If tossing and turning into the small hours of the morning has become your nightly routine, you might want to test out some herbal teas to help both your health and your sleep.
Many people find that drinking something warm before bed as a part of their routine helps them to relax and bring on sleep much easier.
There are a variety of caffeine-free tea options available. Rooibos tea is an herbal infusion made from a South African herb that contains polyphenols and flavonoids. Often called “African redbush tea,” Rooibos delivers potential health benefits with each caffeine-free sip. Try our Vanilla Bean Rooibos Tea and Masala Chai Rooibos Tea varieties for a real rooibos twist!
Honeybush is a sibling of Rooibos cultivated in South Africa’s Eastern Cape region. Its flowers smell of honey, earning this plant a sweet name. Some people say they experience a soporific effect (feeling of drowsiness) from Honeybush.
There are also a number of herbs many people have found to have a positive effect on sleep. Some of the more common sleepy time herbs are chamomile, lemon balm, and passionflower.
In the U.S., chamomile is best known as an ingredient in herbal tea. Chamomile relaxes the nerves, calms the stomach, and can give you a great night of sleep.
Passionflower was first grown and used by Native Americans, and similar to many plant based remedies, Passionflower has proven anti-anxiety benefits and has been known to cause less drowsiness than other anxiety remedies.
Lemon Balm is a citrusy and fresh-scented herb. It is very prolific and easily-grown. Fresh or dried leaves are used. Lemon balm tea was known to have powers of longevity. Today the tea is taken to treat colds and flu, lower blood pressure, and alleviate insomnia and indigestion.
All three of these herbs are found in our Calming Harmony, and we do carry a few different chamomile blends that are popular. Another herb people find works for them is Valerian root. However, the Valerian Root is “heavier-hitting” and is known to have a very strong taste and smell.
Similar to Chamomile, Peppermint is a natural herbal tea that helps with de-stressing the body. This tea is great to drink the night before a big or stressful event. Peppermint tea is used to soothe your stomach and relieve anxiety.
Although tea cannot be the magical remedy to solve all pain and suffering, it can definitely make life a lot more relaxed and restful.
Sweet Dreams!
(Note: Sleeping trouble can have many different causes. It always is a great idea to check with your doctor to rule out any health issues).
Updated 1/13/20.
