Insomnia: Beneficial Herbs
Chamomile: German chamomile (Matricaria recutita) tea bag. Prepare with 1 cup water. Take 1 cup 2-3 hours before bedtime. (Helps calm people under stress.)
Hops: Capsules. Take 500-1000 mg 3 times daily. (Especially useful for insomnia accompanied by indigestion.)
Kava kava: Kavapyrone tablets. Take 60-120 mg daily. (Relaxes the skeletal muscles; sedates the central nervous system.)
Passionflower: Tea bag, prepared with 1 cup water. Take 1 cup 2-3 hours before bedtime. (Induces muscle relaxation and sleepiness without causing next morning drowsiness.)
Rooibos: Tea. Prepare and take as directed on the label. (Induces sleep. Also stops generalized inflammation and pain.)
St. John’s Wort: Capsules. Take 900 mg of total hypericin daily. (Increases the amount of time spent in deep sleep, but not total sleep.)
Valerian: Valepotriate tablets. Take 50-100 mg on an empty stomach, 1 hour before bedtime. (Reduces time required to fall asleep without next morning hangover.)
Balch, P. 2012. Prescription for Herbal Healing. New York, N.Y.: Penguin Group. (p. 368)