You may think your body shuts down when you sleep, but quite the contrary. While you’re taking an eight hour break, your body is busy working to set you up for the next day and beyond.Your brain sorts information to help create memories, growth hormones are released to help the body repair, your sympathetic nervous system (which controls your fight or flight response) gets to relax, while your immune system quells inflammation, and infections.

So, it’s safe to say good quality sleep prepares your mind, body and your skin for the day ahead and without it you’ll not only look worse for wear you’ll feel it too. But getting your 8 hours in can be a challenge for many of us, long work days, too much blue light, stress, and much more can mean you don’t get to bed on time, can’t sleep for hours, or simply don’t get good quality sleep.

Thankfully according to Dr. Nayantara Santhi from EachNight.com, natural herbs can help you drift off quicker and help jump start a healthier sleep routine.

5 Herbs to try

Lavender

The anti-depressive, sedative and calming properties of lavender help you sleep better.  Studies show lavender herbs can relax your nerves, reduce anxiety levels, and stabilize mood disorders. Reduced stress, anxiety, and a positive mood promote daytime wakefulness and more sustained sleep at night.

Chamomile

Chamomile is an ancient medicinal herb known for its relaxing effects. It reduces anxiety, and eases insomnia. One study found that women who had given birth and struggled to sleep experienced less sleep inefficiency and depression when drinking chamomile tea at night for two weeks. The presence of nerve-relaxing flavonoids in chamomile tea makes it a popular tranquillizing drink. You can feel chamomile’s soothing effect even by inhaling its aroma.

Valerian

The roots of the valerian herb are often used to treat insomnia, restlessness, and anxiety in patients. It’s an effective anti-anxiety herb and great sleep aid as valerenic acid in the valerian roots inhibits the breakdown of the neurotransmitter GABA. This neurotransmitter helps slow down the brain which induces better quality sleep.

Passionflower

Passionflower contains nerve-relaxing flavonoids, which help you to de-stress and sleep better. This tropical flower tastes good and is commonly used in many herbal over-the-counter sedatives.

Ashwagandha

Ashwagandha is a medicinal herb commonly used to combat insomnia, as studies have shown it’s effective at improving sleep onset latency and quality of rest. The real sleep-promoting compounds of Ashwagandha are found in the leaves of the plant—triethylene glycol works to eliminate feelings of stress or anxiety, induce calm, and help you fall asleep easily. Ashwagandha ultimately acts like a sedative, so it’s a great alternative to anxiety medications or over the counter sleep aids since it works with your body to naturally bolster sleeping habits.