Natural Sleeping Herbs

Medicinal herbs fall into two basic categories: tonic and stimulating. When you want to fall asleep without using prescription or over-the-counter drugs, herbs of the tonic variety may be your answer. Herbs like melissa lemon balm, or "melissa" or "lemon balm," are often used as subtle sleep aids, as are chamomile, lavender, skullcap, valerian, wood betony, melatonin, passionflower and kava kava.

How They Work

• Sometimes by themselves, sometimes with companions, herbs can work well.

  Professional herbalists don't recommend herbs simply to treat symptoms like insomnia, but also to correct imbalances within the body that cause the symptoms, according to Holistic Online. Herbs such as valerian and hops can relax the nervous system, leading to restorative sleep. Each herb contains a variety of active constituents that have major and secondary actions that determine the condition for which the herb is most appropriate.

Too Much of a Good Thing Isn't Good

• Professional herbalists can advise you on your herbs.

  Taking too many supplements, herbs and vitamins sometimes causes sleep problems. Eliminate anything that can stimulate you, including spices and stimulating herbs like ginkgo biloba. Also, limit your intake of herbs such as melatonin to once a week. Do not take kava kava for more than three months because of potential side effects like liver damage. Chamomile can be calming, but can also make you more alert, making sleep less likely.

  It's always best to consult a professional herbalist and your doctor before using herbs as a cure or an aid.

Where To Get Them

• Buying herbs from reputable shops can make your selection safe and easier

  You can purchase herbs at any health food store, and the owners and employees should be able to advise you on which herbs can help you to sleep, or relax, to make falling asleep easier. You can also buy them at grocery or drug stores. You can purchase online from countless sites such as BUYHERBS.com, HerbalRemedies.com and TheHerbShop.com.