Tucking your children in at night is a wonderful time to spend with them; however, it can also be an exhausting experience. One of the best ways to insure a relaxing experience of putting your children to sleep---and keeping them asleep---is to create a bedtime ritual for them. Herbal essential oils, teas and herbal tinctures and glycerites can help make it a peaceful and enjoyable time.
Chamomile Tea
Sipping on some sweet chamomile tea is a fantastic way to end a day and a great first step in the bedtime routine. Start this as an after-supper drink or as tea party in your child's bedroom. While sipping your tea, talk to your child about his day and his plans for an exciting tomorrow.
Lavender
Lavender helps relieve anxiety, restlessness, insomnia and nervousness. Add a few drops of essential lavender oil to your child's bath. This will help your child's nervous system calm and get ready for bedtime. You can also add a few drops of lavender oil to a spray bottle with water in it, adjusting the amount of oil to your liking, and spray the lavender-infused water on your child's bedding.
Lemon Balm
Lemon balm or Melissa officinalis is a soothing herb with a sedative effect that may induce a peaceful night of sleep. It is part of the mint family; paired with its lemon scent, it has wonderful sweet taste that can used in a tea or in a bath that will help calm excitable children.
Passion Flower
Passion flower is known as the "calming herb" and is routinely suggested for insomnia, due to nervousness. It is often combined, in teas and tinctures, with lemon balm, chamomile and lavender. There are a few ways to take passionflower, but having your child take 10 to 20 drops of a glycerite tincture approximately 1 hour before bed helps her get an uninterrupted night of sleep.
References
- "Herbal Medicine From the Heart of the Earth"; Sharol Tilgner, N.D.; 1999
- Sleep Tips: How to Sleep Better, Lose Weight and Live Longer
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Passion Flower
- "Flower Power"; Anne McIntyre; 1996
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