Getty Images
READ MORE ABOUT:
Because sleep is so essential to your health and well-being, it's important to make it a priority. If you're struggling to get some decent shut-eye, Mother Earth News suggests brewing a cup of tea made from relaxing, non-habit-forming herbs such as catnip (Nepeta cataria), which is a gentle sedative; chamomile (Matricaria recutita), which helps calm your nerves and sooth the stomach; or passionflower (Passiflora incarnata), a safe sedative that eases anxiety, worry, or an overactive mind.
Herbalist and acupuncturist Christopher Hobbs also recommends this tried-and-true formula for insomnia:Make a tea by steeping 1 teaspoon to 1 tablespoon of the combined herbs in 1 cup of boiled water for 20 minutes; strain, sweeten with honey or stevia as desired, and drink ½ to 1 cup.
- 30 percent valerian, a mild sedative, nonaddictive herb; best used in capsule form because of its unpleasant taste and smell
- 20 percent linden
- 20 percent kava, the national drink of Fiji; promotes deep sleep; causes mild euphoria and can enhance dreams; do not drink if you have liver problems or have just consumed alcohol
- 20 percent chamomile
- 10 percent catnip
Difficulty level: Easy
-
- {}
