Mockingbird Love Song Serenade

Open windows and cool night breezes are part of the charm of summer. But nighttime sounds can go way beyond the chirp of crickets or tree frogs. Why in the world would birds sing at nighttime?

Should you be kept awake by the nonstop medley of a bird filling the long night hours with its ballad, it is most likely a mockingbird.

Before you let yourself even think about strangling that bird, find some interest and humor as to why it goes on and on and on.
The bird is a young male bachelor.
Imagine having a suitor trying to win you over by singing under your window!

Most birds learn the songs they'll ever sing before reaching a year old. But mockingbirds continue to listen and learn throughout their lifetime, copying the sounds of other birds. All mockingbirds sing during the day but only the male bachelors sing at night. Once that bird keeping you awake finds a mate, the singing will stop.

Rather than trying to block it out, focus on those repetitious songs and try to catch the recognizable sounds of other types of birds. You may be amazed how many different songs that bird knows. Though annoying at first, that "racket" just may lull you off to sleep after all, and once nature plays out and he finds a mate, you just may miss his nightly visits.

The law is on the side of these birds. The Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918 protects the mockingbird. It is against the law to harm or kill any type of migratory bird.

Tea Garden...It's What the Doctor Ordered

Themed herb gardens can be a lot of fun and many of these plants are not only suitable for a tea garden, but are also right at home in a kitchen theme, cosmetic theme or medicinal theme.

Most of us have only ever had tea from dried plants. Think how good it could be if picked fresh from your own backyard! Below are some ideal plants to get to know as they grow and it'll soon become apparent why people develop such a connection with their gardens. There is a certain pride in the nurturing, harvesting, storing and utilizing your own food, and knowing the conditions and quality of the plants makes it all the more satisfying.

Chamomile

For many, the introduction into the world of herbs all started with the famous children's book, The Tale of Peter Rabbit by Beatrix Potter. Most mother's can relate with how to handle mischievous children who don't listen and then come whimpering to Mom when hurting or upset. Mama rabbit simply put her little bunny to bed with a cup of chamomile tea and let him reflect on his lesson learned after such an adventurous day.

Be it frazzled nerves or an upset tummy, chamomile tea was the best remedy to calm both conditions at the same time. Better yet, chamomile tea lulled little Peter Rabbit into the la la land of sleep.
Much of chamomile's medicinal effects are targeted toward the digestive tract and the nervous system.

Chamomile tea can be a godsend for parents pacing the floor with a colicky baby. The build-up of intestinal gas is very painful. Just a teaspoon of cooled chamomile tea given every ten minutes can relieve a baby's misery amazingly fast. Catnip and lemon balm are two other wonderful herbs safe for babies.

Combine a hot water bottle placed over the lower abdomen and sipping chamomile tea every 15 minutes for a sure relief from those dreaded PMS menstrual cramps. 

Be it a child or an adult, everyone has occasional trouble falling asleep. A cup of chamomile tea with a spoonful of honey can become a nightly ritual to look forward to in readiness for bed. The nerve relaxing properties of this herb are wonderful for settling down overtired children and the cluttered minds of over stressed adults.

Growing your own chamomile is fairly easy. Chamomile is an annual which once it is planted and gets established, it will pop up on its own every year. The flowers are the parts collected and if you harvest on a regular basis during the growing season the flowers will continue before finally going to seed.

Apple or Woolly Mint

Spearmint and Peppermint

Peppermint and Spearmint are just two of many types of mint in the Lamiacae (Labiatae) family.

Known as the herb of hospitality, mint has long been used everywhere from the kitchen to the sickroom. Peppermint and spearmint are the most common types of mint, but there are several varieties that can be found at your local nursery in the herb section. You can find apple mint, chocolate mint, mimosa mint, mountain mint, pennyroyal, orange mint, catnip, etc A good way to identify whether a plant is in the mint family is to feel the stem. If it is squared rather than round it is in the mint family. Mints are low to no maintenance perennial plants. They are so hardy, they'll be happy to take over your entire garden. The roots spread by way of runners, so if you don't want it to continue to creep along, it is best to plant it in buried containers. These plants like the sun but do tolerate some shade. Another perk with mints is that the bees adore the flowering tops.

Peppermint in particular has a powerful, menthol aroma that refreshes, energizes and improves mental clarity just by inhaling the steam from a cup of hot tea. So many ailments can be eased with this one type of plant. Nausea can be relieved, cramping belly aches can be settles, pounding headaches can fade away, congestion can open up, aching feet can perk up, heat flashes can be cooled, and sore muscles can relax.


