Sedation

We have many herbs for sleep that work great on their own or in a blend. The blended teas we offer are gentle and useful when you don't know which is the exact herb to use, but if you want to learn more about the different actions of each sleep herb that would suit your condition, then we can guide you through that.

Below is a quick reference for you, or view the herb profile for further information and FAQs.

Ashwagandha - Promotes sound sleep, regular use not a quick fix.
Passionflower - Sedation and relaxing the nervous system.
Valerian - Sedation, relaxing.
Mulungu - Our most powerful sedating herb, may lead to next day drowsiness.
Skullcap - When you have a busy mind.
California Poppy - Always useful for sleep, especially when pain is the issue.
Hops - Restlessness and anxiety.
Wild Lettuce - Sedating and pain relieving.
Lemon Balm - When low mood is causing sleeplessness.
Blue Lily - Dreamy, relaxing.
Kava - Relaxing and sedating. (Particularly our Borogoru strain)
Chamomile - Gentle relaxant before bed. Soothing and nice.
Lavender - Gentle relaxant before bed. Fragrant and nice.

Valerian Root has anti-spasmodic, anxiolytic (anti-anxiety), hypnotic, and sedative properties, making it a highly effective tool for insomnia. It acts as a muscle relaxant and mild tranquiliser, resulting in a feeling of ‘floating in the air’. According to scientific research, extracts of the root appear to affect the GABA neurotransmitter receptor in mammalian nervous systems; this receptor system is the same system affected by sedative benzodiazepine drugs. Valerian can therefore likely be used as a safer alternative to benzodiazepines, assisting with treatment of stress, tension, anxiety, and insomnia.

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Hops are most commonly associated with brewing beer, but they also have a long history of being used as a natural remedy for sleep disorders. The flowers of the hop plant contain compounds that have sedative effects, making them particularly effective in reducing restlessness and anxiety, both of which can interfere with sleep. Hops are often combined with Valerian root in herbal teas and supplements to create a powerful, natural sleep aid. A warm cup of hops tea before bed can help calm your nervous system and prepare you for a deep, restorative sleep.

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Kava has been traditionally used to promote relaxation and reduce anxiety. It works by interacting with neurotransmitters in the brain, particularly GABA, which helps to calm the mind and ease tension. Kava is traditionally consumed as a cold infusion and it’s particularly helpful for those who have difficulty sleeping due to stress or anxiety. Happy Herb Co has a large range of Kava varieties that have different actions, we suggest Borogoru is the best for sleep.

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Lavender is famous for its calming scent, and research shows that it can help reduce anxiety and improve sleep quality. You can use Lavender in various forms, add to your favourite sleepy tea, enjoy alone as a tea, place under your pillow, or add it to your bath. We would suggest using it when wishing to gently relax before sleep, not necessarily when you are dealing with Insomnia or a series sleep issue.

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A member of the mint family, Lemon balm has been traditionally used to improve mood and cognitive function, but it also has mild sedative properties. Lemon balm makes a delicious addition to bedtime tea blends, often combined with other calming herbs like Chamomile or Valerian for enhanced effects. So use this for sleep when you want to potentiate other herbs, or if your low mood is what is causing you to stay awake.

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Mulungu is one of our strongest herbs for sleep, and leaves some people feeling drowsy the next day, so start off with a small amount. Mulungu has a long tradition of use in Brazil and Peru as a natural sedative for nervous disorders such as insomnia, anxiety, stress and depression. It has become one of our most popular herbs for sleep problems, and many people find it very effective. Mulungu is a strong sedating herb – it calms and sedates the nervous system to encourage deep sleep and healthy sleeping patterns. It’s also beneficial for mental disturbances such as depression, anxiety and stress, hysteria, panic, trauma and shock.

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Passionflower is a sedative and nervine herb, making it an amazing tool to use for a sound, restful sleep. Most users report waking up with a smile on their face in the mornings after a deep passionflower slumber. Like Valerian Root, it works by boosting GABA levels in the brain, promoting relaxation and reducing stress.

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You will see from our other FAQ relating to sleep we have highlighted the herbs and where they are most effective for different sleep issues, but we offer the herbs in a few different ways throughout our product range.

Dried Herbs - This is where you will make a tea, or make your own concoction in another way. By using the dried herb you are connecting, understanding, and tasting the herb better and its a more engaging way to take the herb. A bedtime herbal tea can often set you up for a good sleep. That said, if you have a weak bladder, then drinking tea before sleep may not be practical.

Smokable Herbs - Pretty much most leafy herbs can be smoked and a lot of our customers enjoy this (not that we suggest smoking anything is good, but it is still very effective and popular). We have a range called tobacco alternatives, this lists all of our smoking blends and single herbs that are commonly used in this way.

Liquid Herbs - These herbs are convenient for sleep because they are already prepared so if you need herbal help in the middle of the night, or you have a weak bladder, then this is a good option. We offer a lot of herbs as a tincture as a convenient way to consume them, making them as potent as possible. We also have a range of spagyrics, which is a unique way of extraction that maintains the spirit and the essence of the plant. Typically more herb is used in a straight tincture, but the Spagyrics can sometimes be more potent because it captures more of the full entourage effect.