Difficulty sleeping is often related to agitated emotions, and is an increasingly frequent occurence throughout the western world and affects individuals of all ages. Lack of sleep is often caused by one’s lifestyle: getting up early in the morning and then working until late, to only then fall asleep in a state of anxiety due to all that needs to be done the following day. In the long run, this may cause difficulty in acheiving restful sleep. An over-abundant evening meal in addition does not help the situation.

Chronic insufficient sleep may result in a decreased level of daily performance and adversely affect one’s ability to concentrate, well-being and even mood. Problems with sleeping are generally more frequent in individuals suffering from anxiety or in those who are subject to disturbances in mood. Anxiety can lengthen sleep while bouts of sadness and melancholy can cause premature/sudden awakenings accompanied by difficulty in resuming sleep.

But what is adequate sleep? Its duration varies considerably depending on the person, age and lifestyle. Some individuals under normal conditions need less sleep than others. With advancing age, also, the total amount of sleep tends to decrease and become more fragmented. However, if this does not lead to changes in the state of welfare, it should not be of particular concern. In regards to children, they should be in bed for no less than 8-10 hours a night.

Nature provides several remedies that may help promote physiological sleep and relaxation at night. Among the most popular and confirmed effective plants for this purpose are Valerian, Passionflower, Lemonbalm and California Poppy. These are the plants commonly used in natural products useful for physiological restful sleep. These products are available in various forms such including capsules or drops that may be diluted in water. In the evening, after a day of work or study, drinking herbal tea has been shown to aid in daily wellness as well.

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