Lemon Balm is wonderful for relaxing children or anyone under stress. Called the "happy tea", lemon balm is invaluable for not only snapping a child out of a cranky mood, but can help anyone feeling down in the dumps. With it's hint of lemon, add some honey and you have a delicious tea most people really enjoy. With anti-viral properties, lemon balm is great for colds and fever blisters (cold sores). Also called Sweet Melissa, if you let it flower as in the photo below, you'll be making a lot of bees very happy. This type of mint spreads as any other mint but it is easier to control since it grows in clumps. One thing with lemon balm is that if you do dry it, don't crumble the leaves until ready to use or you'll lose a lot of the lemony scent.

Lemon Balm

Catnip

Catnip is great for colicky babies, upset tummies, jangled nerves and to bring down a fever. And of course you can grow it as a great treat and source of greens for your cat. Catnip spreads on its own but like lemon balm, it grows in clumps so is easier to control than some mints that creep over the ground. Without cutting back, catnip actually becomes almost shrub-like with woody stems.

Monarda

Bee Balm or Monarda is often grown in butterfly, bee and hummingbird gardens. It's red or pink tubular flower petals are beautiful when in bloom. Monarda gets taller than the usual 2 ft. mints. This plant reaches 3 - 4 ft. so makes a great backdrop plant. Also known as Oswego, this plant was used extensively by Native Americans as a medicinal tea. During the American Revolution, Bee Balm was the replacement for black tea after the Boston Tea Party. And you can guess why the word "bee" is in the name. Great beneficial plant.

Anise Hyssop

The last mint we'll mention is Anise Hyssop (Agastache foeniculum) which smells and tastes like anise. Although it is called a hyssop, it isn't the same plant as the Hyssopus officinalis, which is in the mint family, but of European descent. Anise hyssop is a must for anyone who wants a scent garden. Even if you don't like it as a tea, to resist the urge to take a moment to pick a leaf for a sniff is nearly impossible. 

Pineapple Sage

Any of the sages can be used as a tea but Pineapple Sage tastes much better than regular garden sage. This tea is a good remedy for indigestion and heartburn. Sage makes a good gargle for a sore throat, especially if first infused in vinegar. Garden Sage is a perennial but Pineapple Sage is a tender perennial which in colder areas is grown as an annual. This plant grows much larger than garden sage. It actually becomes like a shrub and by September it flowers beautiful red tubular flowers adored by the hummingbirds, a great late season food source.

Stinging Nettles

Nettles, (Uritica dioica), are invaluable if you want one of the most nourishing plants around for your health. A word of caution though with stinging nettles, they sting due to the formic acid they contain. Nettles need to be grown somewhere where no one will be wandering around touching all the plants. It is a spreading perennial that will take over if allowed. But having access to the health benefits of nettle plants is wonderful for anyone needing a boost of energy or help with blah skin, hair or nails. Nettles make a great cooked green like spinach but best in the spring when the plants are young and tender. Be sure to wear long sleeves, long pants and gloves when in your nettle patch. Nettles are important as a food source for the larvae stages of many butterfly types, namely the peacocks, red admiral, commas, painted lady and tortoiseshell butterflies.

TIPS ON HOW TO HARVEST YOUR HERBS

Harvest late morning after they've dried off but before the heat of the day.

Most fresh herbs are highest in potency right before they bloom. But using the flowering tops is fine as well.

To dry, you can bundle small bunches by the stems and hang to dry in an airy, cool area out of direct sunlight. When dry, strip off the leaves and store in paper bags.
Don't crumble the leaves until you are ready to use them or you'll lose much of the essential oils.

Or you can spread your herbs out on the trays of a kitchen dehydrator for much quicker drying.

Before the arrival of frost, harvest all the herbs you desire and dry for storage. Herbs like basil are best if the leaves are frozen in ice cubes. Basil doesn't dry well without losing potency.

When ready to use the usual rule is 1 teaspoon dry herb to 1 cup of hot water.
If using fresh, use 3 teaspoons herb to 1 cup hot water.

You don't want to boil tender teas. You pour the hot water over them and let simmer. On average, teas only need about 3 - 5 minutes to simmer. then sweeten with honey and add a wedge of lemon if desired.

A very simple, yet delicious way to enjoy mint is to simply add a few fresh stems to a pitcher of water. The water will have a subtle, refreshing minty taste. Start with fresh plant material with each refill of the pitcher. If the water hasn't been drunk within about 3 days, toss and start again because it'll start to taste funky.

