The Walt Disney 1959 technicolour animation, ‘Sleeping Beauty’ told the tale of Princess Aurora who was put under a spell by an evil witch called Maleficent, after being snubbed by the Royal family, who curses the Princess to die on her 16^th birthday.

Aurora had three guardian angels who alters the spell so that she only fell into a deep one-hundred-year sleep which could only be ended with a kiss from her betrothed, Prince Phillip.

Sleep. It’s what we all need to stay healthy. Adults, parents, teenagers, infants, babies and your furry friends. If you don’t get your overnight zzzzz’s, you are not alone. 

According to Wellington’s Massey University, approximately one-quarter of adults in New Zealand may suffer from a chronic sleep problem, highlighting insomnia as a major public health issue in New Zealand.

Safety concerns over taking sleeping tablets more than twice a month means that there are many people searching for alternatives to prescription medicines which promote sleep, without side-effects and, often, found around the home and garden.

Lemon balm is a member of the mint family. By looks, it can easily be confused with its close relative, but its crushed leaves produce a fragrant, fresh, lemony scent. 

The plant’s volatile oil has a sedating effect on the nervous system which can help with insomnia, anxiety and depression.  Fresh or dried leaves make a pleasant-tasting tea. 

Valerian is another herb found in pharmacies and health food shops and tends to be the herb most people self-medicate with when it comes to insomnia. 

Usually taken in tablet form (the extremely bitter liquid herb requires an enormous amount of willpower), valerian has been shown to decrease the REM phase of sleep and therefore increase sleep quality. 

The therapeutic powerhouse in the herbal world for sleep is Californian poppy. A close cousin to the opium poppy, little was known about Californian poppy’s effect on the nervous system but it appears that it has a positive pharmacological action on the brain’s opiate receptors which helps to alleviate insomnia and promote healthy sleep patterns.

Californian poppy may also be useful in anxiety, tension and muscle spasm and needs to be prescribed professionally by a medical herbalist as it may have interactions with prescription medicine.

Lavender is one of the herbs long associated with older generations but is now at the cutting edge of science as it contains powerful essential oils which have shown to have a calming effect and can help in relaxation, anxiety and tension headaches.

Lavender contains the compounds linalyl acetate and linalool, two chemical compounds that inhibit neurotransmitters, may lower heart rates and reduce anxiety.

For your pathway, borders or cottage garden, be sure to select the medicinal variety of lavender (Lavandula officinalis) which have strongest health-giving benefits when making a cup of tea, a floral bath or a steam inhalation.

A shift in hormones may also trigger a sleepless night. Our bodies make the amino acid 5-hydroxytryptophan – or 5-HTP – and converts it into serotonin, the feel-good hormone and an important brain chemical.

A 2005 research study by the Mayo Clinic in the United States of America showed that abnormal serotonin function in blood vessels may cause insomnia and supplementing with 5-HTPcan help promote a good night’s kip, especially when it comes to the hot flushes associated with menopause.

As 5-HTP can interfere with many pharmaceutical medications, it is important to consult your qualified healthcare practitioner or GP for guidance and supervision.

Be proactive in your quest for sleep.  There are many ways you can find your way back to a good night’s sleep, whether it is herbal medicine, nutrition, relaxation techniques or simply a long, leisurely stroll along your favourite beach.