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Follow this simple 3 step process to dry herbs at home

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Aromas that reduce anxiety and relieve stress or teas that soothe your muscles, we have plants that work the way you want them to for healthy and sound sleep.

7 Plants that induce Sleep

Peppermint

Peppermint belongs to the mint family and has a minty flavour. A customary tea in the middle east, drinking peppermint tea before bed could improve the quality of your sleep. This benefit is attributed to the herb’s menthol content which increases blood flow and provides a cooling sensation. It can help in relaxing the muscles during bedtime. Peppermint oil can be applied on the skin to heal a headache, muscle pain and nerve pain.

Some people have also claimed it helps them dream more vividly. Not only for it’s relaxing attributes, but peppermint is also effective in energizing the body to deal with daytime fatigue.

Peppermint tea recipe

Boil 2 cups of water and add 6-10 freshly harvested peppermint leaves to the water. Cover with lid and steep for 4-5 mins. Add honey or lemon as per taste. A caffeine-free tea before bedtime for your relaxing sleep is ready!

Growing Tip

Peppermint plant adds long-lasting fragrance to any garden with their intensely fragrant leaves. Start the seeds indoors 8-10 weeks prior to the growing period. Once germinated indoors, you can sow them in pots or garden beds outside.

Buy non-hybrid, non-GMO, open-pollinated and heirloom peppermint seeds at AllThatGrows.

Sage

Sage has been in use for many centuries because of its flavour as well as medicinal properties. The green coloured leaves with a touch of grey are commonly used in meals, teas, and essential oils. Helpful at improving the overall health of the body, sage prevents skin disorders, cognitive diseases, inflammatory problems, digestive issues and more.

A natural sedative, it will help you to fall asleep faster. Growing sage at home can assure you of fresh supply whenever needed. Plus it complements other plants in the balcony really well!

Growing Tip:

Remember to place the sage pot at a spot receiving lots of sunlight if you plan to grow it indoors, next to a sunny window. The plant needs 6-8 hrs of daily sunlight to thrive. Water the plant only when it is necessary and avoid overwatering if the top layer is still moist.

Buy non-hybrid, non-GMO, open-pollinated and heirloom sage seeds at AllThatGrows.

Lemon Balm

Lemon balm, a member of the mint family is used both as a cooking ingredient and herbal medicine. It has a lemony and minty flavour. Containing chemicals that seem to have a sedative and calming effect, it has been in use since the medieval times for relieving anxiety, promoting sleep, a natural painkiller.

The key ingredient lending lemon balm it’s sleeping aid properties is eugenol. This natural oily substance is well known for its ability to promote better sleep.

Hence, herbalists recommend lemon balm tea to soothe a nervous stomach and promote healthy sleep.

Lemon balm tea recipe

Pour simmering hot water into a jar filled with fresh lemon balm leaves and cover with a lid. Let steep until cool to drink and enjoy the lemon balm tea for improved digestion.

Lemon balm tincture

Take a clean dark jar and place 200 grams of dried lemon balm leaves and add alcohol to cover the leaves fully. Close the jar and shake well. Store the jar in a dark place for 12 - 14 days, shaking the jar on alternate days. The recommended dosage is 1 tsp, twice a day mixed with water or fruit juice. Consult a local physician for allergies before consumption.

Growing Tip

Pick a well-draining tray or container to plant lemon balm and place it at a nice sunny spot receiving at least 5 hrs of sunlight a day. Remember to water the plant well but do not make it soggy. You can grow this plant year long!

Buy non-hybrid, non-GMO, open-pollinated and heirloom lemon balm seeds at AllThatGrows.

Chamomile

Chamomile plant stems with white blooms of yellow centres are a common addition to gardens and lawns due to its aesthetic appearance. The ancient herbal remedies of chamomile are not unknown to the world and have their roots in the Egyptian, Greek and Roman civilization for medicinal values.

Used to induce sleep for a number of years, chamomile has sedative properties due to the presence of flavonoids. You can keep a chamomile plant next to your lavender or just use some chamomile drops on your pillow or apply them to the temples before you turn in.

Chamomile blooms can also be used to make tea by boiling in water. Consuming the tea before bedtime has a soothing effect and helps with uninterrupted sleep.

Growing Tip

Chamomile grows best in cool environments and under the shade in dry soil. It can also grow under the partial sun and is a high low maintenance plant needing little watering and fertilizing.

Buy non-hybrid, non-GMO, open-pollinated and heirloom chamomile seeds at AllThatGrows.

Lavender

When it comes to inducing sleep and decreasing anxiety levels, lavender is our favourite. Research confirms that lavender has proven to slow down heart rate, decrease stress levels and lower blood pressure. No wonder it is a common ingredient in de-stressing lotions and bath salts. Used as an essential oil or inhaled straight from the stem, the plant ‘s floral aroma provides solid sleep aid. Research shows that in women, lavender has been shown to increase light sleep, and decrease rapid-eye-movement (REM) sleep and the amount of time to wake after first falling asleep, with opposite effects in men.

While there are countless lavender products on the market shelves to help you with a peaceful night’s rest, nothing beats the most natural and cost-efficient option – the lavender plant itself! You can also use the blooms in a sachet and tuck it under the pillow.

Growing Tip

Lavender needs lots of sunlight and fresh air to grow well. Pick a spot near the window of your home receiving a good amount of sunlight. Also, keep them open for a few hrs a day for the plant to breathe in the fresh air. Allow the plant to dry out before you water to avoid waterlogging.

Buy non-hybrid, non-GMO, open-pollinated and heirloom lavender seeds at AllThatGrows.

Chrysanthemum

Chrysanthemum is one of the plants acknowledged by NASA scientists for its air cleaning abilities. Cleaner air is one of the key factors playing a significant role in inducing peaceful sleep. The plant is perfect to be kept in a bedroom as it can live in lower light conditions.

Growing Tip

Fresh organic soil and a pot with good drainage are what you need to keep your chrysanthemum plant healthy. Pick a spot that receives moderate sunlight otherwise excess light can throw off the plant’s bloom production. Provide sufficient air circulation and water regularly.

Buy non-hybrid, non-GMO, open-pollinated and heirloom chrysanthemum seeds at AllThatGrows.

California poppy

The California poppy is a vibrant wildflower. It is not commonly known, however, the flower has a long-standing history as a medicinal plant. Mostly because it is used in its powdered form to treat anxiety. Not only California poppy can improve the quality of sleep but also its duration.

California poppy is helpful in regulating the nervous system, affecting neuroreceptors as well as enzyme activity in the brain. Due to this, the flower has sedative and tranquilizing abilities. California poppy teas can be consumed but please note that they should be consumed in moderation for three months or less. You can also add mint leaves and honey to enhance its flavour.

Growing Tip

California poppy needs well-drained acidic soil and container with good drainage holes. The blooms grow up to two feet tall and can be conveniently planted in a garden, window sill indoors or a balcony. You can add organic fertilizer every month to accelerate growth.

Buy non-hybrid, non-GMO, open-pollinated and heirloom California poppy seeds at AllThatGrows.