Effective Sedation

Effective Sedation
Several herbal teas are available that provide some relief from anxiety and insomnia. The dried rhizome and roots of valerian (Valerianae radix) is an example of an herb that can be effectively used to treat anxiety and insomnia.

Valerian has been used as a mild tranquilizer and sleep aid for more than 1000 year. It reduces sleep latency and wake time after sleep onset occurs.

A tea prepared from a teaspoonful of dried rhizome and roots can be safely taken several times daily. There have been no reports of side effects or contradictions to its use.

Because of its mild sedative action, passionflower (Passiflora incarnate) is widely used in Europe to treat nervous anxiety and restlessness and sleep disturbances.

Pharmacological studies show that passionflower acts as a sedative, anxiolytic and antispasmodic.

Its sedative and anxiety-relieving activity is possible due to several substances that may act synergistically.

Lemon balm (Melissa officinalis) has pleasant tasting citrus-scented leaves that can be brewed onto a delicious tea. Melissa is used in Europe as a sedative to treat insomnia caused by nervous conditions and to treat digestive disorders.

The active principles of lemon balm are found in the terpenoid-rich oil of the leaves – citronellal, geraniol, linalool, citral, limonene, caryophyllene, and eugenol.

Mixtures of the above herbs (valerian, lemon balm. and passionflower) are often available as an aid to treat anxiety and sleeplessness.

Hops are the fruits of the vine Humulus lupulus. Hop teas are commonly used to relieve insomnia, restlessness, nervous tension, sleep disturbance, and other nervous conditions.

The active principles of hops include the essential oil components (including humulene, mycrene, beta-caryophyllene and farnesene) and the resinous bitter principles (including humulone and lupulone).

During storage the latter two compounds degrade to 2-methyl-3-buten-2-ol, which has CNS depressing activity.
Effective Sedation