Positive properties
Due to the content of about a hundred useful substances, valerian or cat incense helps get rid of mental disorders, relieves headaches and heart pain. The alkaloids and saponins contained in the composition have a calming effect on the body.
Peony evasive - considered a natural hypnotic. He can cure mental illness and obsessive disorders. Zhgun root improves heart function, normalizes sleep and metabolism.
Medicinal chamomile has a beneficial effect on the entire body. Drinking drinks containing it helps get rid of depression and insomnia, relieves pain, and relieves inflammation.
Oregano or motherwort is used to treat colds, kidneys and gastrointestinal tract. The plant is effective for lung diseases, including tuberculosis.
Mint and lemon balm are natural analgesics. Products based on them also help with mental illness and sleep disorders.
Motherwort teas and infusions have a mild relaxing effect. Preparations containing it can be used to normalize children's rest.
Causes.
Most often, the reasons are psychological or neurological in nature:
- Anxiety, restlessness, nervousness, stress (a quarter of the total mass are suspicious people);
- Insufficient conditions for falling asleep (loud music, noise, stuffy or cold room, uncomfortable bed);
- Diseases of various etiologies (diseases of the central nervous system, gastrointestinal tract, hypertension, arthrosis, heart disease, etc.);
- Increased physical and mental activity (reading books, watching TV shows, playing with gadgets);
- Taking medications with stimulant effects and stimulants (coffee, strong tea, alcohol, cola, nicotine);
- Violation of nutrition rules (overeating at night, fatty foods);
- Snoring, disruption of circadian rhythms, restless leg syndrome and much more.
Which ones are used?
The effectiveness of medicinal plants has been proven through practical and research methods. List of herbs for insomnia:
- Valerian and hops. They have a calming effect, restore balance to the nervous system and normalize sleep. The effect of folk remedies for sleep appears only 2-3 weeks after the start of the course.
- Melissa. Drugs made from this herb have long been known for their effects on the body. Due to the content of cytonelles, drugs with lemon balm are prescribed to children to relieve tension and anxiety.
- Mint. It stimulates brain activity, calms the nerves, and adds energy and strength to a person.
- Chamomile. It normalizes the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract, destroys pathogenic bacteria, and has a beneficial effect on the nervous system.
- Lavender. The essential oils contained in the flower relieve irritation and promote sleep. It is used to make teas, baths and aromatic pillows.
- Oregano. Natural anti-stress. The use of this herb relieves irritability and calms the nerves. The only thing is that products with oregano cause appetite, so it is better for people on a diet to avoid them.
- Motherwort. It contains stachydrine, which has a hypnotic effect. Motherwort is used in the treatment of a number of diseases: neurasthenia, neurosis, depression, insomnia.
To achieve the desired effect, systematic use of herbs for calming is required.
When can you use herbal remedies to improve sleep?
In most cases, you can start taking medicinal products from natural raw materials for insomnia. But there are situations when there is no other choice.
This is a case when there is a doctor’s testimony, but the matter has not come (or cannot come due to contraindications) to the use of potent sleeping pills, antidepressants and other “heavy artillery” with a hypnotic effect. Or when the beneficial effect of prescribed sleeping pills has become harmful or has lost its meaning.
Light over-the-counter herbal remedies and their combinations are becoming the first line of treatment for sleep disorders or improvement. The effect of taking them appears gradually and tends to accumulate in the body.
Possible contraindications may be:
- Individual intolerance to individual components (allergic reaction);
- Pregnancy or breastfeeding (after taking a product with a bitter tint, the mother’s milk may begin to taste bitter);
- The patient has certain diseases that require other methods of treatment;
- Infections and other pathologies;
- Professions that require concentration.
Cooking rules
In order for all the beneficial properties of the preparations to be revealed, it is necessary to comply with the conditions for the preparation of certain forms of use.
Decoctions
Decoctions are prepared from the hard part - the rhizome. Substances that have passed through water, although they are absorbed more slowly than from leaves and flowers, but act much longer. The proportion of an effective decoction is 1 part dry matter and 10 parts water. The collection is boiled for half an hour.
Nastoev
Flowers and leaves are used to prepare infusions. Dry substances are poured into enamel or porcelain dishes and poured with boiling water based on a ratio of 1:10.
Chaev
It is better to prepare healing remedies in containers made of glass, porcelain or clay. To ensure that all microelements pass into the water and the essential oils do not evaporate, cover the brewing container with a terry towel. The most effective drink from a collection of sedative herbs is for the nervous system of an adult.
Vannes
To prepare a bath, take a concentrated infusion or decoction. Take the bath for 15-20 minutes, reclining: the liquid should not cover the heart area.
Rules for influencing sleep with herbal preparations:
Based on years of practical experience in the use of herbal preparations, several rules for the use of herbs have been developed:
1. Treatment should begin with plants that are not very strong.
2. It is necessary to use those parts of the plant that contain all the components it contains (not synthetic analogues of active substances), otherwise it will not be herbal medicine.
3. Herbal medicines are used for a long time, at least 3 - 4 weeks.
Hop
Place hop cones in a saucepan and add 1 glass of water. The mixture is boiled for 10 minutes. Drink the decoction before bed.
