Topic

In European herbals, 'herbs for sleep' hide a whole evening ritual rather than one active species: a warm infusion, quiet, a cool bedroom and a regular hour. The herb's job in it is to signal that the day is over — and that is exactly how the tradition treats it.

The names that come up most are lemon balm, valerian, English lavender and German chamomile. You will find them linked to this topic in the catalogue, each with its own card, because each carries different safety notes and a different level of evidence.

The evidence is uneven: some species have small clinical trials on sleep quality, others only laboratory data or plain tradition. That is why the catalogue states the level of evidence for each herb separately — a blanket 'herbs help you sleep' would hide the difference.

What is better documented than any herb is sleep hygiene: a stable time in bed, darkness, less caffeine and fewer screens before sleep. A herbal infusion adds to that foundation; it does not replace it.

Insomnia that lasts more than three months and drags down the day is a diagnosis, not a question of which tea to choose — it belongs with your GP or a sleep clinic.

Have snoring with daytime sleepiness checked separately (possible sleep apnoea), as well as waking with a pounding heart, and insomnia that comes with a persistently low mood or loss of interest. Do not combine sleeping pills or antidepressants with herbs without asking a doctor or pharmacist.