{"id":955,"date":"2023-10-10T15:52:10","date_gmt":"2023-10-10T14:52:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/herbalistamedica.info\/?p=955"},"modified":"2026-07-09T23:10:22","modified_gmt":"2026-07-09T22:10:22","slug":"medical-herbalism-for-sleeplessness","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/herbalistamedica.info\/en_gb\/medical-herbalism-for-sleeplessness\/","title":{"rendered":"Your Herbal Sleep Therapy"},"content":{"rendered":"\r\n\r\n\r\n
\"\"\r\n
\r\n

Can German Chamomile (Matricaria camomilla L.<\/em>) tea help you sleep well or what herbs do you need?<\/h2>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

The Nature of the Patient<\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

A Medical Herbalist evaluates the patient\u2019s psychological profile and character, the onset, duration and severity of sleeplessness (including insomnia), besides other associated symptoms and lifestyle factors.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Insomnia commonly manifests as delay in falling asleep, lack of deep sleep, frequent awakening during the night and \/ or early-morning awakening. Since adequate adult sleep requirements vary from 4 to 10 hours per night (Merck Manual 2003:467), only unrefreshing sleep may be clinically important.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Correct and individualised diagnosis of the causes of insomnia in patients is essential for successful health strategies. Common culprits are stimulants such as caffeine, alcohol, chocolate, cheese, sugar and disorderly eating associated with digestive imbalance. Sensitivity to the above foods might increase with age, as the pineal gland in the brain secretes melatonin, a hormone which diminishes by 90% in the elderly, which involves regulation of sleep-wake and appetite \u201cbody clocks\u201d (Motilva et al 2001:920).<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Also stress causes the \u201cfight or flight\u201d reaction affecting adrenaline and other hormones involved in sleep and wakefulness (Kapit et al 2000:106). Adrenaline and noradrenaline are released by the adrenal cortex (of glands above the kidneys) to respond to emotions of fear and anxiety (Hoffman 1990:17).<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Other important causes of insomnia to be evaluated include asthma, heart disease, incontinence, muscle and joints aches and pains, snoring (apnoea), night sweats, side-effects from medications or any withdrawal symptoms.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Holistic Treatment of the Sleepless Patient with Herbal Medicines<\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

After diagnosing the nature of the sleepless patient, a Herbalist considers the energetic temperature of herbs to match the patient\u2019s constitutional speed of metabolism. This is comparable to examining the burning qualities of fuel types, in order to maximise the efficiency of a given car type.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

For example, the anxious patient taking time to fall asleep might be given a nerve relaxant such as Chamomilla recutita<\/em><\/strong> (German Chamomile) or Chamaemelum nobile<\/strong><\/em> (Roman Chamomile) or Valeriana officinalis<\/em><\/strong> (Valerian). On the other hand, Humulus lupulus<\/em><\/strong> (Hops) would be a better selection than all others to cool and slow down an excitable \u201csanguine\u201d patient, whose blood flow is warm and fast, whereas Valerian and to a slighter degree the Chamomiles might maintain a degree of excitement, due to the slightly warming qualities of these herbs. Conversely, Hops might not be as useful to patients with slow \u201cphlegmatic\u201d constitutions, sluggish blood flow and a tendency to complain about the cold.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Frequent wakefulness is often caused by sluggish digestion, sometimes accompanied by hot migraine, where a bitter, digestive and cooling relaxant herb such as\u00a0Stachys betonica<\/strong><\/em>\u00a0(Wood Betony) might be appropriate. Should the same patient be a menopausal woman awakening in sweat,\u00a0Dioscorea villosa<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0(Wild Yam) might be added to the prescription for its cooling digestive, antispasmodic and hormonal qualities (oestrogen-like). Cooling, digestive bitters are also anxiolytic nervines, as the digestive organs and gut are regulated by the Vagus, cranial nerve X.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

A patient sleeping lightly, due to nervous muscle twitches and joints aches and pains, may benefit from relaxant and heating herbs, similarly to using a hot water bottle. Well known heating herbs include\u00a0Zingiber officinale<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0(Ginger),\u00a0Piper nigrum<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0(Black pepper) and\u00a0Capsicum minimum<\/strong> (Cayenne).\u00a0Conversely, heating herbs might worsen the aches and pains of patients with hot constitutions and inflammation.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

