Herbal Tea for Sleep

Herbal Tea for Sleep.

Suffering from insomnia? Is stress keeping you up at night? Finding it difficult to relax at the end of the day? Just before going to bed a cup of relaxing tea might be just the thing. Herbal Tea is a great way to soothe the body soul and mind, and help you fall into a deep sleep. While caffeinated teas can have stimulating benefits, many herbal teas have the opposite effect. In addition to the many medicinal benefits of herbal teas, they can also help you relax and prepare for sleep on a psychological level. Whether you’re looking for lemon grass and mint tea or sweet apple chamomile tea to calm your nerves and lull you to sleep, here are a wealth of herbal tea options to try out.

LemonGrass and Mint

The combination of Lemongrass and mint tea with its wonderful fresh citrusy lemon aroma is perfect  morning, day or night, for a stress free relaxed day. It can help fight against free radicals reducing inflammation of the body. Lemongrass contains the inflammation-fighting compounds chlorogenic acid. Researchers have found that when combined with other sleep enhancing herbs such as valerian root, lemongrass and mint is just as effective in providing short term insomnia relief as a traditional sleep inducing herbal Tea..

Chamomile Tea

Chamomile has a mild sedative effect that is great for inducing sleep. Wild Chamomile tea is also known for lowering stress, soothing anxiety, and reducing inflammation. After you fall asleep, chamomile can help to improve sleep quality so that you wake up rested and refreshed. Chamomile has also been shown to help sleep quality problems associated with depression and other mental health issues.

Lavender Tea

Lavender is also shown to have therapeutic properties when it comes to easing stress and encouraging restful sleep. This herb has been used in traditional medicine for centuries to help soothe both body and mind. While studies concerning its effectiveness are still ongoing, lavender tea helps improve sleep quality. This floral herb can also help to ease anxiety and prevent anxiety-related disturbed sleep.

Lemon Balm Tea

Lemon balm, sometimes also known as wild mint, is a member of the mint family with a mild citrusy flavor. This herb has been shown to help reduce anxiety, encourage relaxation, and promote restful sleep. Lemon balm can also help to treat symptoms of insomnia in people who experience anxiety. Lemon balm is often included in herbal blends, and pairs well with other citrusy and floral ingredients like lavender and orange blossoms.

Valerian Root

Valerian root is effective as a sleep aid due to the two naturally occurring sedatives within it called valepotriates and sesquiterpenes. In one study, nearly 90% of people reported improvements in sleep after drinking valerian tea. In another study, people fell asleep faster after drinking a valerian extract and their sleep quality improved.

Valerian root is reported to have an odor and earthy taste that some find unpleasant. Adding a dash of honey or maple syrup to your tea may help improve the taste.

Passionflower

Like chamomile, passionflower contains certain flavonoids that bind to the same receptors in the brain as benzodiazepines and may help reduce symptoms of anxiety. There is evidence that drinking a single cup of passionflower tea can help you sleep better.

Researchers have found that when combined with other sleep enhancing herbs such as valerian, passionflower is just as effective in providing short term insomnia relief as traditional sleeping medications. This study used capsules, which hold a more concentrated amount of the herb than would be found in a cup of tea.

Magnolia Bark

Magnolia bark (Houpu) a traditional Chinese herb has been used to aid in sleep disorders for thousands of years. Its primary compound, honokiol, reduces the time it takes to fall asleep by binding to GABA receptors in the brain, which help prompt sleep. Studies report that wakefulness during the night is increased when taking magnolia bark but the time it takes to fall back asleep is less.

Rooibos Teas

Rooibos teas is another great option if you’re looking for a soothing non-caffeinated tea before bed. Wild Rooibos, sometimes called red tea or red bush tea is a specific type of herbal tea native to South Africa. Red Rooibos tea has a full body similar to that of a black tea, but it’s naturally caffeine-free, making it a nice evening option. Rooibos is tasty on its own, but also comes in a variety of popular flavored blends. Rooibos Chai, Vanilla Rooibos, and Peach Rooibos.