 A memory I have as a child is being sent down to the water's edge of a pond to collect enough fresh mint to fill a large soup pot. If you do collect plants outside of your own yard, be sure the plants you are cutting were not sprayed with pesticides or herbicides. Mint shouldn't need either one but just know for sure before using the plants. Rinse off the stems of any dirt, cut to fit in the pot (stems, leaves and any flowering tops), add enough water to cover the plants, cover the pot and gently bring to the boiling point but don't boil, Cock the lid so it doesn't overflow and let the tea simmer about 5 to 10 minutes, depending how strong you like your tea. You don't want to simmer it too long or you'll lose the important essential oils in the steam. Strain out the plant material and add sugar to taste. For sweet tea, 1 cup sugar to a gallon of tea is tasty. Enjoy a cup of hot tea right away and let the rest cool and store in the refrigerator for ice tea. This is wonderfully refreshing on a hot day.

Find a spot to set up a little table and chairs and enjoy your serenity time with a cup of tea. You'll soon discover that once your tea garden is established it returns every spring with little effort on your part. Annuals such as chamomile, fennel and dill reseed themselves and perennials such as the mints, lavender, sage, nettles and thyme return from the established root ball. If you had rosemary overwintering in the house, it can be brought back outside in the spring.

A neat little book all about herbal teas...the plants, how to grow and ways to blend

Chamomile, It all Started with Peter Rabbit

My introduction into the world of herbs all started with the famous children's book, The Tale of Peter Rabbit by Beatrix Potter. Most mother's can relate with how to handle mischievous children who don't listen and then come whimpering to Mom when hurting or upset. Mama rabbit simply put her little bunny to bed with a cup of chamomile tea and let him reflect on his lesson learned after such an adventurous day.

Be it frazzled nerves or an upset tummy, chamomile tea was the best remedy to calm both conditions at the same time. Better yet, chamomile tea lulled little Peter Rabbit into the la la land of sleep.

Much of chamomile's medicinal effects are targeted toward the digestive tract and nervous system. It's rich history around the world has it regarded as a drug in many areas, with the respect going far beyond being just another plant brushed aside with the emergence of western medicine.

As said by herbalist Kathi Keville, "It looks like a tiny daisy, smells like apples and has a sweet, almost fruity taste. But chamomile is no dainty herb. It's a virtual powerhouse of healing."

The word itself comes from two Greek words, khamai, which means "on the ground", and melon, which means "apple".

 The two two main types of chamomile we see are German (Matricaria recutita) and Roman (Chamaemelum nobile). 

The active constituents of chamomile include anti-inflammatory, anti-spasmodic and anti-anxiety properties within the essential oils of the plant. By soothing the gastrointestinal tract, chamomile relieves painful spasms and the pressure from gas build-up. Skin conditions are calmed down with the topical application of chamomile salves and even just by laying wet, used tea bags on the irritated area. Compounds called flavonoids present in chamomile promote both an anti-inflammatory and an anti-anxiety effect when they bind with certain receptor sites in the brain.

Chamomile tea can be a godsend for parents pacing the floor with a colicky baby. The build-up of intestinal gas is very painful. Just a teaspoon of cooled chamomile tea given every ten minutes can relieve a baby's misery amazingly fast. Catnip is another wonderful herb safe for babies.

Combine a hot water bottle placed over the lower abdomen and sipping chamomile tea every 15 minutes for a sure relief from those dreaded 

 PMS menstrual cramps. Add cramp bark, grated ginger, scullcap, and wild yam to the tea for an even better blend.

Be it a child or an adult, everyone has occasional trouble falling asleep. A cup of chamomile tea with a spoonful of honey can become a nightly ritual to look forward to in readiness for bed. The nerve relaxing properties of this herb are wonderful for settling down overtired children and the cluttered minds of over stressed adults.

Long-term stress can be one factor in the development of ulcers. Chamomile contains azulene, which is believed to promote healing in the mucus layer of the stomach. Azulene in chamomile essential oil is what turns the oil a bright blue.

For muscle pain in general, a great combination of essential oils is:

chamomile, clary sage and marjoram. Use just three drops of each of these essential oils added to one ounce of a carrier oil such as olive oil. Use a bit of this mixture to massage the areas of muscle pain.

