Musings on Sleep (+ the Three Herbs I am Using Right Now)

I have been thinking about sleep a lot lately. Thinking about it, not necessarily getting it. 😊

With a newborn, cuddles, feedings, and diaper changes are the norm along with small bits of sleep. While that is my current experience with the dance of sleep and wakefulness, I understand and empathize with those who are finding sleep evading them for other reasons. A health condition that has made sleep rather elusive for years, current worries surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic dominating the news and perhaps our daily lives. Worries about a loved ones’ health, financial worries, mental health worries. There’s a lot to take in right now.

One of the things I have noticed on friends’ social media feeds and on the news channels is the return to the outdoors. We are being encouraged to reconnect with nature as a way to stay healthy and engaged while we adjust to a different rhythm to our daily lives.

And that’s really what’s been on my mind the last 6 weeks as we adjust to being a family of three and find a new rhythm with our little one. Herbs and nature are always are allies and I have been turning to them specifically to support rest and sleep lately.

One of the things I have revisited and refined is the ritual of preparing herbs and my connection to them. As I learn our little one’s tendencies, I have been able to carve small bits of time for myself. My small moments can be as simple as sitting and breathing while I time my tea steeping. Or reading something for pleasure while enjoying those last few minutes of cuddling after nursing her before I place her in her bassinet for sleep. Even just pausing to smell the lavender in the soap I use when I shower.

Some of the herbs I have been turning to the most are the ones that are perfect for aiding in relaxation and sleep. After each of my little moments I feel more rested and can sit in a place of calm and action rather than reaction. That’s a place I hope for all of us to experience each day, even if just for a few minutes.

Here are just a few of the herbs I have been using. Maybe you will find one of them helpful for you to feel rested and enhance your sleep.

Chamomile is the quintessential sleepy time herb. It’s often what we try first when needing to sleep. It can be very bitter tasting on its own and if you don’t enjoy it by itself, try it in Lavender Mint Dream or with a little local honey. It can also be a part of a bath or foot bath herb blend to help you relax and sleep. Anxiety, muscle tension, stomach gas, menstrual cramps, insomnia all can benefit from Chamomile. The volatile oils in the herb are released when steeped in hot water and these relax and calm the nervous system as well as tense muscles. I really enjoy incorporating this herb in an evening relaxing ritual, especially when I want slow down the busyness in my mind.

Generally I pair Chamomile with Lavender. Another bitter tasting herb that in large quantities can taste a little soapy. Lavender for me is just as much about the smell as it is the benefits of sipping a tisane (herbal tea) with it as an ingredient. This herb is beneficial for stress headaches, insomnia, fatigue, exhaustion, and digestive complaints. Lavender is great as an ingredient in a tea (I can’t handle drinking it by itself), in a bath or foot bath blend, as a roll-on essential oil, or in a lotion.

These two herbs both have sedative properties and help to relax your nervous system. Note that some people are stimulated rather than relaxed by lavender. And others may find themselves allergic to chamomile as it is in the same family as ragweed. As sedatives, they may interact with prescription medications for sleep.

Another herb that I just love and turn to often is Tulsi (Holy Basil). It is not directly related to sleep but is very helpful with relaxation. Tulsi is an adaptogen, meaning it supports balance in the body. Part of what it does is to support your body in slowing the release of stress-induced hormones, such as cortisol. It can also calm your central nervous system, yet in higher amounts it has been shown to increase central nervous system activity. That duality is its balancing action at work. To me, Tulsi has a slightly minty and very neutral taste which makes it great to sip on its own or as a base for other herbs in your tisane. You can tell I enjoy it so much as it is in two Leaf & Twig tisanes (Morning Harmony and Serenity Meadows).

Do you have a go-to herb when you want help with relaxing or sleep? What do you find to be the most helpful for you (action/non-action/ritual)?

As always, if you have any questions on the safety of using an herb, ask your physician or herbalist who knows your specific situation and follow their guidance.