Causes: these are many and varied, including low blood glucose levels, excessive tea, coffee, Cola or other stimulants, cold, heat, cough, anxiety, depression. Sleep tends to decline with age, and is a cause of restless leg syndrome.
Alternatives. Transient insomnia: Roman Chamomile, Betony, Cowslip flowers, Hops, Balm, Passion flower, Skullcap, Vervain, Valerian. Ginseng. Lime flowers.
Chronic insomnia: Jamaica Dogwood, Ladyslipper, Valerian. Wild Lettuce, Mistletoe, Californian Poppy.
Tea. Any one of the above. Teas, medicines, etc may be sweetened with honey.
Maria Treben tea. Combine parts: Cowslip flowers 10; Lavender 5; St John’s Wort 2; Hops 3; Valerian 1. 1 heaped teaspoon to cup boiling water; infuse 3 minutes. Sip, warm, before sleep.
Dr A. Vogel. (Dormeason) sleeping drops; parts: Balm 40; Oats 38; Passion flower 10; Hops 9; Valerian 2; Hop grains (lupulin) 1. Dose: 10-15 drops.
Insomnia from wind. Tea: Equal parts, Lime flowers, Passion flower, Spearmint. 1 heaped teaspoon to each cup boiling water: infuse 15 minutes. Half-1 cup freely.
Tablets. Motherwort formula. Pulverised Passiflora BHP (1983) 90mg, Pulverised Extract Motherwort 4:1 50mg, Pulverised Extract Lime flowers 3:1 67mg. (Gerard House)
Lobelia: 2 tablets at bedtime.
Tinctures. Formula. Equal parts: Passion flower, Valerian, Jamaica Dogwood. 1 teaspoon in warm water at bedtime, and again for restlessness during the night. OR:– Skullcap. 1:1 in 25 per cent alcohol. 15-60 drops in water at bedtime.
Tincture. 1oz Passion flower herb steeped in 1 pint white wine 14 days. Shake daily. Filter. Dose: 1 wineglassful when necessary. On failure to sleep, repeat after half hour of dose.
Aromatherapy. Hot bath to which 10 drops oil of Lavender is added.
Insomnia from pain: Jamaica Dogwood.
Insomnia from nervous excitability: Chamomile, Vervain, Valerian.
Practitioner: desperate cases: equal parts Tinctures Gelsemium and Valerian. 10 drops hour before retiring.
Diet. Breakfast porridge oats. Avoid caffeine-containing drinks: tea, coffee, cola, cocoa and heavy meals in the evening. Honey drink at bedtime: 2 teaspoons honey in hot milk.
Supplementation: Vitamins, B-complex, B6, B12, Niacin, C, D. Calcium.
Complementary: Hot bath.
Notes. No caffeine drinks at bedtime. Deep-breathing exercises. Ensure bedroom is not too hot or cold. Keep regular hours for sleeping periods. A quiet room and a warm bed. If after one week sleep is still absent, a practitioner should be consulted.