Top 21 Folk Remedies for Insomnia from Nature

Ginger is known not only as a cooking ingredient but also as a valuable remedy in Traditional Chinese Medicine for treating insomnia. Ginger contains 2-3% essential oil, 5% resin, 3% fat, starch, and spicy substances such as zingerone, shogaol... so it is effective in treating chronic insomnia.

Preparation:

• Fresh ginger.

• A small basin of warm water.

Instructions:

Soaking your feet in ginger water every night helps relax the meridians, making you feel sleepy faster. To do this, prepare a small basin of warm water at 40 - 50°C then crush fresh ginger into the basin and wait for 30 minutes for the essences to soak before soaking your feet.

According to Traditional Chinese Medicine, betel leaves have a slightly bitter taste, slightly pungent, with a neutral nature. They have the effect of inhibiting the central nervous system, inducing sleep, reducing fever, lowering blood pressure, contracting muscles, sterilizing, promoting digestion, and treating low wind symptoms. Betel tree bark has the effect of dispersing wind, sterilizing, causing numbness, and calming. Particularly, betel leaves are also a good remedy for insomnia and anxiety.

Preparation:

• 20g fresh betel leaves

Instructions:

Take 20g of fresh betel leaves, wash them thoroughly, crush them, and steam them in a rice cooker after it has cooled down (can also be boiled for drinking). Before going to bed, eat a few of these betel leaves to sleep deeply.

Green banana is a type of fruit that contains a lot of potassium and magnesium, especially found in the banana peel. Both of these minerals are very good for relaxing the nervous system and muscles. So, it will contribute to helping you have a deeper and better sleep at night, putting an end to insomnia.

Preparation:

• One ripe green banana or one plantain.
• A little salt.
• A little cinnamon powder.
• A spoonful of lime juice.
• 500ml water.

Instructions:

Every day, take a green banana, remove the top and bottom. After washing it thoroughly, soak the banana with a little salt and a spoonful of lime juice. Boil 500ml of water until it boils, then add salt to cook until soft. After 15 minutes of cooking, turn off the heat, let the water cool, then pour it into a cup. Then add a little cinnamon powder and sugar to drink. Drink once a day before bedtime for an hour to get a good night's sleep.

Lotus seeds are a precious remedy long known for treating insomnia. In recent years, botanists have experimentally proven that lotus seeds contain alkaloids, fragrant glucoside with sedative effects. After eating lotus seeds, the pancreas secretes insulin, making people sleep easier.

Preparation:

• 5g Lotus plumule
• 2g Lotus leaf
• 10g Apple kernel
• 10g Fresh jasmine flowers
• 1 liter water

Instructions:

Roast the lotus plumule until fragrant; blacken the apple kernel, crush lightly; dry the lotus leaves, grind into powder. Mix all the ingredients evenly, steep with 1 liter of water, then add jasmine flowers when the medicine is still warm, then drink the water several times a day.

Brown sugar has the effect of nourishing the middle, benefiting the qi, moistening the lungs, and expelling phlegm. Brown sugar is used as a seasoning to aid digestion. It is used for prolonged insomnia, bronchitis, dry cough with little phlegm, sore throat, deficient blood, dizziness, and headaches.

Mung beans are a source of food rich in antioxidants and nutrients such as flavonoids, carotenoids, polyphenols, vitamins A, C, and omega-3 fatty acids, providing many health benefits besides treating insomnia and chronic insomnia.

Preparation:

• 50g mung beans.
  
• 10g brown sugar.
  
• 20ml filtered water.
  

Instructions:

After cleaning, drain the mung beans. Put 50g of mung beans in 20ml of boiling water until the beans are soft, then simmer for 10g of brown sugar and stir well. You can serve it in a bowl immediately or refrigerate it for gradual consumption. This is a very good way to treat insomnia, especially for those who have suffered from insomnia for a long time or often have mental stress.

In Traditional Chinese Medicine, longan, also known as 'dragon eye,' has the effect of soothing the mind, nourishing the heart, and spleen, treating physical weakness, particularly known for its beneficial effects in treating prolonged insomnia.

Fresh longan contains 77.15% water, 0.01% ash, 0.13% fat, 1.47% protein, water-soluble nitrogenous compounds 20.55%, sucrose 12.25%, vitamin A, and B.

Dried longan (longan aril) contains 0.85% water, water-soluble components 79.77%, insoluble components 19.39%, and 3.36% ash. The water-soluble part contains glucose 26.91%, sucrose 0.22%, and tartaric acid 1.26%. Nitrogenous compounds account for 6.309%.

