Plant-Based Sleep Remedies

An estimated 1 in 3 Americans fails to get enough sleep each night. Sleep deprivation can not only impact your mood and productivity but also lead to several serious long-term health defects. 

While some turn to pharmaceutical sleep aids to find relief, they are far from a healthy solution. In fact, they can seriously escalate the issue. A New York Times article reported that prescription insomnia drugs zolpidem (Ambien, Edluar, Intermezzo, and Zolpimist), zaleplon (Sonata), and eszopiclone (Lunesta) can lead to injury and death from sleepwalking, sleep-driving and engaging in other hazardous activities while not fully awake.” In addition, pharmaceutical sleep aids can be habit-forming and may cause daytime sleepiness.

With growing awareness of the risk associated with these sleep aids, many are looking for a more natural approach to a good night of sleep. And with more Americans looking to enhance their wellness, it’s easier than ever to find holistic sleep remedies. 

Daylight Savings Time Side Effects

According to a recent article in Parade, twice a year our internal timers get yanked out of synch. Spring is hardest on us, says neurobiologist Joseph Takahashi of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, partly because most people find it harder to get up earlier than to stay up later. That first night, the average adult loses 40 minutes of actual sleep. But it’s harder to fall asleep and stay asleep for a week or more after the changeover. Some side effects are erratic driving, feeling jet-lagged, overspending, and overeating.

Plant-Based Remedies for a Better Sleep

Among the many natural sleep remedies, Melatonin is one of the most popular. Melatonin is a naturally occurring hormone that helps your body prepare for darkness and can be taken as a supplement to promote sleep and treat insomnia. 

Magnesium, another popular natural sleep aid, is an essential mineral that can be used to promote sleep and can be taken in through a diet rich in leafy greens, as well as through supplements. Magnesium can aid in maintaining healthy levels of the neurotransmitter GABA that supports sleep.

There are also plenty of herbs that help people fall asleep: Tea blends of chamomile, lavender, lemon balm, and mint, can calm and soothe. Another ancient remedy, valerian root, can be taken as a capsule or tincture and can decrease symptoms of insomnia.

CBD Sleep-Aids

CBD is quickly becoming another popular sleep aid. Since the 2018 legalization of industrial hemp, hemp-derived CBD products for sleep are becoming more widely available and popular.  In response to its popularity, CBD brands have developed sleep-centric products in the form of tinctures, patches, capsules, and more. Many studies have proven the effectiveness and wellness benefits of CBD, including clinical research from 2019 which found that 66.7% of patients using CBD for sleep issues saw significant improvements after one month of treatment. 

If the root cause of your insomnia is anxiety or pain, CBD’s signaling of the endocannabinoid system can target and level-set these issues related to a person’s sleep-wake cycle and pain processing. While it can take some trial and error to find your standard dose for sleep, the golden rule for getting started is to start low, gradually increasing as needed after observing your results.

If you experience trouble sleeping, integrating natural herbs, healthy foods, and CBD could be helpful, especially in conjunction with healthy habits such as consistent bedtimes, lowering your screen time, eating gut-friendly foods, and exercise. It’s always important to consult with your physician before adding or removing any components to your routine that may interact with your unique conditions.

Learn more about our CBD sleep remedies and how they can help you find some ZZZZs.