Introduction

Do you ever find that you have difficulty relaxing? This blog looks at six excellent herbal sedatives to help you relax. These herbal sedatives can help as part of the management of stress, mental tension, and insomnia.

What Are Herbal Sedatives?

Relaxing herbs work on mental tension (sedatives) or muscular tension (antispasmodics). Most herbal relaxants are both sedatives and antispasmodics.

How Can Herbal Sedatives Help You?

Using herbal sedatives can help you to relax and unwind. They can calm and soothe a fractious mind, making them ideal when you feel anxious, stressed, or have difficulty relaxing.

If you find that you are feeling stressed often, then you can use these herbs frequently to help you feel calmer. You can also use them only when needed, for example, to help you relax after a difficult day.

They can help you relax when you feel anxious, tense, or even angry. The herbal sedatives are also helpful if you experience sleeping difficulties due to mental tension. Specific herbs can help relax muscles in particular parts of the body. These are useful if you have muscle tension resulting from stress.

Six Excellent Herbal Sedatives to Help You Relax

  • California Poppy
  • Lemon Balm
  • Lime Blossom
  • Passion Flower
  • Lavender
  • Valerian

Herbal sedatives

California Poppy (Eschscholzia Califonica)

Califonia poppy is a beautiful, bright orange poppy. It is found in many gardens and parks, adding a bright splash of colour to floral displays. Despite being related to the opium poppy, it is mild and suitable for children. Use for anxiety, mental tension, and insomnia. It is a mild painkiller and antispasmodic. Therefore, it can help with headaches and migraine.

California poppy is available as an alcohol extract called a tincture. Alternately, make the dried herb into a herbal tea. Please seek medical advice before using it on children. Do not take while pregnant or breastfeeding. Avoid if you are taking anti-depressant medications.

Lemon Balm (Melissa Officinalis)

Lemon balm is a fragrant member of the mint family. It is easy to grow in your garden or balcony pots. I always recommend using the fresh plant wherever possible. The volatile oils give the plant its fragrant smell and evaporate away as the plant dries. Much of the medicinal action comes from these volatile oils.

Use to calm an overactive mind, mental tension, and anxiety. Especially good for a busy mind that won’t switch off. It also helps to raise the spirits and lift the mood. Lemon balm is a slow-acting herb with cumulative effects. Therefore, use it for at least a few weeks to get the full benefits. It is antispasmodic to the gut and helps with irritable bowel syndrome.

Use lemon balm as an alcoholic tincture. The tincture is best when made from fresh plant material. The dried herb, or freshly picked leaves, can be used as a herbal tea. Avoid if you have thyroid disease or if you take thyroid medications.

Lime Blossom (Tilia spp.)

Lime blossom comes from the Linden tree, also known as a Tilia tree. Several different species are used. Linden trees are found in many parks and public spaces. The blossom that hangs from the tree is used.

It is relaxing and sedating helping with mental tension, anxiety, and insomnia. Lime blossom is also antispasmodic and helps with headaches and migraine. Herbalists use it to help with high blood pressure associated with stress and anxiety. It also helps to reduce fever and congestion, making it useful for colds and flu. This herb is suitable for children.

Use the alcohol tincture. I prefer the fresh tincture, but this may be difficult to find. Lime blossom makes a lovely herbal tea. Herbal tea is best if you are using it to help lower a fever.

Picture of passion flower

Passion Flower (Passiflora incarnata)

Passion flower is an exquisitely beautiful flower. This gorgeous ornamental plant adds beauty to any garden. It is quite sedating and relaxing and so useful in mental tension, anxiety, anger, and insomnia. As a painkiller and antispasmodic, it helps with irritable bowel syndrome, headaches, and migraine. It may also be used for period pain. For insomnia, it is especially useful for frequent waking during the night.

Use the alcoholic tincture. You may also be able to find passion flower capsules. The dried plant can be used to make herbal tea. Herbal tea is best avoided before bedtime! For insomnia use the tincture or capsules. Avoid this herb if you are taking antidepressants.

Lavender (Lavandula spp.)

Lavender is calming and relaxing, helping with anxiety, mental tension, and irritability. Perfect for anyone who has too high adrenaline and feels tense and on edge. Lavender also helps to lift the mood. Also, an antispasmodic lavender is helpful for irritable bowel syndrome. It also helps with headaches and migraine. A drop of essential oil can be applied to the temples and back of the neck just as a tension headache begins. It also helps with sleep problems.

Use as an alcohol tincture. Like lemon balm, the fresh plant tincture is best. The dried herb can be made into tea. Lavender tea tastes very strong and is best blended with other herbs to soften the flavour. Lavender blends well with lemon balm, lime blossom, passion flower, and/or rose.

Valerian (Valeriana Officinalis)

Valerian is a well-known sedative herb. The root of the plant is used for its medicinal effects. It is sedating and relaxing and helps where there is mental tension, anxiety, or insomnia. It can be used for all types of sleep problems. I find it especially useful when you cannot sleep because your mind will not switch off.

It is also potently antispasmodic. Valerian helps with headaches and migraine. It can be used for irritable bowel syndrome and period pain. Also helpful for premenstrual syndrome and during menopause. Herbalists use valerian to relax the wall of the blood vessel in high blood pressure.

Use as an alcoholic tincture. It is also available as capsules or tablets. The root may be simmered for 10 minutes to make a decoction which can then be drunk. However, it has a powerful and unpleasant taste. I advise using the tincture or capsules. Avoid long-term use. Do not take it if you have depression. Some people find it stimulating and should avoid it. High doses may cause headaches and discomfort.

Summary

The herbal sedatives help to relax mental tension and can be helpful during times of stress, anxiety, or whenever relaxation is difficult. Many of these herbs are also useful for insomnia. Most herbal sedatives are also herbal antispasmodics that help relieve muscle spasms.

They can be useful to aid sleep or relaxation. However, if you are experiencing ongoing problems then a wider and more holistic approach is needed. For more information on how to deal with stress please read My Absolute Top 5 Easy Ways to Empower You to Beat Stress Naturally. Where symptoms are chronic or interfering with your day-to-day life then please seek additional help from a medical professional.

Cautions

Consult your Medical Herbalist, GP or pharmacist before using herbs if you:

  • Take any medication
  • Have a medical condition
  • Are pregnant or breastfeeding

If you are struggling with anxiety, depression or stress please seek advice from a medical professional. It is best to not try and deal with these difficulties alone.

If you would like to find out more about a herbal consultation please book your free discovery call here.

Disclaimer

This article does not substitute for professional medical advice or treatment

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