Over the years, I’ve used a number of home remedies to help me sleep.
This includes herbs, homeopathic remedies and essential oils. All of them worked great, for a time. Then, they’d stop working.
So I was right back where I started. Until I figured out why this was happening. (I was using the same natural remedy for too long, without rotating.)
I’m happy to report I’m sleeping much better now. Finally, I have relief from my chronic insomnia. Now, when I go to bed, I can pretty much count on getting a good night’s sleep.
Natural Ways to Get a Better Night’s Sleep
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My sleep problems started when I worked for a newspaper. Irregular hours and late nights meant I’d often get home around 2 am. Then, I’d need time to unwind. Sometimes I wouldn’t get to sleep until the sun was starting to come up.
Soon, I started worrying about not getting enough sleep. This greatly compounded the problem. I’d lie awake, worrying about lack of sleep. I’d think about how tired I’d be the next day. This was a vicious cycle that needed fixing.
Finally, I’m free of my chronic insomnia. I no longer spend my days so tired that all I can think about is when I can sleep. My nights are no longer spent wide awake, and then falling asleep about 45 minutes before I need to get up.
What Home Remedies Can Help Me Sleep?
Please understand that I’m not a doctor. So I can’t give medical advice about insomnia. Nor can I promise or claim that anything I tried will work for anyone else. All I can do is share my personal story of being sleep deprived.
I’ve tried many different natural sleep methods. At first, they all seemed to work. Then, after about a week, they’d didn’t. So, for years, I’d get some intermittent relief. But I still struggled with sleep issues.
Then, I realized I needed to start rotating my sleep remedies. This has made a huge difference. I feel as if my chronic insomnia is a thing of the past. (Goodbye and good riddance.)
Essential Oils Anxiety Sleep
Out of all the home remedies I’ve tried, essential oils have probably helped the most. I use them along with herbs and homeopathy. For me, the greater the variety of natural remedies, the better.
At first, I started with pure natural lavender essential oil. This aromatic is widely considered good for facilitating relaxation. It apparently contains compounds that function as natural tranquilizers. The University of Maryland website explains that lavender oil has a long history as a folk remedy for sleepless. It also pointed out that some modern researchers now believe that lavender “may slow the activity of the nervous system” and “improve sleep quality.”
I often use lavender to help me sleep. But I also rotate it with other oils, including cedarwood, ylang ylang, vanilla, clary sage, patchouli and other aromatics often used for relaxation.
Good Essential Oil Blends For Relaxation
I love to tell my readers about synergy blends, designed for specific problems. It’s believed that using a combination of oils is more effective than using single oils. That’s why I like to use recipes made from multiple oils. If you don’t already have an aromatherapy collection, getting a blend relieves you of having to buy multiple bottles.
The blends below are sold by Plant Therapy. You can rest assured Plant Therapy oils are pure. They’re tested twice for purity. One test is done by an outside lab. Plant Therapy also works with world famous aromatherapist Robert Tisserand.
Plant Therapy Sleep Aid
Plant Therapy Worry Free
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Natural Remedies to Help You Sleep Through the Night
I try not to use the same natural sleep remedy too many times in a row. For instance, I might use lavender essential oil for three nights. Then I switch to cedarwood, geranium or another oil. I do the same with my herbal sleep remedies.
Although I can’t conclusively prove that using the same herbal remedy too frequently makes it less effective, my holistic practitioner has told me to switch them up. Otherwise, she says, I can build up a “resistance.”
Herbal Tea For Better Sleep
Herbal sleep teas have also been useful. I love the exquisite taste of tulsi tea. Sipping it about an hour before I’m ready for bed seems to help me sleep better. Stash brand tulsi tea contains this traditional Indian adaptogen, as well as lavender. Adaptogens are herbal remedies that are believed to help the body and mind better manage stressful situations.
I’ve also taken tulsi to for adrenal fatigue. This condition often does hand-in-hand with sleep problems.
So, for the sake of rotation, I would probably drink tulsi for a few nights, maybe as long as a week, before switching to another herbal sleep remedy, such as Roman chamomile tea.