References:<\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

    \r\n
  • Hoffman, David (1990) Herbal Stress Control. London, New York, Sydney, Toronto: Guild Publishing.<\/li>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
  • Kapit, Wynn, Macey Robert I, Meisami, Esmail (2000) The Physiology Coloring Book. San Francisco, Reading Massachusetts, New York, Harlow England, Don Mills Ontario, Sydney, Mexico City, Madrid, Amsterdam: Addison Wesley Longman, Inc.<\/li>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
  • Merck Manual (2003) The Merck Manual of Medical Information (2nd home edn.). Whitehouse Station NJ: Merck Research Laboratories.<\/li>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
  • Motilva V, Cabeza J & Alarcon de La Lastra C (2001) New Issues about Melatonin and its Effects on the Digestive System. Current Pharmaceutical Design 7, 909-931.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    Herbl Sleep Therapy<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":239785167,"featured_media":957,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":true,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"jetpack_seo_schema_type":"","_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_wpcom_ai_launchpad_first_post":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"{title}\n\n{excerpt}\n\n{url}","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"_wpas_customize_per_network":false,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[4074817],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-955","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-phytotherapy"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/herbalistamedica.info\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Matricaria-Herb-Focus.png?fit=940%2C788&ssl=1","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pf7isq-fp","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":5442,"url":"https:\/\/herbalistamedica.info\/en_gb\/therapeutic-index\/","url_meta":{"origin":955,"position":0},"title":"High Therapeutic Index of traditional medicines","author":"Elena Renier MNIMH","date":"09\/07\/2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Natural substances enjoying wide margins of safety, similar to those of foods, provided they are prepared according to common sense traditional methods do not, usually, need finding out the effective dose (ED50), the ratio with the toxic dose (TD50) and lethal dose (LD50), since possible side effects are comparable to\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Ethics"","block_context":{"text":"Ethics","link":"https:\/\/herbalistamedica.info\/en_gb\/category\/ethics\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/herbalistamedica.info\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/TI.jpg?fit=349%2C362&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":916,"url":"https:\/\/herbalistamedica.info\/en_gb\/diet-and-nutrition-medical-herbalism-and-mycotherapy-help-you-get-into-your-ideal-shape\/","url_meta":{"origin":955,"position":1},"title":"Nutrition, Phyto- and Myco- Therapies help you get into your ideal shape.","author":"Elena Renier MNIMH","date":"07\/10\/2023","format":false,"excerpt":"Optimal nutrition is a pillar of medical herbalism How do we investigate what causes weight gain and obesity? Before selecting the strategies for switching on your metabolism, in order to reach your ideal body shape, it is helpful to seek an in-depth investigation of every possible physiological blockage and of\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Mycotherapy, Nutrition and Phytotherapy"","block_context":{"text":"Mycotherapy, Nutrition and Phytotherapy","link":"https:\/\/herbalistamedica.info\/en_gb\/category\/phytotherapy\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Nutrizione clinica","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/herbalistamedica.info\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/fruit-and-veg-herbs-poster-2023.jpg?fit=940%2C788&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/herbalistamedica.info\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/fruit-and-veg-herbs-poster-2023.jpg?fit=940%2C788&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/herbalistamedica.info\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/fruit-and-veg-herbs-poster-2023.jpg?fit=940%2C788&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/herbalistamedica.info\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/fruit-and-veg-herbs-poster-2023.jpg?fit=940%2C788&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":366,"url":"https:\/\/herbalistamedica.info\/en_gb\/apple-carrot-and-ginger-for-prevention-of-influenza\/","url_meta":{"origin":955,"position":2},"title":"Turkey Tail mushroom soup is better than cure, yet apples, carrots and ginger ease colds and winter ailments  (20-12-2025)","author":"Elena Renier MNIMH","date":"14\/09\/2023","format":false,"excerpt":"Turkey Tail mushroom (Coriolus\/Trametes versicolor L.) shows proven antiviral and anticancer properties, supported by extensive scientific research. Despite its safety in clinical settings, it remains classified as a novel food in the West. Alongside mushrooms, consuming an apple daily can help ward off common colds, while carrots boost vitamin A\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Clinical Consultations"","block_context":{"text":"Clinical Consultations","link":"https:\/\/herbalistamedica.info\/en_gb\/category\/clinical-consultations\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Tosse, o raffreddore","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/herbalistamedica.info\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/COUGHS-OR-COLDS.jpg?fit=1200%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/herbalistamedica.info\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/COUGHS-OR-COLDS.jpg?fit=1200%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/herbalistamedica.info\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/COUGHS-OR-COLDS.jpg?fit=1200%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/herbalistamedica.info\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/COUGHS-OR-COLDS.jpg?fit=1200%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/herbalistamedica.info\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/COUGHS-OR-COLDS.jpg?fit=1200%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/herbalistamedica.info\/en_gb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/955","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/herbalistamedica.info\/en_gb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/herbalistamedica.info\/en_gb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/herbalistamedica.info\/en_gb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/239785167"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/herbalistamedica.info\/en_gb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=955"}],"version-history":[{"count":17,"href":"https:\/\/herbalistamedica.info\/en_gb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/955\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5461,"href":"https:\/\/herbalistamedica.info\/en_gb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/955\/revisions\/5461"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/herbalistamedica.info\/en_gb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/957"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/herbalistamedica.info\/en_gb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=955"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/herbalistamedica.info\/en_gb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=955"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/herbalistamedica.info\/en_gb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=955"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}