Using motherwort as a sleep aid

How motherwort helps with insomnia

Motherwort improves sleep quality and calms the nervous system. Many people face the problem of sleep disturbances.
For some, these are isolated cases, for others, insomnia can drag on for a long time, which leads to disruptions throughout the body. Try natural remedies before using synthetic drugs. One of the most popular is motherwort. Motherwort is included in the State Pharmacopoeia of the Russian Federation. It belongs to the group of sedative, hypnotic drugs of plant origin.

The plant has medicinal properties that help improve sleep:

• calms the nervous system;
• relieves tension and spasms;
• lowers blood pressure;
• slows down heart rate;
• increases the strength of heart contractions.

Motherwort for insomnia can be bought at the pharmacy in the form of tablets, alcohol tincture, or dried raw materials. From the latter you can prepare infusion and tea at home. It is added to sedatives and dietary supplements.

Motherwort tincture for sleep is the most popular form of the drug. Sold in dark glass vials. It has a characteristic bitter taste.

The instructions for taking motherwort extract for sleep indicate that the effect of the medicine comes slowly. The substance should accumulate in the body, and after 2-3 weeks of use you can completely get rid of insomnia.

How many motherwort tablets should you take before bed? Motherwort in tablets for insomnia is taken 1-2 hours before going to bed. Swallow the tablet whole with plenty of water. Do not abuse double doses. This is fraught with overdose and intoxication. To achieve a therapeutic effect and consolidate it, the drug is taken over a course of 2 to 4 weeks. A repeated course is possible after a break as prescribed by a doctor. Remember, only a specialist can assess the patient’s clinical condition, determine the severity of the disease and the severity of symptoms.

Almost all pharmaceutical companies have motherwort-based products in their range. For example, it produces Motherwort Forte for sleep. The instructions for use say that the drug helps to quickly relieve emotional stress and irritability, increase resistance to stress, relax muscles, relaxation and improve emotional state. Vitamin B and magnesium included in the preparation ensure healthy sleep. The manufacturer recommends supplementing your choice with the “Sleep Formula” from Evalar.

General characteristics of Motherwort

Otherwise it is called core, heart grass. In the beginning, it was used more in medicine as a cardiac remedy. Then we paid attention to the sedative properties.

If sleep disturbance is caused by stressful situations, then Motherwort is a good remedy for insomnia.

The plant contains many useful ingredients: glycosides, rutin, carotene, essential oils, vitamins C, A, B, organic substances, alkaloids, tannins.

Let's look at its beneficial properties:

• Favors the functioning of the heart and vascular system, reduces high blood pressure, the cause of which is excessive nervous excitability. The flavonoids and glycosides contained in Motherwort help reduce heart rate, but at the same time increase the strength of heart contractions;
• Has a sedative effect, improves sleep, speeds up the time of falling asleep;
• Helps women with menopause relieve irritability, insomnia, and tearfulness;
• Has the ability to relieve muscle spasms of internal organs.

Due to its numerous beneficial properties, Motherwort is prescribed for: increased excitability, neuroses, neurasthenia, insomnia, hypertension, vegetative-vascular dystonia, heart disease (angina pectoris, cardiosclerosis), colitis, migraine, menopause.

Sleep mixture valerian motherwort peony

A sleep mixture of valerian, motherwort, and peony has a complex effect on the human body . The medicine simultaneously relieves nervous excitement, improves heart function, and helps normalize sleep. You can buy this mixture at a pharmacy or prepare it yourself.

Ingredients:

1. Valerian root - 50 grams.
2. Dried peony - 50 grams.
3. Motherwort leaves - 50 grams.
4. Alcohol 70% - 0.5 l.

How to prepare : Peel the valerian root well and grate it on a fine grater. Mix it with crushed motherwort and peony. Pour the resulting mixture with alcohol and close the lid tightly. It is advisable to infuse in a dark glass bottle. Keep the tincture for 3 weeks in a cool place, avoiding direct sunlight.

How to use : Take the finished tincture 1 hour before bedtime, 30-50 drops.

Result : Improves sleep, reduces anxiety and nervousness.

Composition of Herba Leonuri

Before the appearance of the herb in official pharmacology, motherwort was used by healers and herbalists. Decoctions and infusions were successfully used in treatment to improve sleep and relieve nervous excitement. Later, scientists isolated the alkaloids leonurine and leonuridine, which are responsible for inhibiting the nervous system. The flavonoid quarcetin helps the heart function.

The vitamins contained in the herb, in addition to their “vitamin” purpose, additionally have the following effect:

• vitamin A helps normalize sleep;
• E – eliminates symptoms of fatigue;
• C is an antioxidant that destroys free radicals.

