What is happiness? For some happiness is spending time with loved ones, engaging in meaningful work, supporting community, learning new things or exploring spiritual growth. But even these fulfilling experiences can feel out of reach if our foundation isn’t solid.
To enjoy good energy and balanced mood, we need to feel well in our bodies. That means getting enough restful sleep, maintaining good cognitive function, and keeping anxiety at bay. As a medical herbalist, I see so many people struggling with low energy, brain fog, poor sleep, and rising anxiety—and herbal medicine can offer gentle, effective support.
Sleep: The Foundation of Wellness
Restorative sleep is essential for physical and emotional health. If your sleep is disrupted or shallow, everything from memory to mood to immunity can suffer. Thankfully, there are simple lifestyle tweaks and herbal remedies that can help improve your sleep quality naturally.
Here are a few of my top tips to help you sleep better:
- Get natural daylight early in the day – Your body’s internal clock (circadian rhythm) needs light exposure in the morning, even on cloudy days, to regulate your sleep/wake cycle properly.
- Avoid caffeine after 1pm – Caffeine remains in your system for 10 to 12 hours, so that afternoon coffee may be the reason you’re still tossing and turning at midnight.
- Cut down on sugar in the evening. – Sugar spikes and the subsequent drop in blood sugar levels may lead to a surge of adrenaline at night as your body struggles to maintain stable blood sugar levels, which may wake you up and keep you awake in the night.
- Avoid eating too late – Digesting late night meals and snacks can disrupt your sleep, keeping your body in active mode when it should be winding down. Avoid eating in the two or ideally three hours prior to going to bed.
- Give yourself at least two hours to unwind before bed – No housework, emails, or stressful phone calls—just relax with a book, a bath, some restorative yoga, knitting, drawing, or your favourite TV show. Lack of an adequate wind down period before bed is one of the most common causes of poor sleep.
Herbal Medicine: Ancient Support for Modern Stress
Herbal medicine uses the natural healing power of whole plants to support the body’s own ability to stay balanced and well. People have used plants for healing as long as humans have existed and many of the herbs medical herbalists use today were described in medical texts dating back centuries.
There are several herbal allies that can help you feel calmer, sleep more deeply, and enjoy more stable energy throughout the day. Some of the herbs include:
- Passionflower – For calming daytime anxiety and promoting restful sleep.
- Lime flowers – Traditionally used to calm the nervous system and thought to gently lower high blood pressure where needed.
- Lavender – A fragrant herb known for its relaxing and sleep-promoting effects, which can be used in a wide variety of ways including as an infusion, in tincture form, the essential oil, and in sprays and creams.
- Ashwagandha – This adaptogenic herb has so many amazing properties from boosting male and female fertility, giving support during the menopause years, improving energy levels, calming anxiety, and improving immune function.
Join Us: Yoga and Plant Medicine Evening
We warmly invite you to join us for a beautiful evening of gentle yoga, herbal tea, and practical herbal wisdom.You’ll also have the chance to sample a delicious, calming herbal tea blend—perfect for winding down at the end of the day.
Yoga and Plant Medicine – Supporting Mental & Emotional Health
Wednesday 18th June, 7–8.30pm
St. John’s Church Community Centre, Friern Barnet Road, N11
Led by Ellie Holly and Cathy Underwood, this event includes a talk n taster about herbal remedies for the nervous system, and time to enjoy a cup of calming tea followed by a restorative Yoga Nidra.
Whether you’re new to herbal medicine or looking to deepen your understanding, this is a lovely opportunity to reconnect with your body, find calm, and learn natural ways to support your wellbeing.
We’d love to see you there! Book your place here
About Ellie Holly
Ellie is a medical herbalist and nutritional therapist, offering insight into the World of plant medicine to support health and wellbeing.
To find out more visit www.hollyhealthcare.co.uk
