A Sleepy Time Tea

This is my favourite night-time tea blend. It is the result of methodical process of experimentation I did on myself to explore the effect of different sedating herbs (letting my type A side come out, perhaps) . I tried single herbs, experimented with doses, and then made different blends. I ultimately ended up with this mix, which I find to be a perfect relaxing and calming blend. I often come home from clinic late, eat dinner, and then try to head to bed - but I find I am still too worked up from the day to fall asleep. This tea contains lemon balm, a digestive herb, as well as passionflower and hops, which are gently sedating. I wanted to share this recipe to follow up on my earlier post about kava, because it is a tea I could drink every night, whereas I personally consider kava a once-in-a-while kind of thing. I love this blend and am very pleased to share it.

Recipe:

1 part Passiflora incarnata (passionflower)
1 part Scutellaria lateriflora (hops)
1 part Melissa officinalis (lemon balm)

I usually blend about 1 c. of each herb and store my mix in a mason jar. To drink, steep 1 tsp. in a mug of hot water, cover with a lid, and let steep while you floss and brush your teeth.

This is a fairly bitter tea, and if you don't like the taste you can try doubling the amount of lemon balm. One important note is that the quality of your herbs makes a huge difference in both flavour and efficacy of your tea, so make sure you buy from a reliable source.  I recently purchased some lemon balm that was old and flavourless, and it made the whole tea unpleasant. Though the herbs are dried, they should be fairly fresh, not sitting on the back of a dark corner shelf somewhere for months. Take a sniff before you purchase any herb - your nose will guide you.

Disclaimer: Information can be empowering, but we all have unique health profiles and needs. Health-related information contained in this post is intended to be general in nature and should not be used as a substitute for a visit with a Naturopathic Doctor. The advice is intended to offer only a general basis for individuals to discuss their medical condition with their health care provider.  Always consult your licensed Naturopathic Physician, or visit the Boucher Naturopathic Medical Clinic for individual care.