Preparation:

• 100g longan aril

• 100g glutinous rice

Instructions:

Clean and cook the glutinous rice as normal rice porridge. When the glutinous rice is almost cooked, add the longan aril. Season with spices to taste and consume while the porridge is still warm. It helps you soothe your mind and effectively treat insomnia.

In traditional medicine, jasmine flowers have a spicy and sweet taste, a cool nature, and detoxifying effects. In folk medicine, jasmine flowers are often used to treat boils, itching, coughs, knee pain, etc. especially used to treat insomnia, providing excellent sedative effects. Not only for those who have just experienced insomnia, but also for those who have experienced prolonged insomnia, difficulty sleeping in the elderly, restless sleep... can also use jasmine flowers as a sedative to achieve better and deeper sleep.

Preparation:

• 100 - 200g jasmine flower roots.
• 1 liter of 35 - 40 degree C alcohol.

Instructions: Soak 100 - 200g of jasmine flower roots in 1 liter of 35 - 45 degree C white alcohol. Drink 10 - 20ml daily before bedtime. In case alcohol cannot be consumed, you can replace it by cleaning the jasmine roots and boiling them to extract the liquid for consumption. Patients should apply this remedy continuously combined with creating a relaxed mental state to overcome insomnia and achieve better sleep.

Chinese Lily Flowers have a cooling property that aids in promoting sound sleep and regulating the nervous system. Regular consumption can prevent ailments such as headaches, nervous exhaustion, and memory loss.

Ingredients:

• 200g Chinese lily flowers.
• 1 egg yolk.
• 50 grams rock sugar.

Instructions:

Steam 200g of Chinese lily flowers until cooked. Add 1 egg yolk and 50 grams of rock sugar, then mix well. Continue steaming in a double boiler for 10 minutes. It's best to consume warm one hour before bedtime.

The essential oil in sour apple seeds has a very beneficial effect in calming the mind and nourishing the brain. Therefore, the remedy from sour apple seeds is considered a highly effective treatment for insomnia in individuals suffering from sleeplessness due to mental distress, anxiety, or fear.

Ingredients:

• 12g dried apple pulp.
• 16g apple seeds.
• 16g strawberries.
• 16g longan.

Instructions:

Clean all the ingredients, especially blacken the apple seeds. Put all the prepared ingredients into a pot with 400ml of condensed water and 100ml of water to drink before going to bed.

Blackthorn plant, scientifically known as Celastrus hindsii Benthet Hook. Also known as the salvation plant, winter cherry, white flower, cushion plant, brown fruit, blackwood pedicle, belonging to the category of woody vine plants, growing into bushes, with long stems 3-10m long, round branches, light gray when young, then turning brown and later turning green. Leaves are hairless, oval in shape.

Ingredients:

• Blackthorn plant including stem and leaves (can be fresh or dried): 100g.

Instructions:

Take 100g of the entire stem and leaves of the blackthorn plant, wash them thoroughly, put them in a pot with 2 liters of boiling water, simmer for about 20 minutes, strain and drink the water regularly before meals about 20-30 minutes is best and can be used as a substitute for water.
Do not use stimulants during the medication.

Red Apples not only help cool the liver, nourish the kidneys, and soothe the nerves, but they also have a wonderful effect in treating insomnia.

Ingredients:

• 200g red apples.

• 500ml water.

Instructions:

Brew the red apples to extract drinking water. Patients can use this instead of regular drinking water. This remedy not only treats insomnia and nighttime difficulties but also helps cool the liver, nourish the kidneys, and soothe the nerves.

Ginseng belongs to the Seng family, has some similar effects to Panax and Korean Ginseng. It can be brewed into a drink or used to make ginseng pillows to combat insomnia.

Ingredients:

• 100g aged ginseng leaves for brewing.

• 1000g young ginseng leaves for making pillows.

Instructions:

• Brewing: Rinse and dry the aged ginseng leaves. Put the ginseng leaves in a pot with 500ml of water, boil until the liquid reduces to 200ml, then stop. Divide into two equal portions, drink in the morning and evening. Drink continuously for 10 days, stop for 3 days, then continue. Ginseng, when combined with other herbs, will yield better results.

• Making Pillows: Wash and clean the young ginseng leaves to remove any dirt. Remove any bacteria that may be harmful to the body. Method: Dry the cleaned ginseng leaves, avoiding direct sunlight to preserve their fragrance. Dry the leaves to a certain degree, avoiding over-drying, check for a certain level of flexibility, then roast them at an appropriate temperature before humidifying them at a specified temperature. Mix with cotton and an appropriate amount of ginseng leaves to make the ginseng pillow filling. Ensure the pillow filling is not overly scented with ginseng, as it may make it difficult for patients to sleep.

