Herbs for Better Rest

Nature has always been there for us. The fact that certain plants and herbs could help heal and alleviate symptoms has been known to our ancestors for millennia. And it’s not just magic practitioners and spiritual healers who know this: Hippocrates, the father of medicine, recognizes that “in food, excellent medicine can be found”.

So how can you tap into this power of Nature and get help during these trying and uncertain times? One way would be to use the power of herbs for calm and relaxation. There are many plants and herbs out there that will help soothe your nerves, bring you harmony and relaxation and make it easier to enjoy a good night’s sleep. If you can, find them in Nature. Otherwise you can buy them at an apothecary shop or order them online.

Agrimony

Used in protection sachets and spells, to keep negative energies and spirits away and bring deep sleep. The plant contains tannins which can help against bacteria and has a sedative as well as an anti-inflammatory action. Agrimony is also one of the 38 Bach Flower Remedies, used to help release inner tensions, fear and anxiety. Add 1-2 drops of its essence in your tea or add its leaves to a protection sachet for under your pillow.

Chamomile

A natural anxiety soother, chamomile is extremely popular for a good reason. Laden with antioxidants, phytonutrients and anti-inflammatory compounds, chamomile can help with anything from digestion to promoting sleep and treating anxiety. In fact, one of its components, apigenin, works in a way similar to Valium. You can add chamomile infusion in your bath, burn its essence in your bedroom or simply drink as a calming tea.

Gardenia

Used extensively in traditional Chinese medicine, gardenia can fight anxiety and depression, as well as clear brain fog and combat fatigue. Just the smell of these beautiful flowers can be enough to help you relax and unwind a bit — it’s a good idea to have a vase or a pot with fresh gardenia flowers indoors… For more potent results, you can dry the flowers up and use them in incenses or aromatherapy cushions.

Hemp

The Western world has only recently started to rediscover the many benefits of hemp and hemp seed oil. Rich in magnesium, B vitamins and fatty omega-3 acids, hemp can help your brain stay healthy while making sure your body is strong enough to fight stress. You can take a spoonful of hemp seed oil every day, or use the plant’s essence in elixirs and ointments.

Hops

Not just good for your beer! Dried hops have been used in healing sachets, sleep spells and incenses for a long time — and recent studies explain why. Hops are high in flavonoids that help reduce blood sugar and lower cholesterol, helping your body achieve rest and calmness. Its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties have been found to help against stress and anxiety, something our ancestors knew all along… Stuff its dried leaves in an aromatherapy pillow.

Lavender

Another famous calming and anxiolytic plant. Dried up or burned lavender buds maintain peacefulness if you scatter them across your home. (According to the lore, even looking at the fresh flowers will bring you joy.) Modern science has found that lavender interacts with neurotransmitters to help fight off anger, aggression and agitation; it can calm your brain and help stabilize your mood. It’s a great sedative as well. Use it in incenses, aromatherapy pillows and teas — just be aware that it may interact with your endocrine system.

Passion flower

Used by Native Americans to treat a variety of illnesses, passion flower is now known to help with anything from fibromyalgia and ADHD to insomnia and anxiety. You can brew it in teas or use its essence in aromatherapy pillows and candles. You can also spread it around the house to bring peace and calm the nerves, or place it directly under your pillow.

Rosemary

Known and used since antiquity, rosemary helps with the purification of your space, your body and your mind. Whether you use it as a smudge, a tea or an aromatherapy oil, rosemary has been found to help with boosting our mood and improving our quality of sleep by reducing inflammation in the hippocampus. It is perfectly safe to consume daily: its benefits compound in the body over time, lowering anxiety levels and promoting rest and recuperation.

Sage

Sage has been used in ancient cultures all around the world for divination and purification purposes. The leaves of the plant are used in countless healing spells whereas its smoke literally purifies the air in your home, burning away bacteria (and negative energy). Sage has also been found to improve your immune system, which certainly can’t hurt nowadays. More importantly, smudging yourself and your home with sage can help with mental health issues, leaving you more calm and content.

Valerian

Although its smell is rather unpleasant for humans (cats love it though), valerian can help greatly with sleep and calmness. Thanks to its compound valerenic acid, valerian has a strong sedative effect — you can take it in capsules or in liquid form half an hour before bedtime.The root can be placed in pillows or brewed as a tea; its powder can be used in poultices and elixirs.

Vervain

A common ingredient in protection charms and purification sachets, vervain has a long magical tradition that goes back to the Druids. A healing and calming herb, drinking vervain before sleep can help ward off nightmares and ensure better rest — whereas burning it will disperse any unwanted energies from your home. It’s also one of Bach’s Flower Remedies.

Violet

Violet was used in Ancient Greece to calm down tempers and help induce sleep. Nowadays, its anti-inflammatory action is well known: drinking violet can help with anything from panic attacks and depression to insomnia and irritability. You can eat the flowers or make tea from the leaves — or use the plant's essence in aromatherapy baths, candles and pillows.