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These Herbal Remedies Will Help You Get A Great Night’s Sleep!
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3. Passionflower
This herbal tea is another floral remedy for sleep troubles. It has been used for centuries to treat anxiety and insomnia, but it was not until recently that science uncovered the reasons for these benefits. A South African study conducted at the University of Johannesburg in 2008 found that adults who took passionflower extract experienced longer, deeper, and more rejuvenating sleep versus the control group. But why is this?
Passionflower contains phytochemicals that promote the release of a neurotransmitter called gamma-aminobutyric acid, or GABA. This particular neurotransmitter has an inhibitory effect on neural activity. What this means in plain English is that it calms the central nervous system and promotes feelings of relaxation. It also results in higher quality sleep. It was once believed that the flavonoids and alkaloids were the cause of passionflower’s sedative effect, but it turns out the effect is actually linked to a specific amino acid. Beta alanine plays a role in the synthesis of GABA in the brain. Consuming passionflower tea or extract therefore allows your brain to produce more GABA and gain more beneficial effects from it.
Interestingly, some anti-anxiety drugs like Xanax reduce anxiety the same way — by increasing levels of GABA in the brain. Isn’t it interesting how you can get many of the same benefits of powerful drugs from natural sources?
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