Can Chamomile Help You Sleep Better? A Look at Its Effects on Insomnia

Having trouble falling asleep? Insomnia can hit even the most regular sleeper hard and unexpectedly – putting a real kink in your day-to-day functioning.

Going through phases of difficulty falling asleep is not uncommon. More than half of adults experience insomnia at some point in their lives. Sometimes it starts with a drastic life change or a challenging project that leaves you burning the midnight oil for hours on end. 

Whatever the initial cause, finding a pathway to beat short bouts of sleep-deprivation is essential to getting your resting hours back on track. 

Chamomile Tea and Sleep

Matricaria chamomilla – better known as chamomile tea – has been used for generations to encourage relaxation and a better sleep. But does it really help with insomnia? It’s time to take a deeper dive into the benefits of introducing chamomile tea into your regular evening routine. Here’s what we know about how chamomile works:

• Chamomile has a mild relaxing effect due to the antioxidant known as apigenin found in the chamomile flower.

• The flower also contains bisabolol and matricin – both known for having anti-inflammatory effects that can help reduce worries and inflammation. 

• Chamomile may help regulate the digestive system so you will sleep better at night.

  
  

There is something soothing about boiling water to just the right temperature and watching the steam rise as your cup of tea cools – it’s no wonder so many people swear by its calming effects.

Evening Routines and Chamomile Tea

Anybody who’s experienced bouts of insomnia knows how challenging it can be to get the evening routine back on track after so many frequent sleep interruptions. It may be worthwhile to take a closer look at your evening routine and how you can tweak it to encourage a more restful sleep. Chamomile tea can be an essential part of this:

• Tea can help replace fizzy or alcoholic beverages before bed, allowing the body to calm down naturally and limit interruption of sleep.

• Choosing to read a book in place of reading on screens before bedtime can become a central part of your evening routine – and pairing this adjustment with a cup of tea is the perfect match!

• Plan to enjoy your tea in dim lighting to enjoy optimal calm-down time before bed. 

  
  

Revisiting your pre-bedtime routines can help reduce insomnia and optimize your sleep habits. 

Essential Chamomile Tea Blends

The wonderful thing about chamomile tea is that there are so many unique blends to enhance its flavors and health benefits. Here are a few premium, high-quality blends that may help you revise your bedtime routine and encourage a calming effect before sleep. 

• Find success with a blend of chamomile and lavender tea to reduce stress.

• A chamomile medley herbal tea may have just the right balance of exotic flavors to freshen things up a little. 

• A chamomile and Valerian root blend can enhance the feeling of relaxation before bed. 

  
  

There are an endless number of blends to try, and this is important because you can try a few and see which one helps optimize your sleep the best. Enjoying any of these blends about an hour before bedtime should really help induce that sense of calm you’re looking for. 

Using Natural Methods to Fight Insomnia

There are a variety of natural methods out there to help battle symptoms of insomnia alongside your favorite tea blend. Here are just a few other easy ways to address energy levels naturally:

• Make sure to take a multivitamin every day. 

• Reach out to a medical professional or dietician for advice on supplements or dietary changes that could help fight the symptoms of insomnia. 

• It seems so simple but make sure you go to bed at the same time every evening as part of your routine. 

  
  

It’s amazing how much body memory and routine can positively impact your daily life and sleep patterns naturally.

Your Lifestyle and Insomnia

Sometimes insomnia stems from major life changes. Transitional periods in life such as parenthood, beginning a new job, experiencing a major loss or even a rocky relationship can all impact your sleep and sense of feeling rested. Here are some other lifestyle changes you can make to help battle insomnia:

• Take care of your physical self by finding a sport or class you love and exercising at least an hour a day. 

• Make your bed as comfortable as possible and maintain a clean and organized sleeping space to induce a sense of calm around you.

• See a counselor or therapist of your mental health needs to be addressed. 

  
  

No one factor alone is going to solve all of your sleep problems – rather small, incremental changes can add up to create a more restful sleep. For more guidance on how to fight insomnia using natural methods like chamomile tea, reach out to a naturopath or trusted family physician for more guidance.