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Homeopathic Sleep Remedies for Adults
I’ve also tried homeopathy. And, for me, it works great. For about a week or two. Then I may need another dose of the same remedy, or something different. Homeopathy has the potential for deep healing. But conventional homeopathy usually requires a professional. Good homeopaths, at least in the United States, are very hard to find. (I consider my wonderful homeopath a huge blessing.)
However, another option is Bach flower remedies. These are really easy to use. There are hundreds and hundreds of regular homeopathic remedies. Choosing the right one usually involves intricate knowledge and skillful case taking.
Can Rescue Remedy Help You Sleep?
However, there are only 38 Bach remedies. So, it makes it much easier to narrow down the field.
The most famous Bach remedy is Rescue Remedy. This is a blend of five flower essences, and it’s often recommended for sleep. It’s designed to work in a crisis. I take it only occasionally. (I’m a big fan of rotating natural remedies, especially homeopathic remedies.) For instance, one of the times I took Bach Rescue was after hearing particularly upsetting news. Later, I slept through the night. Normally, something like this would have kept me awake.
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Bach flower remedies were created in the early 1900’s by Dr. Edward Bach, MD. He recommended them for specific emotions. He believed that healing negative emotions, such as anger or stress, would then lead to physical healing. Rescue Remedy seems to be best suited for short-term crisis use. Other Bach formulas may be considered for individual underlying emotions.
For instance, if I were someone who presented a calm and cheerful face to the world, but had great inner conflict, and difficulty sleeping, I might be helped by Bach flower agrimony, according to the British-based Bach Centre, which seeks to preserve Dr. Bach’s legacy.
Tapping to Help You Sleep
For me, a combination of things have helped my chronic insomnia. At the height of a very stressful period, I learned about something called “tapping.” This simply involves tapping on your body’s meridians. People are generally advised to do this while reciting various affirmations. I found that to be too silly. Instead, I say to myself, a few times, “everything’s going to be alright.”
There are numerous instructional videos on tapping available on YouTube or elsewhere. I did this for a few weeks. Each time I “tapped,” I’d think about a stressful situation I’d experienced. The next time, I’d think about something different. The idea is that tapping helps “clear” the bad memory. It sounds really goofy, but it seems to work. Tapping is even recommended by alternative health expert Dr. Joseph Mercola, DO.
Himalayan Salt Before Sleep
Himalayan salt has earned a reputation of being a sleep aid. This is something I haven’t personally tried, specifically for sleep. But we use this pink salt for cooking and for seasoning. Mined in the Himalayan mountains, which has pure salt deposits untouched by pollution, pink Himalayan salt contains the minerals your body needs, in just the right amounts. I am not aware of any studies showing Himalayan salt can help you sleep. Nor can I promise results. But this salt is often recommended by alternative medical practitioners as a good overall health remedy.
Worrying About Not Getting to Sleep
This one seems too obvious. But it was my downfall. Once I stopped worrying about getting enough sleep, I was much better off. Of course, this is a lot easier said than done. But it’s the best way I’ve found of being able to get enough sleep.
Nowadays, I go to bed after sprinkling a relaxing essential oil on a tissue, and placing it near by pillow. I fall asleep focused on this scent, instead of whether or not I’ll be able to sleep. I can’t believe how much certain aromatics, such as lavender, cedarwood and clary sage essential oils have helped me. The latter is often recommended for women dealing with the hormonal changes of midlife.
Prayer to Help You Sleep
I’ve also found that prayer helps me sleep. I’m Catholic and we have a beautiful devotion called the Rosary, which is meant to correspond to the 150 Biblical psalms. The idea is to meditate upon Biblical events while praying the Rosary. This is my prayer if I wake up too early, which doesn’t happen too often now. But if it does, the Rosary helps me get back to sleep.
Disclaimer
These statements have not been approved by the FDA. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Women who are pregnant or nursing should not use essential oils or herbal or homeopathic remedies unless directed to do so by a healthcare professional.
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