13 Best Natural Herbs for Sleep

Need a good night’s sleep? Check out these natural herbs for sleep that will make dozing off easier for you to get through that hard day’s night and power through those mental blocks. Explore them below.

1. Lavender

Benefits: Calms the nervous system and promotes slow-wave sleep

You know lavender for its appealing scent. It is used in perfumes and soaps. Lavender contains essential oils that can relax you, helping you get sound sleep. You can inhale, ingest, or apply it to your skin. Try diffusing some lavender oil in your bedroom 30 minutes before hitting the bed. Alternatively, you can have a cup of lavender tea for better results.

2. Chamomile 

Benefits: Have antioxidants that bind to brain receptors. Promotes sleepiness and reduce insomnia

Chamomile is one of the best natural sleep aids. This herb has been used for ages as a tranquilizer. It calms you down after a stressful day, giving you a relaxing night of sleep. Chamomile has other health benefits too. It is rich in antioxidants and also has anti-inflammatory properties. So, a cup of chamomile tea before bed will not only promote better sleep. It will also help you lead a healthy life.

3. Ashwagandha

Benefits: Improves sleep quality and sleep onset latency in patients with insomnia

If you keep on tossing and turning in your bed, you might take Ashwagandha for sleep. Studies show it can help you fall asleep faster and also improve the quality of sleep. This herb acts as a sedative. So, it is an excellent alternative to over the counter drugs that might have several side effects. After all, natural sleep remedies are always better than allopathic medicines.

4. Valerian

Benefits: Inhibits unwanted nervous system activity and helping the brain lead to falling asleep faster

Valerian root has been used for a long time in Europe as a natural sleep aid. It has relaxing properties, and can help you get undisturbed sleep. Research shows that it can lead to better sleep if you are suffering from insomnia. It works on the same principles as anti-anxiety medicines, thereby giving you a restful night of sleep.

5. Hops

Benefits: Helps in relieving anxiety and sleep disorders

Hops flowers help in treating insomnia since they contain sleep-inducing chemicals. Hops have a strong fragrance and doctors often advise using powdered hops in your pillow if you have insomnia. Hops flowers, however, taste bitter. So, you can mix them with chamomile for better taste.

6. Passionflower

Benefits: Aids in relaxation, enhanced mood, better sleep, and pain relief

Passionflower is an exotic flower with blue or purple petals. Some researchers suggest that it may help in reducing stress and anxiety. However, more research needs to be done on the effects of passionflower on sleep.

A study showed that a combination of valerian, hops, and passionflower can help patients with insomnia. It reduced the time taken to fall asleep in the participants. Moreover, it led to deeper and better sleep. Thus, you can take a mixture of valerian, hops, and passion flower if you are looking for natural sleeping remedies. You don’t have to worry about adverse side effects.

7. Magnolia

Benefits: Helps in inducing and improving sleep

The bark of a magnolia tree is known for its sleep-inducing properties. It can help you fall asleep faster and improve sleep quality at the same time. Magnolia lowers the body’s cortisol levels, thereby reducing stress and anxiety too. Magnolia is so effective in promoting sleep that doctors advise not to take it during the day. If you are on other medications, it is better to consult your doctor before taking magnolia bark.

8. Basil

Benefits: Reduces stress, aids in restoring natural sleep rhythms and calms the brain

The basil plant is considered holy in many cultures. Our ancestors have also used it for therapeutic purposes for ages. It can improve throat infections, skin irritations, and bronchitis. Moreover, basil can reduce stress and help in getting better sleep. Basil can also do away with aches and pains. So if you are unable to sleep due to body aches, basil can be an excellent remedy.

9. Lettuce

Benefits: Best known for its sedative, calming and pain killing properties

Some varieties of lettuce have sedative properties. They relax and soothe your muscles and nerves, helping you sleep peacefully. Wild lettuce is also used in homeopathic medicine for anxiety and insomnia. Since it has no side effects, it’s also safe for children.

10. Mint

Benefits: Is a muscle relaxant and may help you relax before bedtime

Peppermint is an age-old herb known even to the ancient Greeks and Romans. They were also aware of its medicinal properties. Apart from reducing stress and promoting sleep, it also helps deal with stomach ailments. Mint is everyone’s favorite due to its pleasant and distinct smell. It can enhance the flavour of any food. There are many herbal teas for sleeping that don’t taste good. But when it comes to mint tea you don’t have to worry about the taste.

11. California Poppy

Benefits: Promote relaxation, reduce mild pain, and enhance sleep

The California poppy is another herbal sleep aid. The plant grows in the US and Mexico. It is known for its analgesic properties. Thus, it is super effective in reducing pain, helping you sleep better. You can either consume its leaves or inhale California poppy infused oil. Getting an oil massage might give you the best results, by relaxing your muscles, giving you the best sleep.

12. Ginseng

Benefits: Help the brain slow down and allows one to sleep soundly through mental fatigue

Ginseng is a plant that has been used for centuries in traditional Chinese medicine to treat insomnia. However, recent studies have shown that ginseng may also effectively promote a good night’s sleep. Scientists believe that ginseng supports human health by providing nutrients necessary for the body to function properly. In addition, ginseng-infused tea have calming properties that can help the brain slow down, allowing you to sleep soundly through mental fatigue and restlessness. If you are looking for a natural way to improve your sleep, ginseng may be worth considering.

13. St. John’s Wort

Benefits: Helpful in treating mood swings, anxiousness and depression symptoms. Leads to better sleep.

Also known as the “weedy herb,” it grows in pastures and is fatal to grazing cattle. However, St. John’s Wort has therapeutic benefits for us humans. These yellow flowers are rich with tryptophan, which boosts serotonin synthesis and is helpful to people with depression symptoms. This property helps in getting better sleep patterns and feeling less anxious or moody compared to prescribed medicines that come with side effects to follow and bear.