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Four Natural Supplements that You Can Explore Towards Helping You Sleep

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16 May 2018, 17:52

Everyone experiences insomnia at some point in their life. It always seems to occur at the worst time. Stress and anxiety are the major causes of insomnia. And insomnia, in turn, can cause even more stress and anxiety. It can become a vicious circle that may seem to like it’s impossible to overcome.

If you have chronic insomnia, you should definitely see your doctor to rule out any other underlying health problems that may be causing it. However, if you simply have trouble falling asleep on occasion, you might try one of these four natural supplements to ease you into a restful slumber.

Kava – The Traditional Sleeping Aid of the South Seas

Kava is made from the roots of the Piper methysticum plant, which is found on the islands of the South Pacific Ocean. Kava contains kavapyrones which act as a soporific to make you drowsy and lull you to sleep.

Kava is also thought to prevent seizures by acting as a muscle relaxant. It’s also effective as a pain reliever. Kava works as a sleeping aid, although you should only use the smallest dose of Kava that is effective in helping you sleep.  

Valerian – The Herbal Sleeping Supplement

Valerian is an herb that is found in the northern hemisphere across much of Europe and Asia and also grown in North America. Besides being useful as a sleep-inducing aid, Valerian is also used as a flavour supplement in the food and beverage industry.

If you often experience insomnia, but don’t consider the condition to be chronic, Valerian might be your answer. Valerian doesn’t act quickly, but a dose of 400-900 mg taken around two hours before bedtime is generally effective in reducing the time it takes you to fall asleep by around 15-20 minutes.

Passionflower – The Insomnia Remedy of the Aztecs

Passionflower is a plant that is found in North, Central and South America. The Aztecs used it to treat insomnia and anxiety. The name was bestowed on it by Spanish missionaries who thought its flower resembled the crown of thorns worn by Jesus.

Scientific trials have been performed on it and they have shown that Passionflower acts as a relaxant by suppressing the nervous system. It has also been used as a treatment to reduce muscle spasms, seizures, high blood pressure and hysteria.

Hops – As Good for Sleeping as it is for Beer

The hops that are sold commercially are the female flowers of the hop plant, which is a traditional ingredient in beer, providing it with its bitter flavour.

Hops developed a reputation in Europe as being an effective remedy to insomnia. Recent studies have concluded that hops do have some sedative qualities. Some studies also suggest that hops may be even more effective as a sleeping aid when combined with Valerian, as the two plant’s chemical composition is similar.