You've probably noticed how your enjoyment of life takes a serious dive when you don't get enough sleep.
A couple of restless nights and your sunny self makes way for a mask of misery.
The good news is it's not you. It's the sleep.
Or lack thereof.
Sleep is one of the most underrated contributors to good mental health and the world is only just starting to wake up to this truth (excuse the pun).
Move over gut health, it's time for sleep to take centre stage.
And if you're reading this, we have good news for you. The chances are you're into herbal tea and when you're into herbal tea, a good night's sleep is only a few sips away.
According to board-certified sleep specialist and neurologist Pradeep Bollu, M.D., herbal teas can have a positive impact on sleep, but herbs work in different ways for different people.
"What we know is that in our brain, the receptors for a variety of chemicals are slightly different in everyone," according to Dr. Bollu. "Those detectors are super-sensitive in some people and not as sensitive in others." He compares it to how caffeine works: "Your friend may be able to drink coffee late at night and fall asleep no problem, but if you drink a latté after 4 p.m., you're up all night."
"These herbal teas act in the brain just like that," Dr. Bollu says. "One person might feel better with lavender tea, while another person may require chamomile and not respond to lavender."
Not surprising, really.
For me, the last two weeks has seen my sleep drop from a solid 8-9 hours to 5-6 hours/night. Realising my grumpy mood was probably more connected with my lack of sleep than my kids' (and husband's!) behaviour, I decided to run an experiment, based on a previous experience.
On a holiday a couple of months ago, I frequently had a cup of herbal tea before bed. My sleep quality was amazing. At the time I thought it was because I wasn't thinking about work. But I don't always sleep well on holidays, new bed, different pillow, strange noises. I started to think maybe the herbal tea was playing a role.
The last few nights I decided to have a cup of Tielka's Lemon Ginger before sleep. We'd run out of our new experimental concoction of sleep herbs, so Lemon Ginger was next in line. Suddenly, my sleep score went from a low 35 to 64 to 76. I felt better for it. My new fandangle health watch was actually providing some beneficial observations.
It's strange as I'm used to Lemon Ginger as an antidote for an upset tummy, not poor sleep. But no. Move over gut health. Sleep is here with Tielka's Lemon Ginger. It's great news as it tastes good too. It won silver in the 2019 Golden Leaf Awards.
And if you're surprised as I was, as Dr. Bollu says, different herbs work differently for different people.
Tielka's Lemon Ginger tea is a blend of lemongrass, ginger and lemon myrtle.
The lemon myrtle works like sleep magic for me. The fragrant aroma of lemon myrtle which is known for promoting concentration and relaxation, also supports sleep.
Some people take ginger tea as a remedy for insomnia as it helps them to relax before bedtime.
Lemongrass has a relaxing effect on the brain, which helps relieve stress. It is also known for improving sleep patterns.
So if you're struggling with sleep and the usual suspects like chamomile and lavender aren't doing it for you before bed, don't give up on good sleep! Why not try Tielka's Lemon Ginger? If all else fails, at least you will enjoy a beautiful cup of tea before bed, and that's not so bad, is it?
Article originally published 4/10/2020, 12:18 pm AEST