(7 Best) Herbs For Insomnia

Are you struggling with insomnia lately? 

Do you already consider yourself an insomniac who cannot sleep a wink?

Well, don't worry! I know some natural remedies that might be the perfect solution for you.

So here are 7 best herbs for insomnia that can help you fall asleep!

Note. This article is based on my own research on herbs for insomnia.

1. Chamomile

The quality of your sleep influences the quality of your life.

Thus, when you don't sleep well, you don't have enough energy to do all your tasks.

That's why it is important to solve your problem as fast as you can. 

How can you do that? Well, you can try chamomile!

Surprisingly, it's a herb full of sleep properties:

• has a relaxing effect
• eases insomnia
• soothes your nerves
• reduces your anxiety

So if you are nervous or irritable because of lack of sleep – try chamomile. 

By the way, do you know how you can use this herb?

I bet you have some ideas, but let me clarify those things for you.

So here are some options:

• drink chamomile tea
• add chamomile essential oil to your bath

Yet, how should you prepare it? I will tell you in a minute, be sure of that.

But first, the ingredients:

• 8 ounces of water
• 3-4 tablespoons of dried chamomile (4 for a stronger tea)
• honey (optional)

Here are the instructions:

1. Fill up your kettle with water and begin heating.
2. Place the dried chamomile flowers into your teapot.
3. Pour the boiling water over the flowers and then steep them for 5 minutes.
4. When the tea is ready take out the flowers and add some honey to it (optional).
5. Enjoy!

Personally, I prefer to drink this tea without any sweetener.

However, if you like you can add some honey to it to make it sweeter.

However, if you don't like drinking tea, you might want to try the second option.

This one is even much easier. All you need to do is:

1. Fill up your bathtub with warm water.
2. Add some drops of chamomile essential oil to it (4-6 drops).
3. Then, relax for about 10 minutes.
4. You already feel more relaxed, am I right?

So, what do you think? Is it hard to use chamomile?

I don't think that's the case, thus make sure that you try this remedy out!

If you do that, I'm sure that you will manage to have a better sleep!

2. Lavender

Where does this beautiful fragrance come from?

Well, it comes from that small purple flower. What flower is that?

You are right, it is lavender!

In fact, beside its beautiful smell, lavender is also a good remedy for insomnia:

• has a mild sedative effect
• is anti-depressive
• reduces anxiety
• promotes a good sleep

Thus, how can you use lavender?

Of course, tea remains one of the options, but you can also try the following:

• aromatherapy
• massage with lavender oil

How should you prepare lavender tea? 

You need to follow the same steps as in the case of chamomile tea. 

You just replace the dried chamomile flowers with dried lavender flowers.

Easy peasy, right?

What about aromatherapy? Which steps do you need to follow?

Well, here they come:

1. First of all, you need to buy lavender essential oil.
2. Then you can use an aromatherapy diffuser which will disperse the oil into the air.
3. Or you can put 2-3 drops of lavender oil on your pillow before you go to bed.
4. Also, don't forget to relax before you go to sleep.

As you can see, it is quite simple to use lavender oil for aromatherapy. [1]

However, if you are a massage fan, you can try the third option.

Here are some examples of carrier oils:

• coconut oil
• olive oil
• almond oil

Moreover, before you apply it to your skin make sure that you are not allergic to lavender.

Now, the instructions:

1. As I said, firstly you need to dilute the lavender oil with a carrier oil.
2. Thus, add 3-4 drops of lavender oil to 20 drops of carrier oil.
3. Now, massage the following parts of your body: forehead, neck, chest, hands, or feet.
4. Let the oil soak into your skin.
5. Repeat the remedy every day, before your bedtime.

Lavender is quite versatile, isn't it?

Also, you have more options that you can try according to what you like most.

However, no matter what option you choose, the effect will surprise you.

So, make sure that you try lavender oil and you will sleep like a baby.

3. Passion Flower

Looking for a more passionate remedy?

Then, passion flower might be the perfect solution for you.

Not only it has an interesting name, but it is also beneficial for those who are dealing with insomnia.

Let's have a look at its benefits:

• reduces the symptoms of anxiety [2]
• contains nerve-relaxing flavonoids
• helps you sleep better

Moreover, in combination with other herbs – passion flower has an even better effect.

How can you use passion flower to treat your insomnia?

Well, I can give you two options:

• take a sedative that contains passion flower
• drink passion flower tea

When it comes to sedatives based on herbs, the options are limitless.

Actually, you can easily buy them from drugstores. 

Just be careful when you pick the product. You want a high-quality one, right?

The ingredients that you need are:

• 1 tablespoon dried passion flower or 1 tea bag
• 1 cup hot water
• honey (optional)

Now, let's have a look at the instructions:

1. Steep the tea bag or dried flower in hot water for 6-8 minutes.
2. If you want a stronger tea you can steep it for 10-15 minutes.
3. Strain or take the tea bag out of the water.
4. Add honey to the tea (optional).

I told you that it is quite easy to prepare a passion flower tea.

When is the perfect time to drink it?

Well, you can drink 3 cups of tea during the whole day, but you might be sleepy all day long.

Or you might want to drink a cup of tea 1 or 2 hours before you go to bed.

In this way, you make sure that you have a good sleep.

So, don't forget to drink passion flower tea and have a good night's sleep.

4. Ginseng

Ginseng has become more popular nowadays, but do you know what it is?

It is a herb, of course, and its root, which was also named “man-root”, has miraculous properties.

In fact, it is very used in Asia, but you can find it all over the world.

