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We all know how we feel when we haven’t had a decent nights sleep, grumpy and out of sorts with those around us. Sometimes our sleep problems can be due to stress or anxiety, problems in our life or sometimes there doesn’t seem to be any apparent reason for our restlessness.

With the majority of us needing around 8 hours sleep per night in order to function at our best, we will often try anything from listening to our favorite music to counting sheep to eventually getting so fed up and tired that we drag ourselves to the doctor’s in the hope that he will prescribe a sleeping aid.

Even if your doctor provides you with some relief, it is usually only in the short term and if problems persist then you could find yourself back to square one. Or even worse you have more trouble sleeping when you come off the pills. There is another way you could find sleep and that is by turning to an herbal remedy. Here are some of the most popular natural remedies:

Trytophan

There is a natural substance called Tryptophan that is an essential amino acid. It is found in dairy products and foods that are high in protein, it is also known for its particular effect when it comes to calming the system. Common sources include, milk, bananas, turkey, peanuts and eggs

Calcium

Calcium is another naturally calming agent, this is also found in many dairy products and can help the body and mind to calm down after a busy day and rest. Herbal teas There are a huge variety of herbal teas which can help you to get a good night sleep; the most widely used as a sleeping aid include chamomile, lemon balm, passion flower, peppermint and red clover.

Melatonin

Melatonin is a substance that is naturally produced by the body, usually when the body is asleep or resting. It is a hormone that has been studied extensively and is thought to help around 5% of those whose have sleep problems.

Other possible remedies

Valerian, chamomile, California poppy, Skullcap and St.Johns wort are all worth mentioning. In fact some of the ingredients listed can be found in many over the counter remedies that are sold in health food stores. While the possibility of becoming addicted to any form of sleeping aid is always there, herbal remedies provide no exception. However, natural remedies do not carry as much risk of addiction as do traditional medications prescribed by a doctor.

 

Numerous herbal antidepressants are available quite easily both on the Internet and as over-the-counter herbal remedies for depression, but it is rather difficult to trust most of them. Actually only a small number of them are of any real value, because most of the others are not supported by evidence of their being effective through extensive clinical studies.  Some of the herbal antidepressants may claim some scientific support, but that support is based on insufficient statistical data or on clinical studies that are inconclusive or not extensive enough to produce valid results.

Generally, in cases of depression, the doctor has to ascertain the severity of a person’s depression. A particular person may be afflicted with quite a severe bout of depression and in that case, the doctor may prescribe antidepressant drugs either alone or in combination with psychotherapy. Most herbal antidepressants may not work well enough for persons suffering from severe depression. Even if the herbal antidepressants used are not prescription drugs, it is advisable to take a qualified medical specialist’s advice in the matter of using them. Children under 12 should not be given herbal antidepressants without the approval of a pediatrician. Actually, it may be better to opt for psychological treatment in cases of children and teenagers.

The alcoholic extract from St. John’s Wort (Hypericum perforatum) has found great scientific support as being a very effective antidepressant. Its active ingredient is called hyperforin, a phloroglucinol derivative, which is an antidepressant compound. Herbal antidepressants claiming to have the standardized, pharmaceutical grade St. John’s Wort extract, but which contain less than 3% of hyperforin, will not give you the desired relief from depression. The extract that has 5% of hyperforin will work best, as per the evidence established through clinical studies.

Those suffering from mild to moderate depression need to take a daily dose of about 900 mg of St. John’s Wort. The dosage goes up to about 1800 mg for cases of increased levels of depression. However, the actual dosage depends upon the age of the patient and the severity of the depression the patient experiences. Younger persons, and persons having milder depression, have to take a lower dosage.

5 – HTP, (5 – hydroxytryptophan) extracted from a plant called Griffonia simplicifolia, is an amino acid which is useful in combating depression and anxiety. If 5 – HTP is added to go with hyperforin, St. John’s Wort will work more effectively.