Skin rashes of all types can be eased with the topical use of chamomile. Added to baths, creams or salves, the anti-inflammatory effects can calm down such skin flares. Besides the anti-inflammatory benefits, chamomile is also antibacterial and antifungal. Among the microbes that chamomile inhibits are the ones responsible for staph and Candida infections. This is very good to know for people dealing with itchy conditions such as eczema where scratching can lead to secondary bacterial infections.

It may not be completely understood as to why, but chamomile tea can lessen the symptoms during allergy season. It is thought that chamomile stimulates the release of the body's natural cortisone. Cortisone inhibits the release of histamine, which is the chemical responsible for the runny nose, itchy eyes and hives. For better results, mix chamomile with yarrow for hay fever and mullein for asthma. There is debate as to whether a ragweed allergy automatically means a person is allergic to chamomile.

A great eyewash for sore eyes is made by seeping two teaspoons of chamomile in one-half cup of boiling water. Let this strong infusion cool and then strain through a coffee filter. Use an eye cup or an eye dropper to flush the eyes. A nice warm compress laid over the eyes would feel wonderful as well. You can even use the spent tea bags from the cup of tea you just drank and lay over your eyes.

In beauty care, chamomile is wonderful as part of facial toners and hair rinses. Chamomile's anti-inflammatory action helps calm down inflamed skin therefore very useful for breakouts.

Long used by people with blonde hair as a hair rinse to bring out those natural highlights.

If you want to grow your own chamomile it is fairly easy. Chamomile is an annual which once it is planted and gets established, it will pop up on its own every year. The flowers are the parts collected and if you harvest on a regular basis during the growing season the flowers will continue before finally going to seed. 

Below are several products utilizing this amazing herb:

Click on the link below the pictures to take you into the shop

Coconut Herbal Balm, Wounds, Dry Skin

Rich Foot Balm for Blisters, Calluses, Skin Cracks

Shea Butter Herbal Balm for Dry Skin, Healing

Herbal Salve for Eczema, Skin conditions

Hurting Tummy Oil

Children's Settle Down Massage Oil

Tension Headache Massage Oil

Mensus Misery Massage Oil

Sleep and Dream Mist Linen Spray

Chamomile, Nettles, Calendula Facial Toner

Raw Honey Facial Mask

Vinegar Rinse for Light Hair

Lemon Balm, our Sweet Melissa

Choosing what plants to add to an herb garden is a personal decision and there are many reasons why people get passionate about herbs. Some folks enjoy the history, mythology and stories behind these plants. Others choose plants suitable for use in the kitchen. The pursuit of natural beauty has always been popular and before the cosmetics industry took off people relied on plants for their personal care routine. Before we had the convenience of the local pharmacy, it was absolutely necessary to know what plants are medicinal and how to use them. There  are those who plant for environmental purposes to help out the bees and other insect pollinators. It is fun to watch people at a nursery. It is predictable that the first reaction people usually have to a plant is to smell it. Many herbs are very aromatic, therefore it is a delight for the senses to just wander around from plant to plant and be taken in by their individual smells.

Lemon Balm, Melissa officinalis, has all of the above, therefore a must have for the herb garden.
The genus name of Melissa comes to us from the Greek, meaning 'honey bee' or 'honey'. The story goes that there was a nympth called Melissa who shared the wisdom of the bees and in return the bees shared their honey with her. Due to its high production of nectar, lemon balm is a favorite plant of the bees. Bee keepers intentionally plant lemon balm to attract the bees.

The distinct lemony smell of the crushed leaves give us all sorts of avenues for use in food preparation. It goes well with meats, fish, vegetables, sauces, fresh in both greens and fruit salads as well as a fine addition to flavored water.
If you like flavored honey, fill a pint mason jar half full with the fresh leaves, top with honey, cap with a lid and let sit for about two weeks before straining. Flip the jar upside down and the next day right side up as a non-messy way to stir. Do this daily till ready to strain.
For a flavored salad vinegar, fill your jar with leaves but this time add apple cider vinegar. Cap with a plastic cap, metal will corrode, and let sit in a dark place for a few weeks. Shake once in a while.
You can taste test both the honey and the vinegar as the days pass to see if you want it stronger.

Infuse the fresh leaves in witch hazel and you have a refreshing facial toner. Make a strong pot of tea and use as a refreshing hair rinse.

Lemon balm leaves can be used in potpourri but realize that once dried it does eventually lose the strong scent.
Help your little ones sleep by making dream pillows. Cut fabric squares and sew three sides with the printed sides together. Turn the fabric right side out again. Stuff with the dried leaves and cotton batting for softness and sew the fourth side to close.

