Motherwort is a plant that has long been famous for its pronounced sedative (calming) effect. Unlike medicinal tranquilizers, drugs containing motherwort extract do not cause addiction in patients and help cope with sleep disorders. Motherwort is usually used in the form of an alcoholic infusion. Of course, you can collect the inflorescences of the plant and prepare the tincture yourself, but it is faster and safer to purchase a ready-made drug at the pharmacy. The article presents a list of effective drugs containing motherwort, which can be used to get rid of insomnia.
Reasons why sleep problems most often begin
Problems falling asleep can seriously complicate a person's life. It just seems that getting rid of insomnia is easy. It often happens that harmless remedies are useless in the treatment of sleep disorders and motherwort, for example, does not have the desired effect. Then the patient is forced to start taking serious prescription medications - tranquilizers and antipsychotics.
It is much easier to prevent sleep problems than to treat them. Here is a list of the most common reasons why sleep phases are disrupted and a person finds it difficult to fall asleep:
- psychosocial stress - job change, death or illness of loved ones, separation from loved ones, etc.;
- anxiety-depressive disorder;
- obsessive-compulsive disorder;
- increased brain activity;
- old age and its inherent changes in brain activity;
- various nervous system disorders;
- non-compliance with the daily routine and natural biorhythms (night shift work);
- chronic alcoholism and drug addiction;
- taking medications also affects the order of sleep phases (sympathomimetics, anorexigenic drugs);
- diseases accompanied by fever, itchy skin and pain;
- insomnia can be a consequence of traumatic brain injury;
- diseases accompanied by hypoglycemia, frequent urination, dry mouth.
What herbal teas to drink
Many medicinal herbs are used for sleep disorders. The most effective are: chamomile, motherwort, valerian, mint, dill, hops, peony.
Chamomile tea
Chamomile is a unique medicinal plant that is used to treat many pathologies.
It has anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antihistamine effects.
Also one of the properties is to prevent insomnia. This is due to the sedative properties of the plant.
For sleep disorders, it is recommended to drink chamomile tea daily.
To do this, steam one filter bag or a tablespoon of dry herb with a glass of boiling water and leave for 15 minutes. After straining, drink as tea in the evening.
If you are prone to hypotension, you should be careful, as chamomile can lower your blood pressure.
Motherwort
This is a classic remedy for getting rid of dyssomnia, preventing nervous excitement, and hypertension. Motherwort decoction and infusion can be drunk by adults and children.
To prepare the decoction, pour boiling water over a spoonful of raw materials, leave, and strain. Take 30 ml three times a day or 50 ml before going to bed.
Valerian tincture
Valerian is a medicinal plant known for its calming and sedative properties.
Even small children can drink it.
It has a beneficial effect on cardiovascular activity, normalizes blood pressure and sleep.
For valerian infusion, 20 grams of dry root and 500 ml of boiling water are required. This mixture should be placed in a water bath for 15 minutes. After cooling, use 30 ml up to three times a day.
Large doses of valerian are toxic, so do not exceed the recommended amount of decoction.
Mint
Mint and lemon balm are very similar in their effect on the body, so they are used in combination. They calm the nervous system, promote deep and long sleep, and prevent night awakenings.
After a course of treatment, the patient forgets about sleep problems and sleeps soundly throughout the night.
It is easy to prepare mint and lemon balm tea: pour 2 tablespoons of herbs into 400 ml of boiling water and cover with a lid to infuse.
After cooling, drink a glass of decoction before bed. It is not recommended to take lemon balm if your blood pressure is too low. You can also add a couple of drops of mint essential oil to your evening bath or aroma lamp.
Dill
A decoction of dill seeds is an excellent remedy for improving sleep.
The plant is used to reduce blood pressure, normalize digestion, and eliminate swelling.
Dill contains essential oil, which promotes rapid falling asleep and long-lasting deep sleep.
In terms of its effectiveness, dill is not inferior to lemon balm.
Preparing a decoction is very simple: pour a tablespoon of dry seed into 200 ml of boiling water, cook in a water bath for 15 minutes, cool and strain. Drink half a glass 2-3 times a day. Do not use if you have hypotension.