Almost all the well-known prescription antidepressant drugs of all types have multiple side effects. TCAs (Tricyclic Antidepressants) are known to cause a dry mouth, constipation, sleepiness, weight gain and sexual dysfunction, besides some other problems. SSRIs (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors), especially in the first few weeks of taking them, cause among other things indigestion, impotence or sexual dysfunction, problems in controlling urination, giddiness, confusion, difficulty in remembering, palpitation, increase in blood pressure and so on. Other types of antidepressants also produce side effects.

That is why more and more depressed people are turning to herbal antidepressants, as these have hardly any of the harmful or painful side effects associated with many popular prescription antidepressants. However, it is always advisable to obtain the doctor’s opinion before choosing to take a particular over-the-counter herbal antidepressant or other herbal health products meant for depressed people.

Grapefruit seed extract is said to have 180 uses and is claimed to be the world’s most useful product. For over 30 years it has been used by naturopathic clinics and it has been proven to be an effective and safe remedy for countless of uses. It is thought to be a natural antibiotic that is capable of killing a wide range of pathogens; it is hypoallergenic and can be taken for several months quite safely in order to eliminate stubborn infections. Grape seed extract is available in a wide range of products and products may vary in strength so it is essential that you follow the directions for the particular product or your doctors advice. Many of the solutions are concentrated and so have to be diluted; of course different products require different dilutions, so again make sure you read the instructions. The diluted formula can be taken with carrot, vegetable, orange or grapefruit juice or alternatively some health food stores sell it in capsule form which is usually taken just after or with a meal.

It has been successfully used in the treatment of internal and external infections due to viruses, bacteria and fungi; it has been known to detoxify, support and boost the immune system and is particularly high in vitamins C and E and also bioflavonoid.

Grapefruit seed extract is also beneficial in helping to alkalize the blood and it is non-toxic. One of the reasons why it is so popular is that there are no harsh side effects when taking it and so is becoming an alternative due to its lack of side effects and the wide range of problems that it can help with.

The list of illnesses that it has been known to help is exhaustive, but some of the most common ones include
• Digestive and gastrointestinal disorders
• Diarrhea and food poisoning cases
• Bacterial, fungi, yeast and viral infections
• Chronic fatigue
• Disorders of the gum and tooth problems
• Colds and flu including sore throat
• Inflammation of the ear and earache
• Skin infections, warts and wounds
• Poison ivy and rashes
• Relief from the various symptoms of the aids virus

There have been many studies into why grapefruit seed extract is particularly effective, there are many scientific explanations but the simplest is that the extract doesn’t allow germs to build up a resistance to it. Whatever the reasons behind it working there have been many studies into the effectiveness of the extract with many positive results.

Grapefruit extract is made by taking the seeds of the grapefruit and the pulp and converting them into a very acidic substance. This liquid is then loaded with various compounds such as helperidin, campherol glycoside, neohelperidin, naringin, apigenin, rutinoside and poncirin. The end product is a yellowish viscous amber product that tastes acidic and bitter, the bitterness and acidity is reduced by adding pure vegetable glycerine, the liquid of the grape seed extract has a pleasant slight citrus smell.

   

 

The black cumin seed or Nigella Sativa as is the correct botanical name is one of the most well known medicinal seeds in history. In Egypt the seeds are grown in almost perfect conditions with seeds having being found in the tomb of Tutankhamen and have even been mentioned in the Bible.  However, it wasn’t until only forty years ago that the seeds were extensively researched, since this time more and more interest in these seeds has occurred and there have been around 200 studies conducted into the medicinal value of them.

 Black cumin seeds have been used to treat a wide range of illnesses and disorders; a famous Greek physician used it to treat toothache and headaches and in fact said that the black cumin seed could cure every disease but death.
 

