Author
Kimberly Kushner
Naturopath and Nutritionist
Needing some help getting those Zzzz’s?
Following on from our tummy settling tea recipe, here’s a little remedy to help you fall asleep.
Do you find it difficult to doze off, or perhaps you wake up frequently during the night? Note that this is not intended to replace any medication, nor be taken as medical advice. If you are taking any medications which affect your nervous system, such as benzodiazepines, check with your medical practitioner whether or not this recipe would be appropriate for you.
There are some beautiful flowers and plants which also elicit some amazing relaxing actions on the nervous system. If you can, forage the following dried flowers/herbs, combine equal amounts of them, and store in a dark, cool and dry container to make your own not-so-common “Sleepy Tea”.
One serve should be one tablespoon of the herbal blend, steeped in hot water for 5-10 minutes.
If you find that drinking liquids before bedtime results in frequent toilet visits disturbing your slumber, another option would be to make a more potent and concentrated beverage. This can be done by using the same amount of dried herbs, in a much smaller amount of water (eg: a shot). If you’re not a fan of the flavour of the pure herbs feel free to add a splash of honey or maple syrup.
![1 Floom Magazine Herbal Help Sleepy Tea Passion Flower Flickr Liz West](https://floom.imgix.net/products/1_floom_magazine_herbal_help_sleepy_tea_passion_flower_flickr_liz_west.jpg?auto=format&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fm=pjpg&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&ixlib=php-1.1.0&q=65&w=1440&s=ffd033e42a98b56d556cc20533e875f9 1440w, https://floom.imgix.net/products/1_floom_magazine_herbal_help_sleepy_tea_passion_flower_flickr_liz_west.jpg?auto=format&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fm=pjpg&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&ixlib=php-1.1.0&q=65&w=1000&s=bc1a7f87ff8c4f600a0b2eb3df4bf728 1000w, https://floom.imgix.net/products/1_floom_magazine_herbal_help_sleepy_tea_passion_flower_flickr_liz_west.jpg?auto=format&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fm=pjpg&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&ixlib=php-1.1.0&q=65&w=600&s=c738708f57175302235869eccf5a8629 600w, https://floom.imgix.net/products/1_floom_magazine_herbal_help_sleepy_tea_passion_flower_flickr_liz_west.jpg?auto=format&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fm=pjpg&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&ixlib=php-1.1.0&q=65&w=400&s=42f0aafa1e769cee979404fe939ed5cb 400w)
Passiflora incarnata, Passionflower, one of my favourite plants in the world! The flower itself looks other worldly, and brilliantly divine, something which inspired Avatar, perhaps? In my experience, Passionflower aids with frequent night wakings and the inability to fall back to sleep once awake, in addition to being beneficial at balancing out the sympathetic nervous system (your ‘fight and flight’ response).
![1 Floom Magazine Herbal Help Sleepy Tea Blue Skull Cap Asergeev 2](https://floom.imgix.net/products/1_floom_magazine_herbal_help_sleepy_tea_blue_skull_cap_asergeev_2.jpg?auto=format&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fm=pjpg&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&ixlib=php-1.1.0&q=65&w=1440&s=aac56646e6639fa091ef2800df7afd56 1440w, https://floom.imgix.net/products/1_floom_magazine_herbal_help_sleepy_tea_blue_skull_cap_asergeev_2.jpg?auto=format&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fm=pjpg&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&ixlib=php-1.1.0&q=65&w=1000&s=1b15332b85e6d178760893783cbbd18f 1000w, https://floom.imgix.net/products/1_floom_magazine_herbal_help_sleepy_tea_blue_skull_cap_asergeev_2.jpg?auto=format&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fm=pjpg&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&ixlib=php-1.1.0&q=65&w=600&s=1603347cdbfd6d335096ebb006cb8069 600w, https://floom.imgix.net/products/1_floom_magazine_herbal_help_sleepy_tea_blue_skull_cap_asergeev_2.jpg?auto=format&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fm=pjpg&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&ixlib=php-1.1.0&q=65&w=400&s=ffc182edbde2746c7d9b75217bbcdef0 400w)
Scutellaria lateriflora, Skullcap is a wonderful nervous system tonic, helping to aid with anxiety and restlessness, helping you drift off. A great plant to incorporate, because who hasn’t had one of those nights where you are tossing and turning with too much on your mind? Perhaps the night before a big event or something exciting
![1 Floom Magazine Herbal Helt Sleepy Tea Lemon Balm Melissa Officinalis Aranais 1](https://floom.imgix.net/products/1_floom_magazine_herbal_helt_sleepy_tea_lemon_balm_melissa_officinalis_aranais_1.jpg?auto=format&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fm=pjpg&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&ixlib=php-1.1.0&q=65&w=1440&s=00639c25e268c42b0321cb578c7d2bf0 1440w, https://floom.imgix.net/products/1_floom_magazine_herbal_helt_sleepy_tea_lemon_balm_melissa_officinalis_aranais_1.jpg?auto=format&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fm=pjpg&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&ixlib=php-1.1.0&q=65&w=1000&s=ec1ff0bc3dff31ee4f43816710babaa9 1000w, https://floom.imgix.net/products/1_floom_magazine_herbal_helt_sleepy_tea_lemon_balm_melissa_officinalis_aranais_1.jpg?auto=format&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fm=pjpg&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&ixlib=php-1.1.0&q=65&w=600&s=0441bf820335968756d63e501e95192a 600w, https://floom.imgix.net/products/1_floom_magazine_herbal_helt_sleepy_tea_lemon_balm_melissa_officinalis_aranais_1.jpg?auto=format&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fm=pjpg&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&ixlib=php-1.1.0&q=65&w=400&s=ca2a608469b6ea03e3225619009ef2c7 400w)
Melissa officinalis, or Lemonbalm leaves is great for the nervous system and the digestive system. It helps to ease that ‘nervous tummy’ feeling, so if you find yourself tossing and turning at night, feeling nervous or anxious, this is a great addition to your blend. It is a nervous system tonic, and mild sedative. Lemonbalm is not advised for those who have hypothyroidism.
The three herbs above make up the main bulk of the sleepy tea, however if you would like more flavour or aroma, good old Lavandula spp. (Lavender) makes for a lovely addition if you’re a fan of the smell.
Drink a cup with dinner and one 30 minutes before bed, or just have one cup. It’s totally up to you. Enjoy!
Kimberly Kushner BHSc (Nutritional Medicine), BHSc (Naturopathy) is a clinical nutritionist and naturopath who aims to provide you with the finest holistic health care. Her approach in assisting you to optimal health is practical, compassionate, empathic, and scientific. Kimberly treats acute and chronic health conditions and her main areas of expertise include, but are not limited to: reproductive health (women’s and men’s), digestive complaints, food allergies, healthy weight management, detoxification, and more.
www.facebook.com/kimberly.kushner.nutritionist
Photo Credit:
Passionflower: Flicker Liz West
Skullcap: A. Sergeev