Hop
Hop cones contain a substance with a sedative effect.
It helps relieve tension, improve the quality and duration of sleep, reduces high blood pressure, and reduces the intensity of hot flashes during menopause.
An infusion of hop cones is prepared as follows: pour 2 tablespoons of hop cones with boiling water and leave in a sealed container for up to 3 hours; you can place the drink in a thermos. After this, strain and drink ¼ cup twice a day.
Peony (maryin root)
This unique plant is known for its sedative and antitumor properties.
It is used to treat gynecological diseases, hypertension, VSD, and nervous disorders.
A decoction of peony root is prepared as follows: 50 g of the raw material is poured with water and simmered over low heat until the liquid evaporates.
It is necessary that less than half of the water remains. Then filter and drink a tablespoon three times a day or 2 tablespoons before bed.
Lavender
This plant has an effect on the central nervous system, speeds up the process of falling asleep, and relieves stress.
It is best to use lavender essential oil added to a bath or a herbal pad placed next to your bed.
You can also brew lavender tea. You need to pour 20 grams of dried lavender flower into 500 ml of boiling water. If the tea seems too bitter, add a spoonful of honey.
Herbal recipe for insomnia in this video:
Pharmacological properties of motherwort extract
Is it advisable to take motherwort at night for insomnia? It all depends on the diagnosis or condition that caused the problem. First of all, you need to get rid of the cause. If it is depression, then you should take antidepressants prescribed by your doctor. If the cause is an endocrinological disorder, then you need to contact an endocrinologist and get treatment.
If the cause of sleep phase disturbances lies in psycho-emotional stress, then motherwort can help. For sleep, you can take a tablet form of the extract, or you can take an alcohol tincture. Judging by the reviews of patients, it is the tincture that is more effective.
Will motherwort help with insomnia and what is its principle of action? This plant has long been used in folk medicine. Motherwort has a pronounced sedative and hypnotic effect. Motherwort extract includes the following components:
- stachydrine;
- leonuridine;
- choline;
- beta-carotene;
- flavonoids;
- routine;
- hyperoside;
- vitamins A, C;
- organic acids.
Contraindications
Medicines for insomnia based on this herb do not have a toxic effect. They are used even during pregnancy therapy, but only after approval of such treatment tactics by a doctor.
Among the contraindications to the use of this drug are the following:
- low blood pressure;
- bradycardia;
- epilepsy;
- ulcer;
- gastritis;
- hypersensitivity to the plant.
In addition, when using these products, it is worth minimizing exposure to direct sunlight. The skin becomes very sensitive during this period.
Motherwort is an effective remedy in the fight against insomnia and psycho-emotional stress. It is widely used in folk medicine. Therapy using this herb is considered effective and safe. The main thing is to strictly adhere to all medical recommendations and not resort to self-medication.
Side effects when taking drugs containing motherwort
You should prepare for possible side effects when taking medications containing motherwort:
- mild nausea and cramps in the epigastric region (when taken on an empty stomach);
- dizziness;
- drowsiness (that’s why motherwort is used for sleep - after taking it you really want to sleep);
- slowing down the reaction (in different patients this side effect is expressed depending on individual characteristics).
Preparations with motherwort are used for neuroses of cardiovascular etiology. This means that in people with diseases of the cardiovascular system, taking this type of drug does not contribute to pressure changes or heart rhythm disturbances.
Motherwort - use during pregnancy
During pregnancy, the psycho-emotional state of the expectant mother is unstable and this is associated with changes in the woman’s hormonal levels. She becomes whiny, irritable and agitated. As you know, calmness and a positive attitude are very important during pregnancy, since stress, nervous tension, and depression have a negative impact on the fetus, its development and the formation of its nervous system. To relieve tension and normalize the mental state of the expectant mother, remove fears, anxiety, and also for high blood pressure, doctors prescribe motherwort during pregnancy.
The most common therapeutic effect of motherwort extract during pregnancy is sedation. Taking motherwort extract has a relaxing effect on the entire body as a whole, helping to relax muscle tone and vascular spasm. In addition to the sedative effect, motherwort is prescribed to eliminate the following disturbances in the functioning of the pregnant woman’s body:
- Insomnia. By influencing the nervous system and having a calming effect, motherwort helps a woman relax and fall asleep.