The reason they are thought to be so effective at curing and helping a wide variety of problems and illnesses could be that the seeds contain over 100 different chemical constituents. The seeds are spicy and are often used in cooking although it is the oil in them that is most effective when used for medicinal purposes.  However, even today black cumin is regarded by some as nothing but a folklore remedy, but there is no denying that the seeds have been found to be far more superior to any other natural remedy in particular when used in the treatment of autoimmune disorders. Improvements have been seen in sufferers whose own systems attack their bodies.
 

Some of the greatest results have shown up in those who suffer from asthma and other allergies. Providing there is no infection present black cumin seeds react very quickly, if there is sign of infection then of course the infection must be dealt with first. In cases of asthma and allergies the most significant improvements were found in those who continued taking black cumin for 6 months or longer. Black cumin has anti-histamine properties that greatly help with congestion associated with asthma and bronchitis, making the removal of phlegm from the passages much easier.
 

With a natural remedy as this containing so many constituents, it is not surprising that is has been hailed as a wonder cure throughout history.
 

The primary ingredient in black cumin is crystalline nigellone, other ingredients found in the herb and which are beneficial health wise include amino acids, fatty acids, crude fiber, and minerals including potassium, sodium, iron and calcium.  It is most commonly sold in capsule form with around 50 to 75mg been taken as a supplement. Seed oil is also a popular form and available as a nutritional supplement, the seeds are cold pressed to extract the oil and are usually used to treat conditions of the skin such as dry skin, eczema and psoriasis. The oil is also used and taken internally to aid in the treatment of asthma, arthritis and to help give the immune system a boost. The recommended dosage when the oil is taken this way is 1 teaspoon with meals.

Once called Siberian ginseng, it is now known in the United States by its new name Eleuthero, the herb’s scientific name being Eleutherococcus setaceous. A couple of other names are touch-me-not and devil’s shrub. The Chinese use the name ci-wu-jia for it, which is grown in their country’s northeastern provinces. It is also grown in Japan, Korea and Russia.

The shrub’s root, the root bark and its stem are the main parts of the plant from which comes the active ingredient of eleuthero. In order to harvest, the plant should be at least two years or more in age. The value of the plant grows with age. The Chinese have always assigned to it immense importance and value, due to which the plant products are sold at very high prices.

In the Far East and in China, eleuthero is quite widely used as a general tonic, for boosting a person’s energy levels. For improving the vital energy, Qi (Chi), levels, the Chinese have been using eleuthero for at least two thousand years.  In Russia, researches on the properties and effectiveness since the middle of the twentieth century, on which the Chinese also depended, have shown that eleuthero is very effective in improving general health, increasing appetite, boosting vigor and in normalizing a person’s body functions. It has been found to be a substance that helps you to adapt to the various changing factors that cause stress. These could be lack of sleep or too much of exertion or even weather changes, for instance. To counter the problems of stress, eleuthero helps maintain the normal functioning of the adrenal glands. Many people use it also because of its ability to work for toning up the general health and to promote longevity.

The active components of eleuthero are called eleutherosides. These, together with its complex polysaccharides (a type of sugar molecule), increase the energy levels in the body by means of preventing too much glycogen from being spent, when the energy requirements of the body are being met by the utilization of fatty acids. Another thing that this active ingredient does is to help the body to increase its working capacity by means of preserving the oxygen levels in its working muscles. This only means that you can remain active for longer hours as your muscles retain more energy, thanks to eleuthero. As eleuthero also optimizes performance under stressful conditions, athletes use it for achieving better results in competitions.

It is effective in preventing, or at least alleviating, the side effects of exposure to radiation. Due its being able to build the body’s immune system, people use it as a preventive for cold and flu attacks. Suggestions, though based on inconclusive evidence, are made to the effect that eleuthero may be very useful in managing the long term immune system related conditions like the HIV and lupus (an auto-immune illness).

Eleuthero products are available in various forms in the United States.  These include capsules, tablets, tinctures and also powders of dried roots and rhizomes of the shrub.