Product Review: Celestial Seasonings Sleepytime Tea and Sleepytime Extra Tea

After experimenting with Ambien (zolpiderm) and other prescription sleeping pills and experiencing ill effects from them such as grogginess, confusion and even hallucinations (watch out for Ambien!), I decided to go the natural route. I then tried melatonin, to no avail. Melatonin has been receiving quite a bit of press lately about how it's been proven to be ineffective. Frustrated with my inability to sleep, but also afraid of venturing into a world of addictions to little pills, I decided to try tea for my chronic insomnia. I was, after all, advised to do so by a wise elderly woman living in my community. She told me that if the tea doesn't even work, then at least my body would be warmed up by it, increasing the likelihood that I would drift off to sleep. In this article, I am reviewing both Celestial Seasonings Sleepytime Tea and Sleepytime Extra Tea.

So I purchased Celestial Seasonings Sleepytime Tea. It comes in a meadow grass-green box with that adorable little bear set by a gently roaring fireplace. It's one of the cutest packaging that Celestial Seasonings has put out (even though many of its boxes are quite interesting). There are 20 servings in the box, and the tea itself is a "100% Natural Herb Tea" and is "Caffeine Free" as well. The latter quality being no surprise, of course. Make sure to avoid caffeine at least 5 hours before your bedtime, by the way. As with all herbal teas, this tea is void of any calories.

The ingredients are listed as follows: Chamomile, spearmint, lemon grass, tilia flowers, blackberry leaves, orange blossoms, hawthorn berries and rosebuds. The lemon grass and the orange blossoms lend it a lovely scent, yet the spearmint is the prevailing scent.

However, after trying it, I realized that it was no special from any other herbal tea. I was relaxed from the scent and the warmth and the qualities of chamomile, but I was no where closer to falling asleep. At least it had a pleasant taste and had none of the bitterness that herbal teas sometimes possess.

Several weeks later, I saw Sleepytime Extra in stores. While thoroughly intrigued by what this product could possibly be, I was wary since I had experienced less than satisfactory results from its little sister.

Sleepytime Extra has the same drowsy bear (and now upon writing this review, I take another look at him and he appears drugged), but with different information on the box. "Valerian makes it EXTRA!", it claims. It also adds that the tea is an "herbal supplement". The ingredients are spearmint leaves, lemon grass, hawthorn berries, and orange blossoms. However, above it in the supplements facts, chamomile is listed at 600 mg, tilia estrella flowers at 160 mg, and then valerian root at 25 mg. Valerian root! Now, I had taken valerian root as a tincture before, and had actually received some results! So I had some faith in this herb, and was willing to try this tea. It was, after all, only $2.87 at Walmart for 20 tea bags. A great deal, I must say. (Plus, there was a 45 cent coupon that I had received in another Celestial Seasonings box and I used it towards this purchase.)

I began to get ready for bed, and prepared a cup of the Sleepytime Extra tea. Still simmering in its cup, I took slow sips as I read a book. And amazingly, I began to feel drowsy and within a half hour, I found myself struggling to stay awake, and then I finally succumbed to the wonders of sleep.

The next day I woke up refreshed and in good spirits. Absolutely no groggy side effects! I decided to try it for a week to compare it to a week without it, and I realized that I was able to fall asleep, on average, an hour and a half earlier each night with the sleep. I'm usually a skeptic, but this tea really works. Skip the regular Sleepytime, and go for this one. As with all herbs, beware of any interactions with prescription medication. I would ask your doctor about adding this to your regimen. Sweet dreams!