- Stress. Emotional instability, anxiety, nervous disorders, fear, depression are the main indicators for taking motherwort during pregnancy.
- Vegetative-vascular dystonia, cardiac dysfunction. Motherwort herb is prescribed during pregnancy if disturbances in the functioning of the heart are detected, with high blood pressure after suffering stress, nervous strain, or depression. The drug perfectly relieves vascular spasms and improves blood circulation.
- Hypertonicity of the uterus. Helps relieve tension in the muscles of the uterus, weakening the tone of the uterus in late pregnancy.
- Disorders of the gastrointestinal tract. Colic, stomach cramps, heartburn, flatulence, constipation - motherwort copes with all these troubles.
- Preeclampsia and swelling. Having a diuretic effect, motherwort helps remove excess fluid from the body, easing the condition of a pregnant woman during gestosis.
Since motherwort is a drug that has a sedative and mild hypnotic effect, it is not recommended to combine its use with work that requires quick reaction and attention (driving a car, working with complex mechanisms).
Contraindications to motherwort during pregnancy
Motherwort is an inexpensive and accessible medicine, available without a prescription. Before starting a course of taking a herbal preparation, it is necessary to consult a gynecologist about its use, since despite all the healing properties and benefits of the plant, in some cases motherwort is contraindicated for pregnant women.
Contraindications include:
- Hypotension. Motherwort has the property of reducing blood pressure. Therefore, women with low blood pressure (hypotension) are not recommended to take it. Taking the drug may cause weakness, dizziness, even fainting.
- Individual intolerance to motherwort extract, allergic reaction.
- Motherwort tincture with alcohol is not recommended during pregnancy due to the ethyl alcohol content in it.
- It is prohibited to take the drug for diseases of the stomach, gastritis.
Contraindications to the use of drugs with motherwort
Before you start taking motherwort extract for sleep, you should make sure that there are no contraindications. Carefully read the list of restrictions for the drug you choose. Standard list of contraindications for taking motherwort:
- period of pregnancy and lactation;
- chronic alcoholism (in this case, you can take motherwort in tablets to treat sleep disorders; taking alcohol tincture is prohibited);
- ulcerative pathologies of the stomach and intestines, especially during exacerbation;
- arterial hypotension during exacerbation;
- tendency to heavy menstrual bleeding;
- children's age up to 12 years.
Motherwort in tablets: pros and cons
The advantages of the drug in this form of release include:
- the ability to give the product to children;
- safety for pregnant women;
- the presence of additional components (other herbs, vitamins) increases the effectiveness of the effect of motherwort on the body;
- natural composition, no alcohol;
- tablets are easier to take outside the home and are convenient to carry with you;
- Just like alcohol tincture, tablets can be taken before and after meals.
To make the motherwort tablet work faster, including as a sedative and hypnotic, it is recommended to crush or chew it. Afterwards, drink it with water.
Disadvantages of the product:
- The tablets act more slowly than the tincture, the result is usually felt after about an hour;
- the drug must be taken with plenty of water; this is a minus for the reason that motherwort has a diuretic effect; it is possible that after taking the pill you will have to run to the toilet repeatedly;
- It is believed that the pills have a higher risk of developing an allergic reaction.
Preparations containing motherwort extract
The most popular preparations containing motherwort extract include:
- "Motherwort Forte" from "Evalar";
- tinctures with motherwort in alcohol (many pharmaceutical factories produce this product);
- “Leonwort extract” in tablet form;
- “Valerian + motherwort Forte”;
- herbal mixture “Phytosedan No. 3”.
All these funds are relatively cheap. All of them are good in the fight against insomnia. Only the release form is different - some people find it more convenient to use drops, others prefer tablets.
How to drink motherwort for sleep? It all depends on which drug you choose. Different manufacturers have slightly different instructions for use.
