Natural Sleep Aids: Herbal and Aromatic Remedies for Insomnia

Chamomile in Your Cup and Lavender in Your Linens...

We’ve all tossed and turned, wishing we could count to a magic “sheep number” and guarantee a night of uninterrupted rest. We lie frustrated in bed, we pace around the house, we fix a snack, or we watch television – all the while knowing that we need sleep more than anything else. But stories of sleeping pill addictions and ominous labels on over-the-counter sleep aids understandably make sleep-seekers suspicious. Are there gentle, safe remedies for insomnia? You bet. In fact, there are numerous natural sleep aids of the herbal and aromatic variety. Since natural therapies have different effects on different people, you may need to shop around to find your cure for temporary insomnia, but once you find it, you’ll drift away.

If insomnia is a long-term problem for you, you should certainly consult a doctor. But if you only experience sleeplessness on occasion (when you’re stressed, anxious, jet-lagged, or otherwise off-kilter), consider a natural sleep aid as an alternative to over-the-counter medication. These herbal and aromatic remedies for insomnia can help readjust your body’s clock and draw the curtain for sweet dreams.

Chamomile
This classic herbal relaxer is derived from the Matricaria recutita plant. Related to the sunflower, the German chamomile flower looks like a daisy with its petals pushed back. Also used as a digestive aid, chamomile is typically prepared in tea format. Chamomile flowers, which emit a mild floral smell, can be added directly to hot water and strained out. Of course, because this is such a popular folk remedy for insomnia, chamomile is readily available in bag form at virtually all grocery stores. Big-name tea companies typically sell chamomile under its conventional name, but some quietly add it into a bedtime-branded mix. This gentle sedative is perhaps the most common natural sleed aid.