Sleep Aids For Insomnia

Difficulty sleeping happens to everyone at some point.  For select people it can cause larger problems and affect their health and relationships.  Options exist to help you achieve better sleep.  Prescription aids have been available for many years and newer brands promise better sleep with fewer side effects. Before resorting to potentially harmful medications, why not try a more natural approach with herbal supplements?

The uses for tea are varied and sleep is no exception.  Enjoying a cup of tea is a good way to unwind for the day.  A common tea for sleep is Valerian root tea. The Greeks and Romans used it thousands of years ago.  It contains many compounds such as GABA, the body’s natural inhibitory neurotransmitter that works to slow brain activity down.  Chamomile is another good one.  Its sleep inducing benefits are just the beginning.  It can calm an upset stomach, help with irritable bowel syndrome and can work as a mild laxative.

Smell has been called the strongest sense and that applies to sleep, too.  Aromatherapy can trigger a memory of your warm bed or a favorite childhood place. This may be all it takes for your mind to calm down and let you begin to drift off.  A good choice is Lavender oil, which is used in bath products and skin lotions.  A little English lavender oil on your pillow can really get the sleep process started.

Melatonin is the hormone of sleep.  It is released each day in response to light levels.  It begins to increase after sunset and peaks during the night.  It is available in capsules and pills at your local pharmacy.  Melatonin is a key ingredient in custom sleep supplements like Melatrol.

These are just a handful of ways to get back to more consistent sleep.  By trying one of the methods listed above, chances are that you can find something that will help you.