Insomnia from overexcitement
Sometimes a person becomes so overexcited that he cannot fall asleep for a long time. This condition can lead to neuroses and neurasthenia. * Such disorders can be successfully treated with herbs - teas, syrups, tinctures and decoctions should definitely appear on your table. * In the morning, add tonics to your coffee or tea - Rhodiola extract, Eleutherococcus, Schisandra tincture, herbal syrup. In the evening, take a soothing tincture of lemon balm, valerian, motherwort or hops. * For the best effect of the herbal remedy, you need to alternate every 10-15 days. For example, drink herbal teas, then a tincture or a mixture of tinctures, again teas or a good herbal preparation. * You can buy or make a small herbal pad yourself. Or take an evening pine-salt bath (add 2 tablespoons of pine extract per 100 grams of salt).
"Motherwort Forte" from "Evalar": instructions for use
Price and reviews make this drug the first choice for fighting insomnia: it is inexpensive and recommended by consumers. This drug is used not only for sleep problems, but also for symptoms of vegetative-vascular dystonia, neuroses of various etiologies, and arterial hypertension (in the early stages). As evidenced by reviews and instructions for use, Motherwort Forte from Evalar, the price of which is about 250 rubles for 40 tablets, is well tolerated. Each tablet also contains a small amount of magnesium (helps normalize heart function) and B vitamins (normalize the functioning of the central nervous system).
Reviews from patients report that a noticeable effect develops after about a week of regular use. It is optimal to take the drug one or two tablets immediately before going to bed. Motherwort Forte does not cause drug dependence or side effects. Reviews also report that tolerance may develop over time, but usually occurs after about two to three months of regular use. If you do not exceed the recommended dosage, tolerance may not develop.
What are the benefits of motherwort tincture?
An alcoholic infusion of motherwort is an amazing remedy for its medicinal properties, useful for a number of diseases: vegetative-vascular dystonia, neuralgia, tachycardia, insomnia, increased irritability, anxiety. The use of motherwort tincture also helps women relieve pain during menstruation and even restore erratic menstrual cycles.
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Very valuable from a medical point of view are motherwort cordial and motherwort pentaloba, which have a mild sedative effect. They are common in Europe and Asia (they grow in fields and other open areas), but almost all over the world the benefits of motherwort tincture are known. The low price of this medicine makes it very affordable and popular.
Tincture with motherwort in alcohol: instructions for use
This drug is produced by many pharmacological companies:
- CJSC "Yaroslavl Pharmaceutical Factory";
- JSC "EKOlab";
- CJSC "Altaivitamins";
- LLC "Kamelia NPP";
- OJSC "Tver Pharmaceutical Factory";
- OJSC "Tatkhimfarmpreparaty";
- LLC "Hippocrates";
- JSC "Flora of the Caucasus"
Judging by patient reviews, the effect of the drug is equally strong and does not differ depending on the choice of one manufacturer or another. Motherwort tincture taken before bedtime helps to normalize sleep phases if the patient has no physiological causes of insomnia. People with chronic alcoholism should avoid taking this medication, since it is based on ethyl alcohol.
How to take motherwort in drops for sleep? You should count out 5-15 drops, dissolve them in a glass of clean water and drink in one gulp. The tincture should be taken immediately before going to bed. Judging by the reviews of patients, after ten minutes severe drowsiness will occur. You need to close your eyes, try to calm down and fall asleep.
How to take motherwort for insomnia
If motherwort tincture is used during therapy for insomnia, it should be taken immediately before going to bed. For this purpose, 30 to 50 drops of the drug are mixed with water and taken orally half an hour before bedtime. The duration of therapy ranges from a couple of weeks to one month.
If you use decoctions, start drinking the drug at 16:00. The interval between doses is about two hours. Drink about 100 ml of the medicine at a time. The course of therapy does not exceed 30 days.
"Moonwort extract" in tablet form
The drug is characterized by sedative and hypotensive effects. The tablet form is convenient to take if a person falls asleep outside the home and it is inconvenient for him to count drops and dissolve them in water. You just need to swallow the tablet, and after 15-20 minutes you will feel drowsy. As a rule, it is enough to take one tablet to ensure restful sleep.
