the dark. (I tried the pill form of melatonin. For me, it triggered mild depression but did nothing for sleep.)

Bright light causes melatonin to clear out of your system, so put a night light in the bathroom if you usually get up in the middle of the night.

The most natural and reliable way to fall asleep is to teach yourself to relax. Whether you call it self-hypnosis, meditation or progressive relaxation, it can be learned easily. Focus on your breathing and relax your feet, then your ankles, calves, and so on.

There are many books on the subject, although you don't really need one. Just practice breathing and relaxing every night when you go to bed. If your mind drifts, it's no big deal. Just bring it back to focus on your breathing. You'll be amazed at how quickly you'll be able to go into "sleep mode" after a couple weeks of practice.

Music can help remind your brain that it's time to sleep. I use new-age or classical, but a friend uses rock. Use whatever works for you, but use that particular music only at bedtime, so your brain and body connect it with relaxing and going to sleep.

Back to herbs, which is what you really wanted to know: Sleepytime tea has a good mix of relaxing herbs and is least likely to make you tired the next day. Hops and Catnip are mild. Some people swear by Valerian and Passionflower (it made me stupid the next day.) As with most things, you get what you pay for. If you're harvesting raw herbs from the wild, make sure you know what you're doing!

Finally, if you're having frequent problems sleeping, talk to your doctor. The newer, short-acting sleep meds can be helpful in getting a regular sleep pattern established.

Answer 4

Go to Wal-Mart and buy a bottle of Melatonin. It is very inexpensive. Take one tab about 1 hour before bedtime. You will fall asleep naturally and will not be groggy in the morning.

Melatonin is naturally produced by your body when it becomes dark outside. As we age we produce less of this chemical.

Give it a try - I have used it with great success when I have a stressful day and cannot fall asleep.

Answer 5

Of course there are herbs that can help you sleep. Those include chamomile, hops, or valerian root, but these are really just herbs being used like drugs. It's no different from taking Valium, which is in fact a derivative of the valerian medicinal herb.


There are nice articles on this. read it here

http://www.newstarget.com/001973.html

http://www.newstarget.com/001975.html

Answer 6

Chamomile Tea The Herb is also known as Manazanilla. Brew in boiling water,let it steep then drink before going to bed.

Answer 7

Pasiflora Indica

Answer 8

Three Plants to Promote Peaceful Slumber

German Chamomile – (Matricaria recutita)
Lemon Balm – (Melissa officinalis)
Passionflower - (Passiflora incarnata)


I hate tylonal pm too! check the website listed for full description on these herbs that have worked for me too!

http://www.immunesupport.com/Library/showarticle.cfm/ID/2950

Answer 9

Weed. i know its illigal and all, but trust me, there has never been a thing on the market (normal or black) that can make you sleep like that, and no side effects in the mornings. but if you are a person that gets addicted to something easilly, i would suggest not trying it.

Answer 10

Try mint tea with honey. Or you can also go with Valerian. They usually produce sedative medication from this herb. But if you want to go all natural, use the plant.
Check this out:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valerian_(plant)

Answer 11

Valerian