A Herbal Way to Help You Sleep

This combination of six herbs can calm your stress and help you sleep.

This new double-blind study included 60 adults and lasted 8 weeks. One group was given a placebo, and the other was given a combination of 6 herbs.

The herbs included the well known sleeping herbs valerian and passionflower. It added black seed (Nigella sativa), which has recently been shown to improve sleep and restorative sleep (Front Nutr. 2023;10:1200118) and holy basil, which has recently been shown to help stress and sleep (Front Nutr. 2022;9:965130). The other two herbs were rosemary and jujube (Ziziphus jujuba). Jujube is used in traditional Chinese medicine and has been traditionally used for sleep and anxiety.

The results showed that the herbal combo led to a 39% increase in sleep time: that’s like an additional 2 hours. It also led to 70% decrease in the time it takes to fall asleep and a 53% fewer times waking up.

The herbs also led to a 40% decrease in stress scores and an objective 30% decrease in cortisol, the stress hormone.

The herbs accomplished all of this safely.

The researchers conclude that this combination of herbs “can be considered a safe and effective dietary herbal supplement to reduce stress and improve sleep quality.”

International Journal of Basic & Clinical Pharmacology. Jul-Aug 2024;13(4):doi.org/10.18203/2319-2003.ijbcp20241646.

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For much more on natural approaches to stress and insomnia, see our book The Family Naturopathic Encyclopedia.

For comprehensive natural help with your health, including sleep and stress, make an appointment to see Linda Woolven now. Linda’s clinic is now open for in person and virtual appointments.

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