Sedatives calm the nervous system and can reduce stress and nervousness throughout the body. Lots of different herbs are sedatives, and some are often described as Nervine Relaxants, Hypnotics or Antispasmodics.
How Sedatives Work
There are some sedative herbs where much is known about their truly potent sedative actions, and conventional medicine has used these herbs to their advantage by potentizing their effect. An example of this is opium, where it’s range of alkaloids provides a pain killing and relaxing effect.
Note: Some of the most effective sedatives are illegal to the very degree of their effectiveness, including the whole range of opium poppy derivatives. These herbs should always be used within the context of an overall approach to sleep problems involving relaxation techniques, food and lifestyle in general.
Herbal Examples
Piper methysticum (Kava Kava)Â
Gelsemiumsempervirens (Yellow Jasmine)
Eschscholziacalifornia (California Poppy)
Lactucavirosa (Wild lettuce)
Piscidiaerythrina (Jamaican Dogwood)
Valeriana off. (Valerian)