People who suffer from insomnia usually have a difficult time falling asleep or wake up after only a few hours of sleep. Stress, anxiety, depression and grief are a few of the factors that contribute to insomnia. After experiencing a few sleepless nights I read up on insomnia. Through my research I discovered a few herbal remedies to ease the symptoms of insomnia.

Chamomile promotes natural sleep.

These herbs are an insomniac’s best friend!

• Chamomile: This herb relaxes the body and eases tension. Chamomile also helps other parts of the body by relieving indigestion and headaches.

• Lemon balm: Combined with chamomile, lemon balm relaxes the body and helps people fall asleep. By itself the herb has antibacterial and antiviral properties.

Other herbs that induce natural sleep are valerian, lavender, kava, St. John’s wort, passionflower and skullcap.

One product I've found that works great is Sound Sleep by Bath & Body Works ($10). This product, which is made with lavender and chamomile essential oils, is wonderful to use—especially after enjoying a cup of tea.

Have you experienced insomnia and used herbs to fall asleep? Let’s chat about it! Your comments could help other sleepless readers.

Whether you have children, a fast-paced job, or classes to take, we all lead hectic lives. The stress from our lives can bring on a lot of anxiety. As a student, I get stressed and anxious fairly often, but there are many herbs that can help ease this anxiety. Some of these herbs include kava kava, valerian, St. John’s wort, bugleweed, ginseng, and chamomile.

 According to www.iampanicked.com, kava kava can ease your anxiety level in just one week and can also help you sleep.

LoveToKnow tells us that valerian is very effective when it comes to healing anxiety. Valerian works as a sedative and seems to have the least amount of side effects of any anxiety-healing herb. It also can work within a week of consumption.

St. John’s wort can provide long-term treatment for anxiety according to LoveToKnow, although it can cause interference with some prescription drugs such as anti-depressants, birth control pills, cyclosporine, digoxin, and wafarin.

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Holisticonline.com says that bugleweed can help soothe nerves as a way to treat anxiety.

Ginseng has stimulant properties, can help reduce anxiety and give you an extra energy-boost, according to iampanicked.com.

According to holisticonline.com, chamomile has a few anxiety-healing properties. It gently acts therapeutically on your nerves and can help to soothe an upset stomach.

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Instead of risking addiction to anxiety drugs, try herbal treatment! Create teas or take capsules of these herbs for treatment. You can pick these herbs up at your local organic market.

Do you remember that Facebook chain letter called “25 Random Things About Me?” If you don’t, it was a popular trend to write 25 things, facts, habits or goals about yourself on Facebook then publish it so that all your friends can read it, learn something, and create their own! Well, I like the idea but I’ve decided to tweak it a bit and make my own version called "15 Herbs for Me.” In no particular order, here is a list of herbs that interest me.

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1.) Stinging nettle (Urtica dioica). There are fine hairs on the leaves and stems of stinging nettle that contain irritating chemicals that are released when the plant comes into contact with skin. Trust me, I ran through a field of this stuff when I was too young to know any beter, and it wasn’t pleasant. Despite this, nettle is often used to relieve seasonal allergies.

2.) Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia). This sweet-smelling purple flowering herb is widely used in perfumes, soaps, shampoos and sachets. 

3.) Aloe (Aloe vera). The gel in the inner portion of the leaf is widely used for the treatment of minor skin conditions. I use aloe gel to sooth sunburn and razor burn. 

4.) Basil (Ocimum basilicum). The fragrant green leaves of this herb are great in salads and can be used fresh or dry to flavor pasta, stew and poultry.

5.) Artichoke leaves (Cynara). Artichoke extract is useful in support of general liver function and prevention of some digestive disorders.

6.) Chives (Allium schoenoprasum). Add flavor to virtually any dish with chives. I like chives in eggs, on my bagels and of course in baked potatoes.

7.) Alfalfa (Medicago sativa). Contains a high mineral and vitamin content; is rich in protein and calcium. Alfalfa seeds are useful in the form of sprouts. They are delicious in salads, soups and sandwiches.

8.) Ginseng (Panax quinquefolius). If you’re feeling lightheaded and out of sorts, this herb is used to enhance cognitive functions and give you a little energy boost.

9.) Cayenne (Capsicum annuum). A popular spice used in different regional styles of cooking. Cayenne contains capsaicin, which may be used to reduce pain and inflammation caused by injury.

10.) Arnica (Arnica montana). Applied topically as a cream, gel, ointment, tincture or salve, arnica relieves soreness and reduces swelling. I’ve used arnica on my ankles after a good workout to reduce inflammation and relieve any pain.

11.) Ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba). This herb is used to treat altitude sickness and headaches because of its ability to increase blood flow to the brain.

12.) Shiitake (Lentinula edodes). Shiitake mushrooms are packed with iron and vitamin C. I like the rich flavor of these mushrooms in a spicy stir fry or in some miso soup.

13.) Garlic (Allium sativum). It’s been called the “stinking rose” in light of its many benefits. Garlic is rich in manganese, a good source of vitamin B6 and vitamin C.

14). German chamomile (Matricaria recutita). Known for it’s mild sedating effects and widely used in herbal teas.

15.) Catnip, catmint (Nepeta cataria). Cats have a bizarre reaction to catnip. But why? According to Arthur O. Tucker and Sharon S. Tucker, authors of “Catnip and the Catnip Response,” the chemical nepetalactone in catnip is the thing that triggers the unique sequence of responses in domestic cats.

Is their a particular herb that interests you? Share your thoughts by leaving a comment!

References: 

• Herbal Medicine From the Heart of the Earth by Dr. Sharol Marie Tilgner (Wise Acres LLC, 2009)
• Catnip and the Catnip Response by Arthur O. Tucker and Sharon S. Tucker (Springer New York, 1988)