Sleep is as much a part of our lives as waking hours, yet many have challenges to restfull sleep for periods in their life. Sometimes it's beneficial, as in creative all nighters of those touched by their particular muses. Sometimes not, as in tossing and turning to nightmarish visions, anxious wide awakes at 3am, or racing thoughts leading to an inability to get off to sleep. There are herbal allies who can be worthy travelling companions in the search for a good nights rest.
My beloved has been pained regularly by insomnia this last year or so, and despite pharma support, is often awake long before sunrise in the mornings including 2.30am. If he can later arise to face the day, watch the sun coming up on our local easterly facing beach, have a swim, perhaps do some yoga, it is a starting of the day that sets up what follows. Despite the challenges of hauling ass there after a night lacking in sleep. Here's a photo he took on one of those rattled mornings....
At the opposite end of the day he is best eased into a state of preparation for a hopefull nights sleep by a blend of more gentle yoga postures to apt music, drinking some Motherwort (Leonuris cardiaca) tea and /or taking tincture. His ways of working with sleep distubance show this as being a process requiring adjustments, kindness to self and a toolbox of approachs. That and sheer determination.
I have taken tranquilisers in periods when sleep evaded me to the point of psychic distress, and reduced them again. I admit theres a place and time for them, Reducing and coming off them takes time and they should be tapered slowly. Whilst these medications can be addictive in action, I believe few people wouldn't trade them in for the capacity to have a peacefull nights sleep without them. Tasting cup o tea allys like Motherwort, Passionflower (Passiflora incarnata) and Lavender (Lavendula angustifolia, formerly officinales) can support this. There's comfort in a cup o tea. Medicine ways too.As dried plant teas brew for about 10 minutes, one teaspooon of herb to a cup.
Motherwort tea, (5-10 drops fresh flowering and spiking plant tincture may be added) for getting off to sleep, or to assist returning to it if one wakes during the night, for those transitioning off or on pharma, gives strong results in a warm sense of relaxation (and at times mumbling).Motherwort is like a protective mothers embrace, asking you to tell her all about it, and then listening with an open heart. You know she has your best interests at her centre. She will sit by your bedside and smooth that furrowed brow away, tell you a tale of dreams to come...
"Motherwort is especially valuable in female weakness and disorders (hence the name) allaying nervous irritability and inducing quiet and passivity of the whole nervous system." (pretty old school language Maude but the cores there)
Maude Grieves, in 'A Modern Herbal', 1931
I have found Passionflower tea to work similarly, as a relaxing brew, perhaps for different individuals, shes less bitter in flavour, sweeter, with more of an Oatstraw flavour (an excellent nervous system nourisher drunk as an infusion). Perhaps a step along in tranquiliser withdrawel when remaining asleep can be difficult. A slower and deepener of states of ease, to settle with in hand, when waking during the night.
"Passionflower is an old wives remedy for women with nervous insomnia, hysteria, restlessness and headaches."(Susun recommends the fresh flowering plant tincture before bed each evening but I have also found the tea of dried leaves and stems effective)
Susun Weed, in 'New Menopausal Years the Wisewoman Way', 2002
Lavender is more floral in taste, and scent, she will ease you gently into dreams with recall of swaying flower spikes. The blue colour of her brew can lift the mood in the wee hours, and is a soul soother to ponder sipping to aid one drifting off.
"Lavendar...These flowers are also burned or smouldered to induce sleep and rest, and are scattered about the home to maintain its peacefulness."
Scott Cunningham, in 'Cunninghams Encyclopedia of Magical Herbs', 1985
Living in a coastal area where soils are sandy, I grow my herbs in raised beds and pots. This has allowed me to make Motherwort tincture from the fresh flowering plant. I buy in dried herbs for some teas, and infusions, but all the tinctures I use are from fresh plants. So I'm singing to my six Motherworts as we head into January's upcoming harvest time, as they have risen from a rosette of leaves upon the ground into waving stems!
Nightmares can disturb sleep, causing one to awake distressed or confused. I have found journalling helps, keeping a book and pen by the bed. Somehow writing them out diffuses their hold on you and can show you themes which are repeating, if you actually need a reminder and therefore to locate a key. The other strategy i use is 'reentering' scenarios and rewriting their endings, which may begin as visualisation and end up as sleep.
If your night of wakefullness is caused by a desire to create, like this blogpost (ok so it aint high art!), then why not? Late nights, or even greeting the sun after an all nighter by choice are a luxury!
Working out the tools we can utilise to aid sleep creates a self reliance, especially if we are transitioning from or working to reduce drugs, by learning our personal ways to create a relaxed and peacefull state. Please do not jump off tranquilisers sharply but go gently with yourself and allow beings like the herbs to build up your systems nourishment first and as travelling companions.
As always, this is written from my experiences, keep what works for you and discard what don't.
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