Is a New Natural Treatment for Insomnia on its Way?

So many people suffer from insomnia. And insomnia has so many detrimental effects on your life and your health. A new natural treatment that is safe and effective would be welcome. And a new one is on the way.

Insomnia affects more than just your sleep. It affects quality of life, memory and mood. It increases your chances of anxiety and depression and even cardiovascular disease.

Though flavonoids are often discussed, it is not often discussed that they have sedative properties because they modulate GABA receptors. One rich source of flavonoids is limes. So, for the first time ever, researchers set out to see if lime peel extract can improve insomnia.

The double-blind study gave 80 people who were struggling with difficulty sleeping either a placebo or 300mg of a standardized lime peel extract for 2 weeks.

The result was that lime peel extract significantly improved the time it takes to fall asleep, the number of times they woke up, sleep efficiency and total sleep time. The people who took the lime peel extract also experienced less daytime sleepiness.

Importantly, the lime peel not only worked well, it worked safely. The extract was well tolerated, and there were no serious side effects.

So, the next exciting natural sleep supplement coming down the pipe might just come from the peel of a lime.

Phytomed. April 2025;139:156510.

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For much more on preventing and treating insomnia, see our book The Family Naturopathic Encyclopedia.

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

The Natural Path is intended for educational purposes only and is in no way intended for self-diagnosis or self-treatment. For health problems, consult a qualified health practitioner for a comprehensive program.

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