"It's 3am" your alarm clock blinks at you, almost as if it’s taunting you with its “oh-so-bright” green numbers.
You've been trying to go to sleep since midnight, since you need to get up at 6am to go to work. The problem is simple - you just can't sleep!
Hot flashes are keeping you awake, so you inevitably start kicking off the covers only to then pull them back up again once you cool off. This annoying game can go on for hours it seems.
Not to mention your back hurts, and it's hard to get comfortable. You can't seem to turn your brain off, as your daily to-do list starts running through it once again. Should you count sheep? Haha!
This endless cycle has you thinking you may as well give up trying to sleep entirely.
Night after night, it's the same thing. Those annoying hormonal imbalances that pose as the hallmark of menopause keep you up all night, making your days a nightmare! And although you aren't the only woman on the planet dealing with this dreaded menopausal insomnia, it certainly feels that way at 3am when everyone else in the house is asleep, except you!
Thankfully, there's a solution on the horizon – and an all-natural one at that: herbs!
Did your ears just perk up like a puppy? Great! Because we’re serious! These five herbs will help balance out your hormones, restore peace to your chaotic body, and help you find that ever-elusive sweet slumber you’ve been so desperately longing for.
Valerian Root
This herb has a naturally sedating effect that helps you fall asleep faster. Hooray!
It comes from a flowering plant that’s native to continents like Asia and Europe, although it’s grown in the United States as well.
Used for years as a natural treatment for anxiety, it can relieve stress, and of course, help stop your insomnia in its tracks.
Black Cohosh
Black cohosh, which goes by a number of other names, comes from a flowering plant. It has numerous benefits for women going through menopause, the biggest of which has a positive effect on hot flashes – it can eliminate them.
So, if you're unable to sleep because your body goes through numerous temperature changes over the course of a few hours, then you should consider incorporating this herb into your daily routine.
Magnolia Bark
Sometimes stress and anxiety play a role in your menopause-induced sleeplessness. Want a good, all-natural solution? Magnolia bark.
The bark of the magnolia tree (known for its pretty flowers in the springtime), contains some stress-reducing compounds and can help regulate the serotonin in your brain, which plays a role in anxiety.
It’s a win-win for both you and your mind!
Lavender
If sleeping through the night is your goal (and obviously it is, since you're reading this), then add some supplements containing lavender to your diet.
Made from another flowering plant, lavender also comes in essential oil and room spray forms as well.
Spraying a bit on your pillow or taking it in supplement form can help relax your tense, over-heated, hormonally imbalanced body enough to drift off to Sleepy Town.
Red Clover
If you go for walks in the park, you've probably seen red clover, even if you didn’t know it. The purple-topped plant looks a little like a thistle, which disguises its healing properties.
A supplement that contains red clover can act like an all-natural estrogen replacement, helping reduce those nightly sweats and hot flashes that have you tossing and turning into the wee hours of the morning.
A Bonus “Non-Herbal” Option – Magnesium
Did you know that around half of all adults in the United States have a magnesium deficiency?
This mineral (it’s not an herb, but it needs to be mentioned here) is good for minimizing your menopause symptoms, like mood swings and irritability. It also plays a role in your sleep cycles, helping to regulate them, so you can fall asleep faster and manage to stay that way until your alarm clock actually goes off.
Another All-Natural Option – Tea to the Rescue
Who doesn’t like a steaming, soothing hot cup of tea? If you're looking for an additional all-natural option to put a “cease and desist order” on your menopausal insomnia, choosing a tea that contains a number of these amazing ingredients can provide you with their benefits all at once, helping you sleep better by minimizing your menopause symptoms.
Think about it - a calming cup of tea is usually much simpler (and more soothing) than gulping down a handful of supplements every night.
So, say goodbye to menopausal insomnia and hello to the wonderful world of all-natural herbs that bring the sweet dreams you’ve been craving. After all, you work hard all day, and every girl deserves her beauty sleep!
