Licorice, my new enemy?

[[bl...]]

A quick question ... I bought some herbal tea a few weeks ago and it's supposed to be for drinking at night. It is actually called Bedtime tea. Problem is it seems to rev me up. It has licorice and spearmint in it, and those apparently are stimulating.

 

Has anyone else had problems with licorice and/or spearmint messing up their sleep?

[[Ch...]]

I didn't have any spearmint, but licorice was one of the food cravings I had.  I ate embarrassing amounts of black licorice with no issues, but everyone is different.  I drank chamomile tea...lots and lots of it.  Some say it works on GABA receptors, too, but maybe that's why it helps.  Working on GABA receptors and down-regulating them may well be two different things.

[[Ma...]]

Hello! both are enemies.. spearmint is NOT to be taken before sleep. The longer it is in warm water the more its like caffeine:-) No wonder that it makes you awake!

I don't know why they put that in a bedtime tea but also licorice is not to make you sleepy at all.

 

If you want a real bedtime tee take one with one or some of these ingredients:

- passion flower

- valerian

- hop

 

My special tip for you: Avena sativa is a special oat.. give it to the mixture..

 

For the first try I would give you a tea with 3:3 of passion flower, valerian and avena sativa. First 5 minutes in hot water, then put the herbals out. If that is still to much go back to just valerian tea. Both types have to be tried for minimum one week.

 

I am still laughing what is put on bedtime teas...

 

Challis: Chamomile is not giving Rest!! It is pushing. I don't know why many people think that it has a calming effect, you would have the effect only if it is put for a second in hot water .. any longer and it pushes..

[[bl...]]

Thank you Marigold, you're very knowledgeable about teas! I was wondering why I never seem to feel sleepy when I drink chamomile.

[[Ma...]]

Herbs are my friends

I read a lot and test a lot..

Did you know that the flowers you love and like to smell are quiet often the herbs your body needs?

 

I want to add Lavender tee. It has a stabilizing impact as well.

If you like the smell of Lavender you could also use the oil in your bedroom. But be careful! Lavender can be good for your libido as well

[[bl...]]

I have some lavender oil and I do like the smell. It's a shame about my tea though, I love my cuppa every night before I go to bed. I imagine that most tea makers don't envision serious insomnia caused by benzo withdrawal when they come up with their concoctions, so bedtime tea for others probably just relaxes them.

 

All I know is the few times I've drunk this certain tea, it seems like my mind revs up and I sleep terribly. I'm going to find a tea shop and see what I can find.

[[Ma...]]

try to get some pure herbs not tea bags!

With valerian you can test how strong you need it. you can let it into the hot water for 20 minutes, if you want. Don't mind the smell then:-)

 

[[Ru...]]

Liquorice stimulates the adrenals and can make you hyper. It did me!

[[Ma...]]

it was used to strengthen people suffering from the flu in former days

[[Co...]]

Rubikscube has it right.

Licorice is an adaptogen so it may increase the production of adrenalin.

With a nervous system in an excitatory state, adpatogens like licorice might make you feel on edge so stop using it.

What you want is something with adrenalin antagonistic properties.

[[bl...]]

Thanks, I've since cut out all evening teas and anything that has the potential to rev me up. I now eat a big bowl of oatmeal and a banana before bed, and have been sleeping pretty well.