Traditional Herbal Wisdom Promoting a Deeper, More Fulfilling Sleep Without the Side-Effects of Modern Medicine
Both historically and in recent clinical trials, lemon balm, and the GABA found within it, have demonstrated benefits for supporting faster sleep onset, deepersleep, improved sleep quality, and increased total sleep duration.
One contributing factor to its success in improving sleep is in its ability to improve the mood, while reducing anxiety and stress levels.
This is accomplished in part through its ability to enhance GABA's (gamma-aminobutyric acid) neurotransmitter activity in the brain, calming the central nervous system, lowering blood pressure, and helping to alleviate anxiety and restlessness, thereby promoting a greater sense of serenity and relaxation.
This action is attributed in part to rosmarinic acid (first identified in the rosemary plant), also found in sage, basil, oregano, and marjoram, and known to inhibit GABA transaminase (GABA-T which would normally break down GABA for its use in the citrus acid cycle).
By reducing the GABA-T inhibiting action on GABA, the GABA levels in the brain are then permitted to increase, thereby reducing stress, increasing muscle relaxation, and improving mood, which indirectly support a quality, fulfilling sleep.
Rosmarinic acid is also recognized for its potent antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and neuroprotective properties, particularly relevant in neurodegenerative conditions like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease.
Lemon balm is commonly used in combination with other herbs to smooth daytime jitters or anxiety, in addition to enhancing the depth and quality of sleep.
Along with Lemon Balm, many of the most well known herbs for this purpose have been placed within the Day Calm & Deep Sleep formula, promoting a synergistic effect in support of a deeper, more restful sleep in the following ways:
Ashwaganda---significantly decreases sleep onset time and increases total sleep duration, especially in instances of stress-induced insomnia. It enhances non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep and boosts delta wave activity, which are markers of deep, restorative sleep. Additionally, Ashwagandha enhances the GAGA and seratonin activity in the brain, helps regulate cortisol, the stress hormone, further supporting its calming effects by allowing melatonin from the pineal gland to perform its normal function of promoting nighttime, regenerative sleep.
Bugleweed---a mild sedative which helps reduce nervous system overactivity. Compounds like flavonoids and tannins interact with the body’s hormonal and neurological systems, promoting relaxation and reducing symptoms of anxiety, hypervigilance, and restlessness. It is particularly effective for insomnia linked to anxiety or a "racing mind," as it helps regulate stress responses and supports balanced circadian rhythms. By calming heart palpitations and soothing the nervous system, bugleweed facilitates deeper, more restful sleep without the dependency risks associated with pharmaceutical sedatives.
Passion Flower---also a GABA promoting herb that helps reduce sleep onset time, improve overall sleep quality, and support deeper sleep cycles. Certain phytonutrients in Passion Flower, like flavonoids, act as mild sedatives, promoting relaxation without the risk of dependency or side effects associated with pharmaceutical sleep aids.
Rose Petals---lowers cortisol levels and calms the autonomic nervous system allowing the brain and body to enter into and maintain a deeper, more restful sleep.
Skullcap---a nervine sedative that gently quiets a racing mind and eases nervous tension, making it effective for stress-related insomnia. It also supports restful sleep by lowering cortisol levels. Its neuroprotective effects suggest promise in treating neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. Skullcap may also help mitigate food allergies.
Wood Betony---Mathew Wood succinctly sums up what may be described as Wood Betony’s modus operandi, or underlying signature: “Wood Betony is a remedy which helps establish rootedness, connectedness, earthiness, and groundedness. It is a plant for people who are cut off from the earth or their bodies. It strengthens the solar plexus – the place that helps us feel connected – and through the solar plexus it strengthens the stomach and the rest of the nervous system, including the brain. Through this general strengthening property, Wood Betony enhances the actions of diverse organs – lungs, liver, gallbladder, intestines, kidneys, and uterus. By strengthening the solar plexus and helping people to feel grounded, it has an impact on psychological health which helps explain its magical uses,” (Wood, 1997).
Traditional to European herbal medicine dating back to the Roman period, Wood Betony promotes relaxation and improves sleep quality by acting as a nerve tonic that gently calms the nervous system without causing sedation. It helps ease nervous tension, reduce stress-related fatigue, and alleviate anxiety, making it effective for stress-induced insomnia.
Its calming influence supports mental clarity and emotional balance, helping to quiet a "racing mind" and prepare the body for restful sleep. Traditionally used as an "herb of the head," it also relieves tension headaches and jaw tightness, promoting a longer, regenerative sleep.
Agrimony---A spleen/liver/kidney supportive herb traditionally used in herbal and spiritual practices to calm the nervous system, reduce anxiety, and prevent nightmares. Agrimony promotes relaxation and improves sleep quality through its mild sedative and anxiety-reducing properties.
Placing dried Agrimony under the pillow or using it in dream sachets is a folk remedy believed to induce deep, restful sleep. Carried on the person or kept on a desk frequented for work has been known to attract positive outcomes and conflict resolution (as per herbalist Matthew Wood, and I have also found this to be true.)
Its calming influence supports emotional balance, helping to release stress, fear, and grief, thus easing one into a deeper, longer, more restful sleep.
Ancient Plant Minerals---A magnesium-containing mineral source, also found in Ancient Mineral Blend and Mineral Manna. Magnesium is known to relax restless muscles and release cramping muscles within minutes.
Ormalite---An ormus-bearing clay mineral source, which enhances the sedative and nighttime rejuvenation effects through increased pineal gland activity, from which melatonin is generated for sleep and regeneration of body tissues.
Ormalite helps to improve mood, reduce worry, calm daytime stress, enhance the manifestation of dreams and desires, and accelerate spiritual development.
Several other herbs, like Lavender, Mullein, Nettle Leaf, Parsley leaf, Poppy Leaf, Rosemary, Thyme, Wild Lettuce, Cardamom, and Nettle Seed, are also included in Day Calm & Deep Sleep known to support deep, prolonged sleep, digestion, immune system activity, and nighttime regeneration of the body.
In summary, Lemon Balm and many other sleep supportive herbs are widely recognized as an effective natural remedy for sleep disorders, particularly those associated with anxiety and stress, through their ability to enhance GABA activity, improve brain function, and promote relaxation.
Combined with supportive herbs for the immune system, digestion, and restorative nutrients found in Day Calm & Deep Sleep, both daytime calming and nighttime rejuvenative sleep is greatly promoted.
Many blessings of health and success,
Enjoy the many gifts from Nature!
