A silent crisis is sweeping across the UK. According to a UK Biobank study, Black people are more than three times as likely to report nocturnal short sleep compared with white people. For many Black women, sleep distraction is less about isolated insomnia and more closely linked to systemic pressures, chronic stress, and emotional labour. In this context, an increasing number of Black women are choosing to discontinue the use of sleep medication and are instead turning to traditional African herbal remedies to improve their sleep.

“We saw a significant shift during the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Cherrelle Douglas, a medical herbalist at Omorala Herbal. “While working in an independent health foods store in south London with a predominantly Black customer base, I saw a notable increase in Black women seeking more natural support for all different conditions, including stress and sleep. People began to realise the importance of taking control of their health, rather than relying solely on doctors to have all the answers.”