Valerian and Skullcap for Insomnia with Depression and Bipolar Disorder?

My 37 year old boyfriend suffers from insomnia. He is also diagnosed with bipolar. I am 39yrs. old and suffer also from insomnia. I have depression. We both get to sleep okay but tend to wake up around 4 hours later. We can rarely get back to sleep. Neither of us take medication for our diagnoses, but tend to drink alcohol to help us sleep. Will taking valerian root mixed with skullcap as a tea mix okay with the depression and bipolor?

Alcohol should be avoided in both depression and bipolar disorder. For recommendations on bipolar disorder, please see our website at www.richters.com. Choose "Q&A" from the main menu, then enter "bipolar" for the search.
Alcohol is a sedative that can put you to sleep, but only for a brief time. Alcohol is high in sugar, and has similar effects lowering the blood sugar, which is a cause of insomnia.
It is often helpful to have a protein snack before bedtime.
Valerian and skullcap are good sleep aids. Valerian root does not have a pleasant taste, so is usually taken in tincture form. It is helpful to take calming teas throughout the day. Calming herbs include as chamomile, skullcap, passionflower and linden. These herbs are all safe in bipolar disorder and depression.
For more information on insomnia, please see our website, as noted above, and enter "insomnia" for the Q&A search.