Lavender
Pour 1 tbsp into a glass. flowers, and then fill the container to the top with boiling water. Infuse for 10 minutes and drink in three approaches throughout the day.
15 g of flowers are poured into half a liter of boiling water and left for 30 minutes. Drink in equal portions 4 times a day.
50 g of lavender pour 1 liter of water. The mixture is brought to a boil, and then simmered for another 10 minutes in a water bath. To prepare a bath, use a decoction that has been infused for 3-4 hours.
Not only teas, but also the smell itself helps to get rid of insomnia. For therapeutic aromatherapy, place a lavender pillow under the pillow.
Peony
Pour 1 tsp into a jar or thermos. crushed root, pour 400 ml of boiling water and leave for 8-10 hours. The product is consumed 1/4 cup before main meals. To make the taste of the drink not so bitter, you can add 1 tsp. honey Course duration is 40 days. If necessary, treatment is resumed after a 2-week break.
You can replace the decoction with pharmaceutical peony tincture (10%). The product is taken 30-40 drops 3 times a day. Course - 1 month.
Peony evasive is a poisonous plant, so you need to start treatment with this herb gradually.
Fees
The best effect of the herbs for good sleep is shown in tandem with each other. To prepare a soothing drink, add 5 parts of lemon balm, 3 parts each of thyme, mint and lavender, and 4 parts of oregano. To prepare the drink, 1 tbsp. collection is poured with a glass of boiling water. Use it after 10-15 minutes.
Pillow with herbs
When I have insomnia, I do not take sleeping pills or other medications.
I inhale the healing aromas of herbs. I stuff my pillow with crushed hop cones and sleep well on it. You can sew the same bumps into a small bag made of loose fabric and put them under the pillow. But it's not just hops that help me fall asleep. Chamomile, pine needles, and hazel induce quick and sound sleep. I also put all these ingredients in a pillowcase or in a bag under the pillow. Arina Kiseleva, Surgut, Tyumen region. T.T.: A wonderful, absolutely safe remedy. All of these plants contain essential oils that, when inhaled, soothe and soothe.
Contraindications
There are a number of contraindications to taking herbal remedies, as well as more concentrated pharmaceutical preparations.
It is better to choose another folk remedy if you have one of the listed health problems.
- Valerian. Hypotension, diseases of the oral cavity and liver, tendency to blood clotting, thrombosis.
- Peony. Hypotension, pregnancy and lactation, age category under 12 years, increased acidity of gastric juice.
- Chamomile. Pregnancy, inflammation of the genitourinary system, mental health problems, disruptions in the menstrual cycle.
- It is contraindicated to take products with motherwort to children under 12 years of age who have bradycardia and hypotension. Pregnant and lactating women should not take medications based on it.
Chamomile and motherwort should not be used simultaneously with sedatives.
Pregnant and breastfeeding women should not drink drinks with lavender. Taking fireweed is prohibited for people suffering from varicose veins and thrombosis.
Thyme should not be used to prepare soothing infusions if diseases of the stomach, kidneys and liver have worsened, during pregnancy and lactation.
Use mint to normalize sleep for people suffering from low blood pressure, varicose veins, and infertility. It is not recommended to indulge in drinks with oregano for patients with hypertension, diseases of the cardiovascular system and gastrointestinal tract.
Consequences of frequent lack of sleep.
The opinions of scientists differ, but they are unanimous on another point. People need to sleep at least 6 and no more than 8 hours a day. Deviation from the golden mean and especially lack of sleep promises us:
- At best - bad mood, fatigue, weakness, drowsiness, decreased performance, memory impairment, slow reaction;
- At worst - injury and risk of harm to others, depression, aggression, development of new and exacerbation of chronic diseases (hypertension, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases), excess weight gain and even an early grave.
Methods of using herbal medicines:
Aromatherapy.
It has long been proven that aromatherapy has a positive effect on a person’s state of mind and his health. Molecules floating in the air enter the respiratory tract and quickly penetrate the blood. Thanks to this, natural aromatic oils with a pleasant smell affect all body systems.
It is good because it allows you to quickly eliminate sleep disorders, without side effects.
It is carried out in different ways (including with aromatic oils of mint, lavender, sage, wormwood and other beneficial plants.). Improves night rest, calms, relieves tension.
Pillow with healing herbs
For a long time, the effect of odors as a healing therapy was not taken into account. Leaves of lemon balm, mint and St. John's wort, hop cones will have a calming effect thanks to essential oils. You can use herbs in various combinations for your sleepy pillow. Their aroma will not only be a pleasant reminder of summer, but will also have a calming and mild sleeping effect. The healing properties of herbs will promote good sleep and pleasant dreams. A pillow with herbs is placed at the head of the bed.
The following combinations are considered effective:
- A small amount of chamomile and thyme and 1-2 drops of lavender oil.
- Valerian (in small quantities), thyme and lemon balm.
- Hops, lavender and verbena - mix in equal proportions to a powder and fill the pad.
Phyto-pillow for babies:
Young children often do not sleep due to pain and bloating or during teething.
A composition of chamomile, valerian and hops pads left at the head of the bed will help them fall asleep.
For children under one year old, a small bag of dried chamomile flowers placed on the stomach will relieve pain. Chamomile flower essential oil soothes the intestines, allowing the baby to sleep.