The species name, officinalis, tells us that lemon balm was once a part of the official U.S. Pharmacopeia. Originally coming to us from the Mediterranean, lemon balm has a history of being medicinally used by Pliny, Hippocrates, Galen, Culpepper, and Shakespeare.

The simplest form of utilizing herbs as medicine is as a therapeutic hot cup of tea. Lemon balm tea doesn't have the 'green' bitter taste you may expect with herbal teas, plus the scent of lemon makes it a pleasure just to sit there and inhale the steam. When it comes to depression, insomnia, anxiety, indigestion and headaches, chamomile is usually the first to come to mind, but lemon balm should also be on the top of the list.

Primarily used to calm and relax the nervous system, lemon balm tea with a touch of honey is a wonderful remedy for tired, cranky children and even very safe for pregnant women. Possessing a high concentration of essential oils with antispasmodic properties, lemon balm can be a great aid to help relieve those belly aches and gas pains.
Another great way to use lemon balm for children is to soak a wash cloth in the tea and let the child suck and chew on the cloth to ease teething pain.
Make popsicles out of the tea and see if your children take to them.
Bee stings and cold sores can be relieved by applying a cloth soaked in lemon balm tea or use a wet tea bag.

This plant gets even more amazing. According to James A. Duke, "The Green Pharmacy", lemon balm is among the leaders of plants containing anti-viral properties.
Compounds in the herb known as polyphenols work to calm herpes outbreaks.
herpes simplex virus-1 (HSV-1),herpes simplex virus-2 (HSV-2), and varicella-zoster virus.
H. simplex comes in two forms, cold sores and genital herpes. This virus is a cousin to H. zoster which causes the skin lesions of shingles.The first symptoms usually occur four to seven days after initial exposure. There is a burning, tingling itch followed by pimple type bumps that turn into painful blisters. The formation of scabs and healing begins about a week later. Some people suffer once and aren't bothered again, while in others triggers like stress can bring on another flare.

In Duke's description of how the polyphenols work, the body's cells have receptors that viruses latch on to when they're trying to take over the cells. These polyphenol compounds can latch on to the cells' viral receptor sites. By taking up those spaces, the viruses are prevented from attaching to the cells. The spread of infection is halted.
In addition, all mints contain antioxidant vitamins and selenium, which strengthen the immune system. Free radicals are mopped up, thus protecting the body's cells.

Lemon Balm, St. Johnswort Salve

Application of a salve made from both Lemon Balm and St. Johnswort can help with the healing of the painful blisters on lips, waist, genitals, wherever needed. The virus may have to run its course but the trip may be a bit easier with help from our herbal allies.










Lemon balm is in the mint family. Characteristics of this family of plants is the square stems, oval leaves growing opposite each other, and the ease in which it propagates. I don't think lemon balm spreads as rapidly as other mints since it is more of a clump, but it does pop up elsewhere. If you want to plant it where you prefer, simply dig up a piece and replant. The roots are shallow and easy to dig. The flowers are white with the lipped look typical of the mint family. The flowering period is from June to September.

Lemon balm in flower

To harvest lemon balm it is best to do it in May and June, before it flowers. The plant will contain the most essential oils if picked before it starts to flower. Try to beat the days heat and pick in the morning hours. If you want to cut the entire plant at once, cut it two inches above the ground and hang the whole thing in an airy, shady location. If it doesn't dry quickly it'll turn black and need to be discarded. Once dried, strip off the leaves and store in airtight jars. Another option is to snip the fresh leaves into pieces and make ice cubes.




Whether you desire a children's garden, an aromatic garden, a medicinal garden, a culinary garden, a pollinator garden, a historical garden, natural beauty garden or a combination of all of these, Lemon Balm would be right at home.

Stop the Fight to Saying Goodnight, Stress, Diet & Adrenal Fatigue

Often we think that the reason we have trouble falling asleep or staying asleep is that we just have too much on our schedules and our thoughts just won't give us any peace. But there is a lot more to it than being "in our head". Continuous stress can wreak havoc on our not only our emotional state but our physical bodies as well.

When we are under stress our adrenal glands produce a hormone called cortisol. This corticosteroid increases blood sugar by stimulating the liver to make glucose. To control the amount of blood sugar, the pancreas then releases insulin. Insulin brings down the blood sugar levels. This is fine for "fight or flight" when short spurts of instant, quick energy are needed. But when the body is under constant stress, the adrenals become exhausted and cannot produce enough cortisol to keep up with the demand. This constant increase in blood sugar results in the increased demand for insulin. If the body cannot keep up, the blood sugar remains too high and the body is at risk for adrenal fatigue. According to the Mayo Clinic, adrenal fatigue is term applied to a collection of nonspecific symptoms, such as body aches, fatigue, anxiety, digestive issues and sleep problems. Natural healers often use a saliva cortisol test to evaluate adrenal function.

