There are many cause of poor sleep and insomnia but one of the worst causes of poor sleep is chronic pain.
Sleeplessness due to chronic pain can be such a vicious cycle and I have so much compassion for you if you are experiencing this. Ultimately, the most important thing you can do is treat the underlying cause of pain.
Prescription pain medication can be so hard on our bodies and sometimes even addictive. Thankfully, there are a some great herbs for pain management that can help ease discomfort without nasty side effects!
Table of Contents
Herbs For Chronic Pain Cause Insomnia
Willow bark
Willow bark has been used for thousands of years as a pain killer. Salicin is the active ingredient in Willow bark and is what Asprin is made from! Salicin can be harmful in its synthetic state (Asprin) but in its natural form, as found in willow bark, salicin can easily convert to salicylic acid and is much gentler on your stomach.
In this study, willow bark was found to significantly reduce back pain!
Ginger
Ginger is an excellent addition to this list because it not only reduces pain but also reduces nausea related to chronic pain! In a study of women with severe menstrual pain, they found ginger to be just as effective as ibuprofen.
Ginger has also been found to decrease pain related to migraines and arthritis!
Valerian
Valerian has been appropriately referred to as ‘natures Valium’ and is one of the most potent sedaters in herbal medicine. This is why I use Valerian in all three of our sleep tinctures! One of the ways Valerian works is by prolonging the life of GABA which helps calm the nervous system and brain. It also contains chemicals that have been shown to slow activity in the part of our brains responsible for stress, fear and intense emotions. There have also been some studies done on the use of Valerian for treating OCD where the subjects taking the herb showed significant improvement without the nasty side effects of the synthetic drug alternatives.
Chamomile
There is a reason why Chamomile has been so popular from ancient Egyptian times to today. Chamomile is so many herbalists favorite remedy for anxiety because it is very effective but also a very gentle nervine that can be given to children. There are tons of amazing studies on how Chamomile can ease anxiety and sedate the body. Because it is a flower, I like to use it in our Sleep Tea Blend.
Lavender
For thousands of years, lavender has been used to treat depression, anxiety and sleep disorders. In this study, lavender was compared to Lorazepam (prescription anti anxiety and insomnia drug) and proved to be just as effective without the feeling of drowsiness the next morning! You can diffuse lavender oil, incorporate the flowers into baking or drink it as a tea. I use it in my Sleep Tea Blend.
Passion flower
Passion flower is a beautiful flower from the Passion fruit tree that, among many other things, can increase GABA in your brain! It has been used as a sedative, an anxiolytic, a pain killer and a hormone balancer. This flower really is a powerful herb for all three causes of poor sleep. In this study, participants were given passion flower tea every day for seven days and showed significant increase in their sleep quality compared to the control group!
How to Make My Pain Management Sleep Tincture
Supplies
80 proof alcohol
Large bowl
Instructions
1. Set a large jar on your food scale and tare so that the weight goes to zero
2. In the jar, combine equal parts Willow bark, Ginger and Valerian
3. To every ounce of dried plant material by weight, you will add four ounces of alcohol, pour alcohol over herbs (Example, 4 ounces of herbs would require 16 ounces of alcohol)
4. Seal jar, label and shake well
5. Let your tincture brew in a dark place for four to six weeks and shake it up every few days
6. Strain your tincture into a large bowl lined with muslin cloth and squeeze as much of the tincture out as you can
7. Funnel your tincture into an amber jar
8. Label your Pain Management Sleep Tincture!
For an in-depth guide on how to make tinctures, read my How To Make A Tincture post.
How To Make the Sleep Tea Blend
Supplies
Muslin bags or a jar
Label
Instructions
Making tea blends is probably the easiest way to get herbs into your diet!
- Combine equal parts dried Chamomile, Lavender and Passion flower in a jar or bowl
- Pour herbs into a glass jar or muslin bag for storage. (If it is a large quantity, I would recommend a jar so that your herbs stay nice and fresh!
How to Use the Tincture and Tea
- Scoop a tablespoon of tea into a teapot (one tablespoon = one cup)
- Drop two dropper fulls of tincture onto the dried herbs and let activate while you boil your water
- Boil water
- Let the boiled water cool down for a minute or two before pouring it over your herbs
- Put an additional two dropper fulls of your tincture into the tea (the hot water will evaporate most of the alcohol) If you are over 150lb or have a high tolerance for alcohol and medications, use three dropper fulls
- Let your tea steep for eight to ten minutes
- Pour your tea through a strainer into your tea cup and enjoy!
Conclusion
If you suffer from poor sleep due to chronic pain, this tincture and tea can really help.
If you think your insomnia is cause by a hormone imbalance or anxiety, here is my How to Make a Tincture and Tea Blend for Hormone Imbalance Insomnia and How to Make a Tincture and Tea Blend for Anxiety and wakefulness insomnia.