How many Motherwort tablets can cause an overdose? Firstly, there is no exact data: everything depends on the individual characteristics of the body. Secondly, it is better not to experiment and follow the instructions. And she recommends taking a maximum of three tablets immediately before going to bed. If after taking the maximum dosage a person cannot sleep, then you should visit a doctor and ask for a prescription for a stronger medication.
Decoctions for sound sleep
If you don’t want to resort to using medications, traditional medicine recipes will help. Decoctions, tinctures and relaxing teas that can be easily made at home will improve the quality of sleep and give you the opportunity to get enough sleep. Ready-made preparations can be purchased at the pharmacy.
The following recipes are suitable for combating insomnia:
- Mix a tablespoon of cumin, mint, valerian, fennel and chamomile. To prepare a daily portion of the decoction you need a teaspoon of this mixture. Everything is poured with boiling water (200 ml) and left to cool completely. You need to drink half a glass in the morning before meals, the rest half an hour before bed.
- A mixture of herbs that have a calming effect is prepared in advance: two tablespoons each of valerian root, peppermint, motherwort and hop cones. For a single serving, add 250 ml of hot water to a teaspoon of plants and boil over low heat for about 15 minutes. The broth is cooled and filtered. Drink half a glass three times a day after meals.
- For a week before going to bed, you can drink an infusion of motherwort, calendula and thyme (all ingredients are mixed in equal proportions). For a glass of boiling water - a teaspoon of the prepared mixture, keep on low heat for 10-15 minutes. If the product tastes unpleasant, add natural liquid honey.
- Mix equal parts of valerian root, water trefoil, peppermint and hop cones. A tablespoon of raw material is poured into a teapot or thermos and filled with a glass (250 ml) of water. Take 50 ml three times a day, drink for a week.
“Valerian + motherwort Forte”: instructions for use
The composition of this drug is also enriched with valerian extract. Both of these plants have a pronounced sedative effect. If the effect of motherwort extract alone turns out to be weak for the patient, then it is worth trying its combination with valerian.
Reviews of the drug “Valerian + Motherwort Forte” report that when taken immediately half an hour before bedtime, a person almost always falls asleep. At the same time, there are no night awakenings or nightmares. The morning after taking the drug, the head is not “wobbly”, the state is not broken - people cheerfully begin to perform their work duties. While taking the drug, it is better to avoid drinking alcoholic beverages, since such a combination can cause excessive sedation and the patient may fall into an alcoholic coma.
Folk recipes
Does motherwort help with insomnia? This question can be answered in the affirmative, since this herb is effectively and successfully used in therapy for insomnia. As self-prepared remedies, decoctions or self-made teas from motherwort leaves are in particular demand.
Since this plant has a bitter taste and is characterized by strong astringent effects, use in the above form will be especially effective in cases where insomnia was caused by acute respiratory diseases or diseases that occur in an advanced form.
After all, this drug will reduce mucus secretion, reduce the inflammatory process and eliminate bronchospasms.
Folk recipes for preparing medicinal products that have the maximum number of positive reviews.
Herb tea
To prepare it, you need to fill the raw material with cold and clean water, and then boil over low heat. Before evening, you need to drink all the tea, drinking half a glass every 2 hours.
This tea helps not only to cure insomnia and relieve emotional stress, but also to slow down the aging processes occurring in the body. An additional therapeutic effect can be obtained by adding the following components to motherwort:
- hawthorn – when taken correctly, can cure angina and rheumatic heart disease;
- valerian and viburnum - normalizes a person’s blood pressure and slightly lowers the temperature if the patient suffers from ARVI;
- valerian and anise - reduce pain in the heart, help with bronchospasms and severe bronchitis;
- cudweed and heather - treat insomnia caused by neurosis and frequent stressful situations;
- hawthorn and mistletoe – gently cleanse capillaries and blood vessels, while effectively curing hypertension;
- horsetail and buckthorn – cleanse the body of harmful substances (toxins, waste), which promotes sharp weight loss.
Infusion
You need to take the same amount of motherwort, chamomile, yarrow and St. John's wort and mix them thoroughly. Take a large spoon of the raw material, pour 250 ml of hot water over the herb, leave and drink half an hour before each meal.
