There are rumors that sleepytime tea is the natural alternative to CPAP therapy for sleep apnea treatment. Is there any truth to this? While there is some credibility to it, it is not enough to replace CPAP therapy. Let’s see what we mean by sleepytime tea and how it helps you sleep at night.
What is Sleepytime Tea?
Sleepytime tea is a tea you prepare before your bed to help you sleep better at night. It’s claimed that the tea helps you relax enough to sleep. It is considered especially effective on days you feel particularly restless.
It is a tea with herbal ingredients. The key ingredient is almost always chamomile, which is known as a medicinal herb. While the herb was used widely in the past, its use has waned over the years. However, the herb has seen a revival in recent years.
Multiple studies have been performed on the flowering herb. One study posits that chamomile can elevate anxiety. However, there is no confirmation yet. It is also linked to stress relief and as a medicine for fatigue. Again, there’s a lack of concrete evidence to confirm these theories.
The main theory is that chamomile relaxes your body and takes away the stress of the day. As a result, you feel sleepy. It is considered a tranquilizer of sorts.
Does Sleepytime Tea Work?
Whether sleepytime tea works or not depends entirely on the person you are asking. Some swear by it while others claim they felt energized instead.
We can rely on studies that prove whether the sleepytime tea works. One study by BMC Alternative Medicine focused on treating insomnia through chamomile extract. Out of the 34 patients selected for the test, half were given a placebo while the other half received chamomile pills. These patients were monitored for a month.
The study noted the total amount of time the patient slept, how often they woke up, when they fell asleep, and how many times they woke up throughout the night. The sleep quality of the patients was also noted.
BMC Alternative Medicine noted that no significant difference was found between a placebo and chamomile pills.
This indicates that the idea of sleepytime tea might have a placebo effect on people rather than conclusive relaxing properties of the tea itself.
However, most sleepytime tea users do claim they sleep well. Some complain about how they must get up to relieve themselves in the middle of the night after drinking a full cup. This cancels any effects that the tea might have.
Therefore, some prefer tinctures with sleep-inducing herbs in them.
Does Sleepytime Tea Help with Sleep Apnea?
While a hot cup of tea can help you sleep at night, it’s safe to say it’s not meant for treating sleep apnea. General restlessness and anxiety can be tackled with all kinds of herbal and non-herbal medicine.
However, during obstructive sleep apnea, your upper airway collapses while you are sleeping. Air does not flow freely through your body, and most patients wake up gasping for air.
So, sleepytime tea might put you to sleep but it won’t be able to stop you from waking up when the muscles collapse.
How do you know if you have sleep apnea?
If you have trouble sleeping daily and no amount of sleepytime tea seems to be getting you through the night, you might have sleep apnea.
Some of the symptoms of sleep apnea include:
- Snoring
- Restlessness
- Frequent mood changes.
- Lack of energy.
- Waking up choking on air.
- Dry throat in the morning.
- Feeling sleepy while driving.
Dry throat and choking are especially significant symptoms. While the other problems could be caused by insomnia, choking in the middle of your sleep indicates you weren’t getting enough air.
The dry throat also suggests you might have been trying to take in more air while sleeping. As a result, you were trying to breathe through your mouth, which is what led to the dry throat.
If you find yourself waking up from the sound of your own snoring or if your partner often complains of your snoring, it’s a good idea to get tested for obstructive sleep apnea. Contact your physician so that they can get started on the process.
The earlier you start CPAP therapy, the easier it will be to get better.
CPAP treatment for sleep apnea
Ultimately, the most effective treatment for obstructive sleep is CPAP therapy. Continuous positive airway pressure treatment is when the machine supplies a fresh stream of positive air to your body, so your airway doesn’t collapse.
CPAP therapy is the standard for sleep apnea treatment. There are rare cases where your doctor will recommend you to opt out of CPAP after you are diagnosed.
First, you must get a prescription from your doctor. After this, it’s time to select a CPAP machine. You will also need other CPAP supplies such as a mask and the hose. Apart from this, you might also need a humidifier.
Before you purchase your first CPAP machine, run it by your insurance provider. If your CPAP treatment can be covered by insurance, you will have an easier time getting all your supplies in order.
Final Thoughts
There are no downsides to having a hot cup of sleepytime tea before going to bed. Regardless of the placebo effect, chamomile and other herbs do help you feel relaxed. If you are stress-free, your body and mind can fall asleep easily.
However, this is not the treatment plan you want to rely on if you suspect you have obstructive sleep apnea. For sleep apnea, CPAP therapy is the most prescribed and effective form of treatment. There isn’t any known alternative treatment for sleep apnea yet.
The idea of hooking yourself to a machine at night might make you nervous. However, if you want to improve your quality of life, CPAP therapy is a must.