Moreover, it can help you deal with various health issues among which I can mention insomnia.

Do you want to discover more about its properties?

Then, let's have a look at some of them:

• helps you relax
• improves sleep quality
• reduces anxiety
• helps you fall asleep faster [3]

Thus, I strongly advise you to give it a try!

Do all types of ginseng have the same effect? Not really. In your case, red ginseng is the way to go.

How can you use it? Well, as usual, let's see what options we have:

• take a ginseng supplement
• try ginseng powder or tincture
• drink ginseng tea

Taking a supplement is surely helpful, but I have to say it again.

Make sure that you pick a high-quality one. Only in this way, will you manage to sleep better.

Ginseng powder or tincture can also work.

However, if you choose this option, you will experience the bitter taste of ginseng.

If this is not a problem for you, then go ahead and give it a go!

Different from ginseng tincture, ginseng powder is rather versatile. You can use it in various ways:

• stir it into war water
• add it to various drinks (juice, smoothie)

So, drink one cup of tea before your bedtime and you are ready to sleep. 

Are there any side effects that you might experience? Well, some:

• headaches
• sleep problems
• diarrhea
• digestive problems

However, don't worry. Those side effects appear in rare cases, so ginseng is generally safe for you.

The only thing that you need to remember is to not exaggerate with it.

If you do that, it might not help you fall asleep – but have the opposite effect. 

Thus, as usual, moderation is key (especially if we talk about powder and tinctures).

Otherwise, try ginseng out, sleep well, and get the energy that you need!

5. Valerian Root

We stick to roots for now and we are talking about another herb with lots of benefits.

Valerian root is among the most popular herbs when it comes to insomnia.

What makes it so famous are its so many properties:

• has a relaxing effect
• is an effective sedative [4]
• reduces your anxiety

I have to tell you a fun fact. Valerian has been used to treat insomnia since the 18th century.

It is quite a long time, isn't it?

What else to expect from a medicinal plant?

Now, let's see how you can benefit from all those properties. 

In fact, you can use valerian root in various ways:

• as a supplement
• as an extract
• as tea

Taking a supplement is always easy to do, right?

So, I won't insist on that very much.

The instructions and ingredients are similar to those used for other types of tea.

All you need is:

• 1 cup boiling water
• 1 teaspoon of dried roots or 1 teabag of valerian tea
• some honey and/or lemon slices

Now, the instructions:

1. Pour the boiling water over the dried roots or the teabag.
2. Steep for 5 to 10 minutes.
3. Add the honey and the lemon slices to the tea.
4. Enjoy.

If you want a more concentrated dosage of valerian, you can try valerian extract.

It's usually safe, but make sure that you take it 1-2 hours before your bedtime.

Now you know all the details that you need, so remember to put those steps into practice.

Then, you will enjoy a good sleep and you will be full of energy for the whole day!

6. Magnolia Bark

Everybody has heard of the magnolia, right?

It is a flower that can be seen in various places – like parks or botanic gardens.

However, did you know that magnolia bark, a type of magnolia, has medicinal properties?

In fact, there are around 200 types of magnolia trees worldwide.

This is quite a lot, isn't it?

However, we won't talk about all types of magnolia trees because we are interested in magnolia bark.

This is a herb that can help you fall asleep faster. How come? Well, let's find the reasons:

• might reduce stress and anxiety
• improves sleep quality
• a remedy for insomnia

Why? Because it might make you tired and sleepy during the day.

You don't want that, do you?

Now let's see how you can take magnolia bark:

• as a supplement
• drink tea

When it comes to tea, magnolia bark is usually used in combination with other herbs.

So, you might want to buy a tea made from more herbs, specifically prepared for people with sleep issues.

How to drink this tea:

• prepare it like any other tea
• drink one cup before bedtime
• make sure that you drink it 1-2 hours before you go to sleep

Does magnolia bark trigger any side effects?

Well, it is considered to be safe for you, so it doesn't cause any significant side effects.

Thus, you can confidently use magnolia bark to treat your insomnia.

Those who want to have a good sleep should try magnolia bark!

7. Ashwagandha

Do you know what is ashwagandha? 

Its name is quite hard to pronounce, isn't it?

In fact, ashwagandha is a medicinal plant also known as Indian ginseng or winter cherry.

It has many beneficial properties and, thanks to those, it is on our list.

Now, let me tell you more about its benefits:

• improves the function of your nervous system
• is an effective remedy for treating anxiety [5]
• improves the quality of your sleep
• can help you fall asleep faster

Actually, ashwagandha is a great remedy for insomnia, because it is so versatile and accessible.

You can find it in various forms:

• powder
• tea
• supplements (pills)
• tincture
• gummies

So, you definitely have a lot of options.

Moreover, remember the following things:

• buy the product you like most
• use it according to its particular instructions
• do not use ashwagandha for more than 3 consecutive moths

Those are the pieces of information that you need before you use ashwagandha.

Now, that you know them, you are ready to give this herb a go.

So, buy your favorite ashwagandha product and get rid of insomnia!

My Final Verdict

Are you constantly tossing and turning without actually being able to fall asleep?

Has falling asleep become a struggle for you?

Here are some of the best herbs for insomnia that can help you:

• Chamomile
• Lavender
• Passion flower
• Ginseng

Those herbs are some of the best remedies for insomnia.

So, make sure that you give them a whirl and you will sleep like a baby, I'm sure.

Who is going to sleep better? You, if you follow my advice!

References:

1. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/-12112282/

2. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/-29354614/

3. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/-12531167/

4. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/-17145239/

5. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/-34254920/