In one word, insomnia can be described as “sleeplessness”. It is a common condition, which is faced by most of the people at some point of time in their lives. Insomnia is an indication that can come with several sleep, health and psychiatric disarrays, typified by constant difficulty in slumbering or complicatedness in staying asleep. There are three types of insomnia. They are: i) Transient insomnia, ii) Acute insomnia and iii) Chronic insomnia.

While transient insomnia prevails for a week, acute insomnia is the inability to consistently sleep well for a period of less than a month. Chronic insomnia persists for approximately one month. Causes of transient and acute insomnia are jet lag, depression, uncomfortable room heat, excessive noise; stressful situation like exams, loss of loved ones, etc., withdrawal from drugs, sedative, alcohol, medications and so on.

Herbal Therapies for Insomnia:

Passion Flower: It is a flower that has been traditionally used to treat insomnia caused by stress, overwork and nervousness. Passion flower is sleep inducing, calming, relieves pain and muscular spasms. This flower was traditionally used in America and later on in Europe as a “calming” herb for anxiety, insomnia and seizures.

Oats: Oat is an excellent nerve tonic, antidepressant and nourishing. Eating oats can be very relaxing and can greatly aid sleep in people affected by insomnia. Oats are safe and can be treated with full confidence for treating insomnia. If, at least 250 grams of oats are included in the everyday diet, the symptoms of insomnia are resolved in a week.

Valerian: Valerian is sleep inducing and calming, relieves spasms, calms the digestion and lowers blood pressure. Valerian root promotes deep relaxation and sleep. Valerian is valuable for severe insomnia and insomnia that go with pain, intestinal pain, wind, cramps, menstrual pain, anxiety, tension, and over-excitability.

St. John’s Wort: St. John’s Wort is the cheaper, safer and more efficient way to treat both depression and insomnia. St. John’s Wort improves the quality of sleep and is sedative and pain relieving. It is useful in treating depression, tension, insomnia, anxiety, hypersomnia and so on. It is quickly becoming an efficient medicinal herb sadness, anxiety, petulance and insomnia.

Hops: Hops (Humulus lupulus) is a fruit and belongs to the cannabis family native to Europe. Hops are relaxing, antiseptic and sleep inducing. In the Chinese traditional medicine, hops are used for treating insomnia, restlessness, dyspepsia, intestinal cramps and lack of appetite.