Too many of us automatically reach for the coffee pot or energy drinks in our efforts to perk up during those mid-day slumps. To stimulate already exhausted adrenals only makes things worse.

Poor diet choices are another reason for adrenal issues and sleep disturbances. Foods that are lacking in necessary B vitamins, calcium, magnesium, and zinc result in the body making up for that by depleting its own stores to digest these "empty" foods. Reaching for simple carbohydrates for a snack is a bad habit that only backfires.
High sugar levels put added stress on the body by increasing cortisol levels. The increase in cortisol results in the release of insulin by the pancreas to get the sugar levels down. The constant fluctuation can interfere with the body's ability to handle sugar, and we end up feeling tired, depressed and trouble concentrating. If glucose is too low and not at optimal levels, the body will burn fat, the end result being acidic. There is a shift in potassium and sodium levels causing the pH to drop below 7.4.  The body should be slightly alkaline for optimal health.

When my children were small I loved the books by Dr. Lendon Smith. He was a pediatrician who believed that nutrition plays a major role in behavior. He strongly encouraged parents to observe more closely what their children were eating before being so quick to label them as a behavior problem. One food in particular that he wanted adults as well as children to have handy during the day was a baggie of whole, raw almonds.

Almonds are considered king of the nuts.  Containing protein, fiber, essential fatty acids omega-3 and omega-6, vitamin E, zinc, calcium, iron, phosphorus, potassium, and magnesium. While almonds do have fat in them, it is monosaturated fat, which is the good type of fat. They help you feel full, don't cause a large increase in blood glucose levels, which make for a perfect snack.
  

As far as helping with sleep, almonds contain a great source of tryptophan, which helps to relax and calm down. Snacking on some almonds instead of potato chips or cereal as a before bed snack can be a great help for people who have trouble sleeping.

Other foods to help with sleep are those rich in:

Calcium increases the production of melatonin. Melatonin is a neurohormone that is released at nightfall. It is an antioxidant hormone that calms down brain activity.
Foods include:
milk, yogurt, almonds, spinach, kale and figs

Magnesium
A raise in calcium levels should always include a raise in magnesium as well or kidney stones could form. Studies have shown that magnesium promotes the slow wave or deep sleep.
 Foods include:
leafy green vegetables
brown rice
unrefined wheat bran
almonds
pumpkin seeds
sunflower seeds

L-Tryptophan
Tryptophan, an amino acid, improves sleep by way of serotonin and melatonin. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter known to improve mood, so can promote sleep by relieving depression. Melatonin is the hormone released from the pineal gland during the night and helps promote sleep.
Foods include:
dairy
soy
eggs
seafood
oats
lentils
beans
nuts

Complex Carbohydrates
Complex carbohydrates are nutrient-dense foods and include whole grains and vegetables.
These foods are low-glycemic, which means that they provide a stable glucose level and do not cause insomnia through glucose-fueled highs and sugar crashes.

Foods rich in B vitamins
B vitamins are the most important vitamins to sleep health. Some B vitamin deficiencies are known to cause insomnia.
Foods include:
liver, beef, poultry, seafood
leafy vegetables
legumes, nuts, whole grains, seeds

Massage, bath oils and linen sprays can also help with sleep and anxiety issues. 
Combine any of these with a hot cup of chamomile tea and a nice dollop of raw honey.

Ease the mind for rest Massage/Body Oil

Nerves, Tension Bath Oil

Sweet Dreams Air/Linen Spray

For more information on Adrenal Fatigue and Adrenal Dysfunction:

Founded by Dr. Poesnecker in 1968, The Clymer Center was one of a kind in that they specialized in Chronic Fatigue and Adrenal Dysfunction. Back before most doctors had even heard of these conditions, this center was helping people uncover the underlying cause of their symptoms. Rather than going through the whirlwind of various specialists for symptoms that include depression, anxiety, insomnia, skin flairs, exhaustion, menopausal issues, fertility problems, and autoimmune conditions, these professionals get to the bottom of where it all began. Rather than treat each symptom as its own condition, they help the patient get the immune and hormonal systems back into balance.