You don’t have to use a medication to sleep better and your insomnia is a symptom of a larger problem, according to research published in The Lancet.
Researchers looked at the effect of various herbal treatments on the sleep of people suffering from insomnia, such as people with narcolepsy and those with chronic fatigue syndrome.
They found that herbal treatments could help patients with insomnia get to sleep without medication.
“We showed that the most effective treatments were Juniper, which is a very potent, non-medicinal compound,” said lead researcher Anshuman Agarwal.
The compound, known as Juniperus uralens, is a type of juniper tree used for its anti-inflammatory properties, and it’s also known for its healing properties, like treating rheumatoid arthritis.
“Juniper can help to alleviate symptoms of insomnia by treating inflammation, so that your body can better detoxify the cells,” Agarwal said.
“If you’re experiencing chronic fatigue and you’re not getting any relief from the medication, you may be able to take some of this Juniper oil and treat it with vitamin C and caffeine.”
According to the researchers, Juniper had a number of positive effects, such in reducing the number of white blood cells and lowering levels of certain inflammatory markers.
“The more your body has an inflammatory response, the more it gets irritated and it becomes more likely to trigger your immune system,” said co-author Dr. J.A. Ollie, from the University of Exeter’s Department of Medicine.
The research was published in the journal PLOS One.
The study was funded by the Natural Health Products Regulatory Agency.