SLEEP

A good night's sleep is something the majority of Americans take for granted. But for an estimated 30 percent of the population who encounter sleeping problems in a given year, insomnia and restlessness are no laughing matter. Sleep deprivation can effect many aspects of life, including work performance, family relationships, motor coordination and concentration.

You can help your body and mind relax by taking supplements that aid relaxation and promote sleep-- supplements like valerian root extract.

Sleep is as important as food and air. Lack of it usually manifests in a variety of ways, including a less productive following day. When sleep becomes more of a job than a relaxation, try these suggestions above and:

• Keep regular hours • Stay away from stimulants like caffeine • Use the bed just for sleeping-avoid watching TV, using laptop computers, or reading in bed • Avoid bright light around the house before bed • Don't stress if you feel you are not getting enough sleep. It will just make matters worse • Avoid exercise near bedtime. No exercise at least 3 hours before bed • Don't go to bed hungry. Have a light snack, avoid a heavy meal before bed • Keep your bedroom at comfortable temperature • If you have problems with noise in your environment you can use a white noise generator-a fan will work.

All About Valerian and Combinations That Contain Valerian

Valerian - Relaxant for nervous anxiety and muscle spasms
Valerian Root is a strong herbal nervine. It has been used as a calmative, sedative and antispasmodic with problems such as anxiety, nervousness, hysteria, cramping and convulsions. Helps bring sleep when there is no stimulus such as itching.

Valerian is also a pain reliever and has helped nervous headaches.

Valerian works best where the nervous use is "cold." Otherwise it can have the opposite effect intended. Hops should be used if the user is "hot," red-faced, excited or has a fast pulse.

Unlike some prescription sleep-aids, valerian is not known to cause morning grogginess and is non-addictive.

Valerian smells like olds socks, but cats like it.

Long term use in large doses can result in melancholy and depression.

Scientific Studies - In a double blind study of poor sleepers, patients who took valerian root extract showed improved quality of sleep (determined by measuring brain waves), required less time to fall asleep and woke up less frequently than their counterparts not taking the extract.


Herbal Sleep - A sedative nervine for poor sleepers
Valerian, Passion Flower & Hops. This combination relaxes smooth muscles (including the uterus, digestive, circulatory and urinary system). It has been used by poor sleepers to induce drowsiness. It is especially good for people who wake up repeatedly during the night with nervous tension and a busy mind.

It is helpful for anxiety, stress, hyperactivity and chemical dependency. May help lower blood pressure.


Tranquility
Valerian Root, Hops, Scullcap, and Large Yellow Lady's Slipper. Valerian root is well known as nature’s tranquilizer for its calming effect of the nerves. It is helpful for heart palpitations by slowing down the heart rate while giving it a strengthening, natural, sedating effect. It helps people deal with anxiety and anger and leaves one refreshed rather than sluggish as drugs often do.

Hops medicinal value lies in a set of light yellow scales adjoining the fruit. Compounds in these scales have a sedative effect. Hops induces calm and assists sleep. Its value lies in its use for edginess and insomnia.

Scullcap is known for its positive effects on the nervous system with disorders such as anxiety, insomnia, muscle twitching and restlessness.


Nerve Control - A tranquillizer that doesn't slow you down
Black Cohosh, Valerian Root, Capsicum Fruit, Passion Flower, Catnip Leaves, Hops Flower, Wood Betony. A relaxing sedative nervine formula that calms nervous tension and relaxes tight muscles.

This formula is helpful for stress, anxiety and insomnia as well as cramps (including menstrual cramps), some headaches and muscle spasms. It has also been used to help through withdrawal from addictions to alcohol, nicotine and other drugs.

Improves circulation to extremities. Does not impair reflexes or reach time.

Using to much can cause nausea.

Nerve Eight - Pain relief and nervous system revitalization
Capsicum, White Willow Bark, Hops Flowers, Valerian Root, Wood Betony, Ginger, Devils Claw Root, Black Cohosh Root. Eight herbal nervines that relieve pain and inflammation in muscles and joints. Also used to help cravings during withdrawal from smoking, alcohol, and other chemical dependencies.

Herbal nervines strengthen the nerves while relaxing them; making it easier to cope with stress or pain. Has also been used to reduce dependence on pain killers after trauma.

APS-II  - Aspirin Pain Substitute
White Willow, Lettuce Leaves, Valerian Root, Capsicum Fruit. Pain and anti-inflammatory substitute for aspirin. This nervine combination is helpful for aches and pains due to nervous and muscular tension.

Contains bitter salicylates (aspirin is salicylic acid) that reduce connective tissue inflammation. White willow contains calcium and magnesium which is needed for the nervous and structural systems. Both calcium and valerian are physically relaxing and may reduce the vascular spasms that contribute to painful headaches.

Mark Pedersen in Nutritional Herbology suggests caution if inflammatory conditions of the gastrointestinal tract such as ulcers.

Don't just suppress symptoms. Add supporting herbs for the affected body system.