I've tried Valerian and St. Johns Wart but haven't noticed much. I love melatonin for sleep and take B Stress Complex for energy, but haven't found anything that really gives you that mellow glow. My husband has switched to Odoulls nonalcoholic beer and I thought if I could find a good herbal alternative to beer, that would help him make the switch. Any ideas?
HI T.,
I drink Kava tea in the evenings and it seems to help take the edge off. I don't make it myself, I buy it at Target... the brand is Yogi~ Stress Relief Kava tea.
Good luck!
I periodically think about taking an infusion of asiatic poppy (Papaver somniferum)... but I just repeat over and over "Opium is illegal, opium is illegal." Sigh. Of course there's the same problem with most mood altering plants and fungus.
To date I haven't found anything herbal, floral, or rhyzomal that is actually soothing that isn't schedule 1. Sleepy, yes. Soothing or glowy, no. So I'll be interested to keep reading to see if anyone has. :) But it's a good thing to keep in mind (that most mood altering substances, natural like opium -which is just a distilled infusion of poppy: aka tea simmered dry-, or fermented, is usually tightly controlled right along with their synthetic cousins).
I suggest not buying a tisane from a grocery store (Yogi Tea, for example). They are, in my opinion, a monumental rip off. Usually, the herbs are old and have been stored and processed incorrectly. When making a decoction (dicing/mashing and then boiling) or infusion (steeping - MUST be covered), we are extracting volatile oils / chemical compounds (what holds medicinal properties) from plant material. Most often, I see people under steeping their tisanes (they don't cover their cup/pot and the most oils are lost in steam and/or they don't do it for long enough/for too long/they're using a root or rhizome that should be processed through decoction).
Each plant has a specific preparation. If it's over/under extracted, it looses it's value. The same can be said of a good cup of tea, french press, or espresso, for that matter.
Additionally, one can extract said compounds by making a tincture (glycerin or alcohol based) or a syrup (sugar based). When buying tinctures, syrups, herbal concoctions/remedies, etc., you want to be VERY careful of it's source. Many are just a waste of money because they are from low quality herbs that are expired. Some, are manufactured in factories that have been used (in the past) to produce poisons or include poisonous elements (heavy metals, etc.). Because they are not cleared by the FDA, we are not always sure what we're getting, especially when the "remedy" comes from India, China, or another country with different production laws.
I either wild craft my herbs, get them from more knowledgeable friends, or buy it bulk from our local herb shop who is run and owned by professional herbalists whom I trust. They also have a licensed professional come in twice a week to speak with customers, so when I have a question I wait till I can speak to someone who really knows their systems. The folks in the chain stores are perhaps helpful and well meaning, but, like me, they know just enough to be harmful. (on that note, please don't take my word on any of this, I'm still in student phase.)
Just because it comes from the earth, doesn't mean it can't be dangerous. Valerian, for example, can do a lot of damage to your liver if taken in excess or over a long period of time, or if a person is already susceptible to liver dysfunctions. Milk thistle, is great for your liver (helps cleanse our blood system) and stimulates lactation. The problem is that released toxins have to go somewhere (pee, poo, sweat, breast milk, etc), if you have a liver full of toxins (like I did), and take milk thistle while lactating, you may actually be directing your stored toxins into the fatty substance (keep in mind our fat holds a ton of our toxins - which is also why it's great to loss weight slowly after giving birth) of breast milk.
Anyway. That said.
I'd recommend looking into a glycerin based Califonia Poppy tincture. It has sedative and anxiolytic affects. It is legal, and far more mild than opium.
Passionflower is a mild narcotic (not a controlled substance). It can be found in tincture form as well. I highly recommend this plant. It is also has sedative and anxiolytic affects, is also an antispasmodic and has analgesic properties. It is a lovely flower, and a lovely medicine.
Already mentioned was Kava-Kava. I don't like using this herb, it has an opposite affect on me and makes me dream in crazy.
Damiana is another happy plant. Folks say it's an aphrodisiac and science is showing that may be true.
All of the above can also be smoked, but I suggest first taking as a tincture to make sure the reaction is desirable, and so that you are able to monitor your dose/reaction.
Oh, and then there is Kombucha, which can be found (already prepared) in almost any store. Kombucha is a colony of yeast/bacteria and one grows it in a vat of tea and sugar. Thus, the beverage that results, is actually a product of fermentation, so it does have a low alcohol content (about that of a non alcoholic bevo.) It's high in B vitamins and many believe that it helps the "stimulation the immune system, preventing cancer, and improving digestion and liver function." I think it's tasty and it certainly gives me a happy glow.
ETA
If doing warm milk, try putting a TINY (1/4 tsp) amount of hot cocoa in with it. The sugar help us absorb the tryptophan in the milk.
ETA
With all of the herbs I suggested, remember they will lose their effect if used for long periods of time.
inositol. Powder form, put it under your tongue. Feels immediately like you just had a glass of wine. FABULOUS stuff.
Magnesium & L Theanine.
Thats so funny that you ask this, i had a real life discussion with a friend of mine yesterday about herbal supplements for relaxation(her name is also tracey)lol. If your husband likes to drink in his mellow feeling there are plenty of chamomile/valerian root teas available, you can also drink a magnesium shake. But what i really recommend is gt's kombucha, its a fermented tea that is naturally probiotic, gt's not the only one that makes it, but its my favorite. It has as much alcohol as a non alcoholic beer does, about 0.5%
Mellow glow?
Are you talking about drowsy or tipsy?
Warm milk can help you feel drowsy but I can't think of any guy who'd replace beer with it.
Maybe hard cider?
But that still has alcohol in it.
I use an amazing product - it is all natural and provides just a nice calm feeling - because it is all natural there is no "crash" from it and it is non-addictive. If you would like more info just e-mail me at ____@____.com.
I use this product called Calm. You find it at Whole Foods or you can order it online. http://www.calmnatural.com/
1) Hyland's Calms Forte for Adults
2) "Happy Camper" capsules by Natural Balance
3) getting enough sleep
4) Or just go to your Whole Foods store and ask them.
5) Chamomile Tea
I'm with Heather D. Calm is a great product, it's mostly a magnesium supplement and has tons of health benefits other than just relaxing you. It also doesn't interfere with other things you might be taking.
SUCH AS...St. John's Wort...it can decrease the effectiveness of your birth control.
