Doctors hail 5p tea bag for falling asleep faster and 'winding your body down'
A healthy adult usually needs between seven and nine hours sleep, but most of us get less than we actually need.
Almost one in five people in the UK aren't getting enough sleep, according to Mental Health UK. Insomnia can occur for a number of reasons, from stress and anxiety to lifestyle factors such as drinking alcohol or caffeine too close to bedtime.
But luckily, there are a number of things you can do to help you fall asleep faster, and a doctor believes the trick could be as simple as drinking a cup of chamomile tea. The herbal hot beverage has a whole host of unique sleep-promoting properties, which makes it ideal for an evening beverage, as opposed to a caffeinated one.
Chamomile tea is widely regarded as a 'mild tranquilliser and sleep-inducer' due to its sedative effects, according to a 2010 study. It is packed full of apigenin, a type of antioxidant which works with receptors in your brain than can trigger sleepiness, Bristol Live reports.
This means it's the perfect natural sleep aid to help your body wind down, as is lavender, which has long been thought to aid relaxtion and improve sleep, or valerian, a pungent plant which has been used since the second century. Michael Breus, PhD, a psychologist and board-certified sleep specialist, said: "Chamomile formulations such as tea and essential oil aromatherapy have been used to treat insomnia and to induce sedation. They are commonly used as a mild tranquilliser and sleep-inducer."
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The ideal time to drink chamomile tea is about 45 minutes before bed, according to doctors. Nate Favini, MD, Medical Lead of Forward, added: "Take the hour before going to bed to take a hot bath or drink a cup of chamomile tea, which can be helpful in slowing your mind and body down."
One study looked at a group of postpartum women who drank chamomile tea for two weeks reported better sleep, compared to those who didn't. It was also reported that they experienced fewer symptoms of depression, which has been further linked to sleep struggle.
Another study found that people with generalised anxiety disorder, who drank chamomile tea for between two to four weeks, found an improvement in symptoms, as well as improvement when it came to sleep. A third study found that those who took 270mg of chamomile extract twice a day for 28 days spent less time awake during the night, and actually fell asleep 15 minutes quicker than those who didn't.
It's worth remembering that while these results are promising, more research is needed to examine the effects chamomile tea has on sleep quality. If you are struggling to sleep and want to give it a try, you can pick up a box of chamomile tea for 96p at Sainsbury's for 20, which works out at about 5p per bag.
If poor sleep is affecting your daily life or causing you distress, call NHS 111 or talk to your GP.
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