Sleep is not the most straightforward of our daily rhythms, especially for the many people who struggle to sleep. It is also mostly elusive to the many who study sleep, sleep conditions and the dream realms.
Regular and good quality sleep are an essential part of our bodies ability to function. Sleep is where we not only rest our physical bodies but also our minds, which in dream state process their environment, conflicts, and relationships to other and self. Sleep, like water and air, is fundamentally essential.
So how do we get more of it, or how do we improve the quality of our sleep? In my experience, sleep disturbances force the even most hardened skeptics to enter the world of herbalism. Lavender pillows, essential oils, massage oils and maybe a tablet or two… However without any lifestyle changes, they experience little change and soon start heading for the Melatonin gummies (please don’t).
The reason I want to spend a minute talking about lifestyle factors is because I want you to succeed in your journey with herbal medicine. Theres no point in heading to the herbal aisle for a sleep aid, only to doom scroll until it’s time to close your eyes and then you’re left wondering why that chamomile tea, or valerian tablet didn’t do the trick!
