Chamomile For Sleeping Well

 

 

 

Sleep, hands down, is extremely essential for our overall well-being. They say that everything you do, you will do better with a good night’s sleep. Therefore, prioritizing good sleep is the best thing you could do for yourself, and that’s perhaps what also determines your self-care.

Amazing Benefits of Sleeping Well

While we cannot stress enough on the importance, but here’s a list of some amazing things that sleep does for us.

  • Sleep reduces stress and chances of depression
  • It repairs damage caused to your body all through the day by building protein molecules
  • It helps you lose weight
  • Sleep reduces inflammation and helps maintain your cardiac health
  • It gives your immune system a good boost
  • Sleep promotes overall growth, especially among children
  • Sleep is also said to provide you with a longer life span
  • It helps your skin to be fresh, healthy and youthful
  • It makes you perform well at work and be more productive
  • It improves your reflexes, makes you more alert and as well supports better decision making.
  • It makes you smarter and more focused
  • It enhances your creativity quotient
  • It helps you maintain healthy relationships
  • Sleep is also claimed to boost fertility among women.

Who knew that those few hours of relaxed snooze could expose us to so many health benefits? Didn’t we all think that sleep only helps us rest and give ourselves a break? Well, that’s the real goodness of a good night’s sleep for us!

 

Sleep, And The Lack Of It 

Unfortunately, being able to get that quality sleep each night has become a dream for many. Blame it on the modern lifestyle, unhealthy eating practices or simply not giving sleep the importance it deserves, the reasons could be many. And we need to make some conscious efforts into it, each day.

 

Seeking Help from Mother Nature

Nature has bestowed us with so many benefits that are most effective, rather economical and safe from any major side effects. In the case of insomnia as well, nature has the answer. And the answer also lies in Chamomile. Let’s read on.

 

In Comes Chamomile 

This is the age-old herb with lovely flowers that is celebrated for its therapeutic properties and healing powers. Chamomile contains several compounds, including flavonoids. These nutritious compounds are primarily what make chamomile all that popular in the world of alternative healthcare. Chamomile tea is the most common way of consuming the extracts of this herb. You simply soak the dried flowers in some hot water. Let the extract infuse in water for a while, before straining and consuming the same.

Health Benefits of Chamomile

  • The antioxidants present in chamomile help in lowering the likelihood of suffering from a variety of diseases
  • Mainly the presence of this particular antioxidant called apigenin allows it to reduce inflammation and bring down the risk of suffering from various types of cancers.
  • Chamomile improves digestion and addresses various gastrointestinal issues.
  • Owing to its anti-inflammatory properties, it also protects us against diarrhea, acidity, stomach ulcers and nausea.
  • The same anti-inflammatory effect also makes it bring down and regulate blood glucose levels in our blood.
  • Interestingly, it can prevent or at least slow down the progressive loss of bone density. Also known as osteoporosis, this problem usually surfaces owing to an imbalance in a hormone called estrogen. Chamomile exhibits potent anti-estrogenic effects and also helps promote bone density in the process.
  • The consumption of this herb is also associated with offering relief from the painful and discomforting menstrual cramps.

 

Chamomile for Sleep

Owing to some unique properties, Chamomile is highly touted for its sleep-promoting benefits, and its ability to address insomnia and other sleep-related issues. Consuming a nice, warm cup of chamomile tea around bedtime does help to sleep, and sleep better at that. People have reported being able to sleep shortly after having this tea, often within 15 minutes of hitting the bed.

How Does Chamomile Work?

The effectiveness of this traditional folk recipe at promoting sleep could be attributed to the presence of apigenin antioxidant. Its activity has been observed to be the same as that of Benzodiazepines. These are prescription drugs that address sleep and related issues. Research suggests that, just like benzodiazepines, chamomile connects with the sleep-promoting receptors in our brain that reduce anxiety and promote sleep. Perhaps that explains why this herb is often dubbed as a mild tranquilizer and sleep inducer.At the same time, chamomile also helps us calm down, and keeps signs of anxiety and distress at bay. And since depression is one major factor that often keeps us from sleeping well, chamomile again helps.

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Watch Video: Ayurveda Tips For Insomnia (Loss Of Sleep)

 

About the Author:

Dr Sonica Krishan is Author and Speaker in the areas of Healthy and Joyous Living through Ayurveda, Meditation, Yoga and other Contemplative practices. She is a leading Ayurveda Professional in India. She is also Health Writer, Columnist, Editor, Ayurveda Consultant and Holistic Healing Coach. Dr Sonica is open for National as well as International Collaborations with interested people / institutions in fields of Ayurveda, Meditation and Yoga.

Dr Sonica Krishan’s Books are available at Amazon

 

 

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