Fairy Vine is a wild-growing plant that can be easily found in hilly areas and forest edges. This type of plant belongs to the vine category, with a soft stem, heart-shaped leaves, and serrated edges. Fairy Vine often blooms in April - May, with fruits ripening from May to July. Ripe fruits can be eaten, and young shoots can be used as vegetables, while the entire plant is used as medicine in fresh or dried form.

Ingredients:

• 100g dried Fairy Vine.

Instructions:

Take 100g of both the stem and leaves of Fairy Vine, wash them thoroughly, put them in a pot with 1 liter of boiling water, simmer for about 20 minutes, then strain the liquid for drinking. It is best to drink it 20-30 minutes before meals, and it can be used as a substitute for water.

Maidenhair fern is a type of plant that grows wild along roadsides, in meadows, or in dry areas. In traditional medicine, maidenhair fern is also known by many other names such as maidenhair, or maidenhair vine. This medicinal plant has a sweet taste, slightly cold properties, and is attributed to the Lung meridian. In folk medicine, people often use this plant in several remedies including treating insomnia. Besides, maidenhair fern also has the effect of combating body weakness, eye discomfort, dizziness, and headache.

How to Prepare:

• Take 20 grams of dried maidenhair fern, rinse thoroughly with water several times to remove dirt and impurities. Then, put it in a pot with 200ml of water. Bring to a boil and simmer until the water reduces to about 100ml. Strain the liquid to drink all at once.

According to traditional medicine, agarwood has a slightly toxic nature with a spicy taste and warm property. It is used to dispel cold, relieve pain, tonify the kidney, and invigorate the yang. Moreover, it enhances the body's immune system, possesses anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, anti-fungal properties, and treats insomnia.

Preparation:

• 50 grams of agarwood.
• 650 ml of white wine.

Instructions:

Take 50 grams of agarwood, wash, thinly slice, and roast until golden. Then soak it with 650 ml of white wine.
After soaking for about 7 days, patients can use it to treat insomnia. Patients should only drink it twice a day, with each serving being a small cup equivalent to 25 – 30 ml.

Beer flower, also known as hublong flower, is commonly used by folk medicine to treat anxiety, nervousness, and insomnia. Patients can pick some beer flowers, brew them into a medicinal drink, and consume them daily. Alternatively, they can also dry and place them under a pillow to promote deep and restful sleep.

For this folk remedy for insomnia, patients should use it regularly every day. However, attention should be paid to dosage, as excessive consumption of beer flowers can cause side effects such as nausea and headache.

Valerian plant, scientifically known as Valeriana officinalis, is not only admired for its vibrant color but also known for its calming effects. This plant is renowned for its sedative properties, effectively treating insomnia and depression, promoting restful sleep.

How to prepare and use:

• Take 10 – 15 grams of valerian plant, including both the leaves and roots, and rinse thoroughly.
• Then, place them in a pot, add enough water, and brew into a drink.

With this traditional herbal remedy for insomnia, patients can consume it daily to alleviate insomnia symptoms. This herbal remedy can also be used to treat insomnia in children, but the dosage should be adjusted accordingly.

The seeds of the velvet bean are effective in treating insomnia, sleeplessness, nervousness, and sleepiness or drowsiness. Patients only need to use 20 grams of dried velvet bean seeds, steeped together with 6 grams of lotus seeds and 15 grams of Chinese yam. Drink 2 – 3 times a day, with each serving being 1 bowl. Depending on the severity of the insomnia symptoms, the duration of intake may vary. However, it is best for patients to only drink for 3 days. Excessive consumption of velvet bean seed water can cause loose stools.

Peppermint lemon has a pleasant aroma and a cool, refreshing taste. Apart from being used in culinary recipes, this natural ingredient is also used as a medicinal remedy to relieve stress and tension, helping to ease into a peaceful sleep.

Here's a simple recipe for peppermint lemon tea:

• Harvest a few fresh peppermint lemon leaves, wash them thoroughly, and place them in a glass cup.
• Pour boiling water into the cup, cover with a lid, and wait for 10 – 15 minutes for the active ingredients in the peppermint lemon leaves to dissolve into the water.
• Then strain the water and discard the residue.
• Add brown or white sugar and honey to the cup, stir well, and drink.

The traditional remedy for insomnia from peppermint lemon herbs will quickly induce a good night's sleep, but patients should also pay attention to the dosage and timing during the usage process.