Dear Bob Liebert,

I am 37 weeks pregnant and cannot sleep. I have tried the usual recommendations (hot bath, milky drink etc) nothing works. My legs and feet are restless, my feet are boiling all the time which does not help. I fall asleep for about 3 hours a night and that is it. I feel like I am being slowly tortured through lack of sleep.

Is there anything I can take which is safe.

Cathy

Dear Friend,

A number of herbs that are normally very safe for calming and sleeplessness are contra-indicated except in small doses in pregnancy; even the mild Chamomile is a mild uterine stimulant, and should be used in small doses only. Best bets of calming and sleep-aiding herbs would be Valerian (though a small possibility might enhance the "heat" in the body), Skullcap (feeds nerves, for nervous exhaustion and anxiety/irritability) and Motherwort. Black Haw may aid in the leg cramps. Doing leg lunges before bed should help as well.

You can buy these herbs and many more in the Formula and Single Herb sections of the Teeter Creek Herb website. Herbs that don't appear in the Formula or Single Herb lists can usually be requested in the "Message" section at the bottom of the order page.

The information expressed is the personal observations of Herbalist Bob Liebert based on his personal experience and his studies of folk and traditional herbalism. These observations are not meant to be a substitute for qualified medical diagnosis and treatment. Uses of many of the herbs have not been scientifically verified.