In addition to the listed components, the herb contains tannins, essential oils, organic acids, and microelements: K, Na, Ca, S.

How to give motherwort to a child for sleep

It is better for children to give decoctions and infusions of motherwort. Motherwort for sleep is indicated for children in the form of decoctions and tea.
Tea can be purchased in ready-made filter bags at the pharmacy. Preparing the decoction will not take much time.

Ingredients:

1. Motherwort - 1 tablespoon.
2. Water - 200 ml.

How to prepare : Pour a glass of boiling water over the dry herb. Place in a water bath for 20 minutes. Let it sit for a few minutes. Strain.

How to use: Dosage depends on the age of the child. For children under 2 years old, give 2 teaspoons 3 times a day. Children from 2 to 12 years old - 2 tablespoons 3 times a day. The duration of treatment is at least 14 days.

Result : Nervous tension gradually subsides, the child’s sleep improves.

There is no need to risk your child's health. Before starting treatment, consult your pediatrician. The doctor, after reviewing the medical record, will prescribe an individual treatment regimen.

Read more about motherwort for children in this article.

Folk recipes

The fight against insomnia can be successful if treated with traditional medicine. Sleep disturbances, which are often observed in young people, are relieved after a course of treatment. To normalize night rest, the use of decoctions, infusions, and motherwort mixtures with various herbs gives a good effect. The most popular are:

1. A collection is being prepared from valerian root, St. John's wort, lemon balm leaves, hawthorn and motherwort flowers in a ratio of 1:2:2:2:4. All ingredients are mixed, and 10 grams of the collection is brewed with a quarter liter of boiling water.
2. A collection is being prepared from motherwort, valerian root, St. John's wort, lemon balm leaves in a ratio of 2:1:1:1. All ingredients are mixed, and 10 grams of the collection is brewed with a glass of boiling water.
3. A collection is being prepared: peppermint leaves, St. John's wort, motherwort, yarrow, chamomile flowers, walnut leaves in a ratio of 1:2:2:1:1:1. All components of the collection are mixed, and 15 grams of the collection are poured into a glass of boiling water.

The resulting medicines are infused, preferably in a thermos, and taken 0.1 liter three times a day.

Herb tea

To relieve the symptoms of insomnia, you can use not only infusions that include other herbs, but also tea from only one motherwort. This herbal drink helps relax the nervous system and help you fall asleep quickly. You can take it instead of your everyday black or green tea.

A drink is prepared from dry motherwort herb in the amount of 10 grams of raw material per glass of boiling water. After cooling and steeping, the tea is ready to drink. Take half a glass three times a day. To enhance the sleeping effect of herbal tea, you can add a teaspoon of honey to the drink. The course of treatment is a month, after which a break for two weeks or replacement of herbal tea with a collection containing motherwort is necessary.

Pills

The pharmacy chain offers motherwort extract in tablets for sleep problems. One tablet contains 14 mg of the active principle of the drug with additional components. Very often, the drug is prescribed during pregnancy as a means of normalizing not only sleep, but also relieving symptoms of toxicosis and improving the functioning of the digestive system. According to the instructions, the tablets are taken one at a time in the morning, at lunch and in the evening.

Despite the fact that the drug is sold in pharmacies without a prescription, treatment is prescribed by a doctor, since an allergic reaction to additional components of the drug is possible. Some tablets contain sucrose, so for patients suffering from diabetes mellitus, this drug will be contraindicated. Tablets, in this case, must be replaced with a decoction or infusion of motherwort.

Tincture

But most often, for insomnia, an alcohol tincture of motherwort is used, which is available in the pharmacy chain and is produced by the medical industry in bottles of 25, 40 and 50 ml.
How to take motherwort tincture for insomnia, and in what quantity? In this case, the dosage of the drug is prescribed by the doctor. As a rule, the initial intake of tincture begins with 10 drops, which are diluted in a small amount of water. In the future, the intake is increased to 30 drops in the morning, lunch and evening. To prepare motherwort tincture at home, you will need 100 grams of dry raw materials, which are filled with half a liter of medical 70% alcohol. The medicine is infused for a month in a dark place with periodic shaking. After this period has expired, the finished product is filtered and taken in a course as prescribed and recommended by a doctor.

When not to drink motherwort for insomnia

When should you not take motherwort products? The product is prohibited for use by women who are breastfeeding. The use of motherwort for insomnia during pregnancy in the form of a tincture is not recommended.

In this article, read in detail about motherwort during pregnancy.

