Sweet Sleep

WHEN COUNTING SHEEP JUST WON'T DO, TURN TO THESE SEVEN HERBS TO GET A RESTFUL NIGHT'S SLEEP.

- RACHAEL DUPREE

When it comes to good physical and mental health, one thing nearly always tops the list of doctor recommendations: Get good sleep. But what can you do when sleep just won't come?

About a third of Americans experience insomnia at some time in their lives, with 10% suffering from chronic insomnia, according to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine. Lack of good sleep is something to take seriously, as it can do more than make you feel the need to reach for a mid-afternoon caffeine boost. It can also affect your mood, your motivation and even your memory.

If you have trouble sleeping on a regular basis, the National Sleep Foundation advises you to review your health and think about whether any underlying medical issues or sleep disorders could be contributing to your sleep problems.

However, if you find yourself somewhere between counting sheep and needing to take some serious sleep medications to fall into slumber, a multitude of herbal allies can help. Many of these remedies also ease the stress, anxiety and muscle tension that can cause sleep disturbances.

So put the following plants in your garden, hit play on your favorite lullaby play list, and get ready for a good snooze.

PASSIONFLOWER

Passionflower (Passiflora incarnata) is a bit of misnomer for a plant that induces sleep rather than igniting passion within the one who consumes it. In fact, this vining plant with otherworldly purple blooms is among the most important plants for sleep, having been used for more than 200 years to remedy sleeplessness and nervous conditions.

The herb works as a sedative on the medulla oblongata, the part of the brain that oversees sleep, and the cerebral cortex, which processes information. As such, it's perfect for the chronic worrier who is kept awake by a “chattery brain” or circular thinking. Take it from me — a poster child for the chattery brain - this herb lives up to the hype.