Decoction
Pour a large spoonful of dry crushed motherwort herb into 0.5 liters of boiling water, and then leave for half an hour. To obtain the maximum hypnotic effect, it is advisable to take the decoction in the late afternoon - after 16-17 hours.
Tincture
It can be purchased at the pharmacy in a ready-made solution or made at home. To do this, take 5 parts of 70% ethyl alcohol and 1 part of motherwort herb. The prepared raw materials must be poured with alcohol, and then stored in a dark place for infusion for 1 month.
After the required time, the tincture needs to be strained. The medicine should be taken in 30-50 drops, which must be diluted in a small amount of water in advance, 60 minutes before meals or 2 hours after meals. For long-term insomnia, the tincture should be taken 30 minutes before bedtime.
Before taking motherwort tincture, you should carefully read the instructions for use, since increasing the optimal dose can cause undesirable consequences.
It must be remembered that at first the result of treatment will not be noticeable, since it will appear only after the second week of taking the tincture. In order to make it easier to fall asleep, you should try to organize your last meal no later than a couple of hours before bedtime. How long does it take to treat insomnia? The course of complex therapy for insomnia is 2-4 weeks.
In especially severe cases of insomnia, a mixture of tinctures of motherwort, Corvalol, hawthorn and valerian, which were purchased at a pharmacy, can help you fall asleep. All tincture bubbles are poured into one container and mixed thoroughly. In the evening, you need to dilute a teaspoon of the mixture in 0.5 glass of water and drink it half an hour before bedtime.
“Phytosedan No. 3” - multi-component tea for insomnia and anxiety
“Phytosedan No. 3” is a multi-component herbal mixture with a fairly powerful sedative effect. In addition to dry motherwort herb, the composition also includes valerian, hops, thyme, and sweet clover. Since the product has a composition of plant origin, a prescription from a doctor is not required for purchase. The cost of a package with 20 filter bags is about 70 rubles.
Reviews from patients report that the infusion should be taken half an hour before going to bed. After consumption, you should not be distracted by watching movies or reading Internet sites; it is best to turn off the light and try to sleep. As a rule, deep sleep occurs 30-40 minutes after taking the infusion.
Composition of the drug
Since ancient times, herbalists have prepared medicinal potions from this plant that improved the condition of patients with hypertension, relieved painful spasms and calmed the nerves. In contrast, official medicine for a long time did not take into account the miraculous and healing properties of this plant.
Only since the 30s of the last century have people had the opportunity to purchase motherwort-based tinctures in pharmacies, which have a powerful sedative effect.
The medicinal properties of the plant can be explained by its chemical composition:
- organic acids;
- tanning components;
- microelements – sulfur, sodium, calcium, potassium;
- vitamins A, C, E;
- esters;
- glycosides;
- alkaloids (leonuridine, leonurine);
- flavonoids.
Due to the sedative properties of this herb, preparations containing motherwort are often used as a sedative for insomnia or sleep disorders.
Tips on how to normalize sleep without taking medications
Before purchasing this or that remedy for insomnia at the pharmacy, try to normalize your sleep yourself:
- A couple of hours before bedtime, do not watch TV, read or listen to music.
- Walking in the fresh air will help you relax.
- Do not sort things out or talk to unpleasant people before going to bed.
- Give up bad habits - quit smoking and drinking alcohol.
- Change your job if it provokes excessive psycho-emotional stress.
- Have dinner about a couple of hours before you plan to go to bed.
Plant properties
Treatment of insomnia with the help of this plant began several centuries ago. Infusions and decoctions based on it are an excellent remedy for insomnia. Due to its complex action, it is used to eliminate a considerable number of problems. With its help you can perform the following tasks:
- relieve spasms of blood vessels and muscles;
- restore the integrity of capillaries and blood vessels;
- activate metabolic processes inside cells;
- strengthen the immune system;
- normalize cardiac activity;
- normalize blood circulation in the brain;
- stabilize the functioning of the nervous system;
- get rid of migraines;
- regenerate cell membranes;
- lower blood pressure;
- normalize the heart rate.
The herb has a calming effect, but does not harm the central nervous system, kidneys and liver, and is not addictive.