There all sorts of different symptoms associated with insomnia such as difficulty getting to sleep, difficulty in staying asleep, restlessness at night, excessive dreaming and irregular sleeping patterns and long term health issues associated with sleep deprivation. Here are the five herbs to help support healthy sleeping patterns
By Pukka Herbs
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Lavender
A renowned herb for settling frazzled nerves. The aromatic essential oils in this plant can help reduce difficulty falling asleep and prevent night-time wakening.
Limeflower
A traditional remedy for nightmares and bad dreams. Its calming effect on the nervous system also makes it effective in treating a nervous digestion. The perfect, gentle remedy for children.
Valerian
Directly promotes relaxation of the nervous system through enhancement of GABA neurotransmission. It encourages healthy sleeping patterns, ensuring you wake feeling refreshed and ready for the day ahead.
"Plants in their natural state have been used for thousands of years in traditional medicines to support all areas of health."
Ashwagandha
A traditional Ayurvedic remedy shown to improve sleep quality by up to 66%. It tackles core energy levels, enabling the body to adapt and respond to stress in a more energy-efficient way.
Oatflower
Oats are a natural source of tryptophan. Tryptophan helps regulate our body’s natural circadian rhythms and melatonin is synthesised from Tryptophan. It is melatonin that influences you to feel sleepy; its release can be inhibited even by the presence of artificial lights.
Gotu Kola
Traditionally used for relaxing the nervous system and calming the mind - can be particularly good for making sure that once you’re asleep, you stay in a lovely deep, good quality sleep.
Sleeping pills often cause just as many problems as they solve. But plants in their natural state have been used for thousands of years in traditional medicines to support all areas of health. Whole herbs contain all the natural constituents of the plant, which create a natural balance and work with the body rather than suppressing its natural functions.
How do you boost your immunity?
A large proportion of health issues are rooted within our immune system and are a result of a deficiency or imbalance, directly or indirectly affecting the health and wellbeing of the rest of our body. Our immune system maintains the ecological relationship between the mind- body-spirit and the world in which we live and interact. Here are some ingredients your immune system loves:
• Elderberries: Bursting with brightly coloured pigments that act as natural antioxidants and are a natural source of Vitamin C. Elderberries have also demonstrated the ability to deactivate 10 strains of the flu virus.
• Echinacea: A classic and very traditional remedy for the immune system. It’s particularly effective where individuals have become ‘run-down’ as a result
of stress or over-work.The classic scenario being that an individual becomes ill as soon as they start to relax. Echinacea will support and gradually strengthen a weakened immune system.
• Andrographis: A very traditional Ayurvedic herb, with a distinctive and strong bitter taste. It has the ability to reduce the severity and duration of an infection. Needless to say, no infection will last long in the presence of Andrographis.
• Medicinal mushrooms: All medicinal mushrooms contain a constituent known as beta glucan which supports the immune system. Mushrooms are also adaptogenic and will stimulate where there is deficiency and calm where there is over-activity.
• Tulsi (Holy Basil): In Ayurveda, tulsi is used in meditative practices to bring a sense of mental clarity. The perfect herbs for dispelling the winter blues, especially if you are suffering with a bout of cold or u. It’s packed with natural essential oils that can help clear congestion.