Excessive and prolonged stress often causes anxiety and agitation that lead to sleep disturbances . Insomnia and light sleep can lead to a vicious cycle in the long run. A bad quality sleep, in fact, risks giving rise to tiredness, irritation, mood swings, thus increasing the state of stress.
To regain quality sleep and fight insomnia, there are different types of drugs that chemically induce sleep. Often, however, they also have numerous side effects, first of all addiction and drowsiness upon awakening.
The relaxing properties of herbs to counteract sleep disorders
To avoid the side effects of drugs, it is advisable to look for a solution that stimulates physiological sleep and relaxes the nervous system in a natural way .
In nature there are different types of plants that can help you find a good natural sleep by resorting to methods that have a long tradition in folk medicine.
Plants such as Chamomile have relaxing, sedative and anti-spasmic properties known since ancient times. Valerian is also recognized as an ideal plant to alleviate neuralgia, migraines, intestinal pains and induce restful sleep.
Other lesser known plants have more recently proved to be particularly effective in herbal medicine in the treatment of sleep disorders :
- Escolzia or Californian poppy , has calming properties, thanks to the presence of alkaloids with known narcotic and sedative effects
- Passionflower is used to reduce nervousness in adults and children, but it is also useful for controlling palpitations and in case of sleep disturbances. It is recommended in case of insomnia and anxiety, without having some side effects.
- The flowering tops of the Hawthorn have a general vasodilating action, therefore hypotensive; they exert a good calming action in hypertensive subjects.
- Linden flowers have multiple medicinal properties: excellent sudorific, slightly diuretic, they exert a vasodilating and hypotensive action, which make them useful for reconciling sleep in a completely natural way.
- Hops flowers have relaxing and calming properties on the nervous system. They are excellent for improving sleep quality, especially in children.
- Lavender flowers stimulate digestion, calm nervous tension and prepare for a restful sleep. They are frequently used in mild forms of insomnia.
The ingredients to promote sleep
These plants can be associated with some effective elements to induce a natural and restful sleep : Magnesium, a mineral useful in case of insomnia, and Vitamin B6, which prevents certain disorders of the nervous system and fights spasms. painful nocturnal legs.
Taking these plants with a hot herbal tea or a decoction combines the therapeutic virtues of medicinal herbs in the treatment of sleep with the pleasant intake of a good hot drink, to be sipped in the evening before going to bed. The pleasant taste also makes it suitable for children and the elderly. To ensure a quality and effective herbal tea, it is always good to choose a product with cold-dried plants to preserve all their properties.
Curiosity:
In the Greco-Roman era people were already used to knowing and using the beneficial virtues of certain plants, which were infused in hot or cold water. But it was in the Middle Ages that herbal tea preparations became more and more sophisticated, becoming the main pharmaceutical contribution.