Motherwort is not suitable for sleep disturbances for people who have low blood pressure and a slow heart rate. Women should also stop taking this medication during heavy periods. In these cases, the use of this remedy may worsen your overall health.

Alcohol tinctures of motherwort are contraindicated for children and adolescents.

For more information about motherwort, watch the video:

Benefit

The benefits of motherwort preparations lie not only in the treatment of insomnia. They also affect the sexual sphere of men and women; it is recommended to take a course of medications to prevent impotence in men and achieve hormonal balance in women.

There is evidence in the literature that the use of Herba Leonuri drugs helps with pancreatitis - inflammation of the pancreas, helps cleanse the liver and kidneys, and removes excess fluid from the body. An amazing property is that Herba Leonuri has a blood thinning and thickening effect, which is important for cardiovascular diseases. It is recommended to take precautions to avoid unexpected bleeding.

During influenza epidemics, during the cold season, in the off-season, drugs can support the body because they have immunomodulatory as well as immunostimulating effects. Thus, Herba Leonuri can be used not only as a sleeping pill at night when you don’t want to sleep, but also as a means of strengthening the immune system.

What to remember

1. From the article you learned whether motherwort helps with insomnia. It is recommended to take the medicine at least an hour before bedtime.
2. Motherwort for sleep is one of the most effective natural remedies. Even considering its environmental friendliness, it is worth consulting a doctor before starting treatment.
3. Motherwort is prescribed even to young patients before bedtime. Depending on the age of the child, different dosages are provided. Never give children alcoholic tinctures of motherwort. Replace them with decoctions and tea.

Mode of application

Motherwort for insomnia, as a medicine, finds its use in the form of an infusion or decoction of dry raw materials, tablets or tinctures. Preparing the drug at home does not present any particular difficulties, but some certain conditions must be met to achieve the desired result:

• the use of a decoction or infusion is carried out three to four times a day;
• the infusion is prepared in the following proportion: 15 grams of dry raw material is brewed with half a liter of boiling water, preferably in a thermos, and infused for two hours;
• a decoction of dry herbs is prepared in the same proportion, but simmered over low heat for half an hour;
• The drug is taken in half a glass for a month.

Contraindications

Despite the fact that motherwort is a remedy that copes well with insomnia and has virtually no side effects, taking the medicine is contraindicated for some patients with certain pathologies. These include:

• individual intolerance to the drug;
• child's age up to 12 years;
• stomach and duodenal ulcers;
• erosive gastritis;
• alcoholism in chronic form;
• pregnancy and lactation.

Doctor's advice

Despite the fact that motherwort, presented in various dosage forms, is of plant origin and does not have the ability to cause addiction, the drug should be taken only on the recommendation of a doctor.

If there are any concomitant diseases, the combination of motherwort and some kind of medicine can cause a negative reaction in the body. Therefore, independent use of the drug is undesirable, and treatment should be carried out only after consulting a doctor.

Recipes for motherwort products

To treat insomnia, decoctions are prepared from motherwort, which are taken orally before going to bed. There are several most common recipes for preparing such a product.

Infusion . 1 tbsp. l. chopped herbs should be poured into 0.5 liters of boiling water and left to steep under the lid for 30 minutes.

Decoction . Pour 50 g of motherwort into 2 cups of water and bring to a boil over low heat. After this, you need to remove the container from the stove and leave to infuse for at least 60 minutes.

With chamomile, St. John's wort and yarrow . All four types of herbs should be taken in equal parts and pour boiling water (approximately 600 ml per 1 tablespoon of mixture). This decoction will be ready after 30 minutes of infusion and straining.

The three recipes listed above should be drunk before bedtime. There are also special recipes for using medicinal baths with motherwort.

Soothing motherwort decoction for bath . 500 g of herb should be poured into 3 liters of boiled water. All this must be infused until it cools completely, and before use, reheat and strain. After such preparation, the broth must be poured into the bath, and the water temperature should not be higher than 38 °C. When taking such a bath, it is advisable to completely immerse yourself in the liquid, but you can limit yourself to a foot bath. The duration of the procedure should be 15 minutes, and the frequency of use should be once a week before bedtime.

As a therapeutic remedy for insomnia, you can use motherwort tincture purchased at the pharmacy.

Using ready-made tincture . From 30 to 50 drops of the medicine must be mixed with water in the ratio indicated in the instructions. The remedy prepared in this way should be drunk half an hour before going to bed. The duration of treatment can range from 2 weeks to a month.

When using decoctions, you must take the product starting at 16:00. An interval of 2 hours should be maintained between doses of the drug. 1 dose of the medicine is approximately 100 ml. The total duration of treatment is usually a month.