Natural Sleep Aids
The best cure for insomnia is to get a lot of sleep - W. C. Fields
image by: Hourzzz sleep supplements
HWN Suggests
The best sleep supplements for a restful night
Yes, that's right, high-end natural sleep supplements are actually a thing. Best described as plant-based pills and tinctures made from a cocktail of sleep-enhancing vitamins, minerals, amino acids and botanicals, they're normally taken in the lead-up to lights out so that you're primed for improved sleep onset, quantity and quality. If sleep is a real problem for you, supplements by no means replace a trip to the doctor and won't have the impact of over the counter medication, but if you're just after some occasional help to get a good night's sleep, it's time to wipe those tired eyes and get on board...
Resources
The problem with natural sleep aids
Chamomile. Melatonin. Tart cherry juice. Many people swear these natural sleep aids work—but experts say the evidence is much less convincing.
Sipping on the Sleepy Girl Mocktail: A Sleep Expert’s Take on the Viral Sleep Trend
The Sleepy Girl Mocktail really did help me fall asleep. Its two main ingredients -- tart cherry juice and magnesium -- have been scientifically proven to induce sleepiness. Tart cherry juice increases melatonin production, and magnesium decreases cortisol, promotes relaxation and sleep and regulates GABA production in the brain. You don’t necessarily need to mix the two to feel the effects. You can take one without the other and vice versa. Together, the ingredients are a safe, effective and natural sleep aid.
Good Snooze for Insomniacs--Therapy Is as Effective as Sleep Drugs
A review of studies on the treatment of chronic insomnia finds that cognitive behavioral therapy is an effective alternative to drug interventions.
A Troubling Potential Link Between Sleep Aids And Mental Illness
In today’s “always on,” high-stress world, it has become commonplace to turn to over-the-counter sleep aids for a little help with drifting off into dreamland at night. However, that habit, if made a consistent one, could lead to potentially serious damage when it comes to ones mental health.
Alarming number of teens are using sleep aids, doctors warn of potentially risky results
Teens don't get enough sleep and one in four cope by medicating. Less than three percent of teens get the recommended 8 or 9 hours of sleep a day, according to a recent Pediatrics study. So, robbed of slumber, a quarter of them seek relief in herbal, over-the-counter pills and prescriptions.
Could a little-known cannabinoid upend the natural sleep-aid market?
The benefits of slumber aren’t up for debate; science has proven that the amount of sleep we get impacts practically every aspect of the mind and body. According to the National Institute of Health, sleep plays a vital role in improving one’s memory, preventing and fighting cancer, as well as repairing heart and blood vessels. The consequences of not getting adequate sleep can be severe and in some instances, deadly.
Having trouble sleeping? Here’s the science on 3 traditional bedtime remedies
While these sleep remedies are unlikely to be harmful, the overall evidence on improvement in quality of sleep is weak. You may like to try them, but you shouldn’t see any of them as a quick fix.
Herbal 'Relaxation' Drinks Make Suspect Claims
There is no definitive scientific evidence that any of the products on the market create relaxation or induce sleep, but there's no evidence they don't either. And what works for one person may not work for another — or be safe.
I Road-Tested 5 Sleep Drugs to Cure My Insomnia
Most over-the-counter drugs don't work, but I found one that does.
Natural Sleep Aids
There are not strict guidelines surrounding the use of the word “natural” for supplements, and many natural supplements, such as melatonin4, tend to be synthetically derived. Many customers prefer natural sleep supplements because they tend to have fewer side effects5 than prescription sleep medications. They also appeal to people who prefer natural products, or are concerned about the addictive potential6 of prescription sleep aids.
Relaxium Review: The Best Natural Sleep Aid?
We don’t believe that the research published by Relaxium is legitimate and we don’t recommend the brand. However the supplement is still better-formulated than many supplements we’ve previously reviewed. If it’s accurately labeled, it is likely to aid with sleep, given that all of the ingredients included have been studied and shown to positively influence sleep. We recommend testing melatonin alone as a first-line sleep aid, as this is the most cost-effective and safe option. For consumers that don’t see a benefit from melatonin, we recommend sleep supplements only from brands which publish independent testing proving the potency and purity of their products. Relaxium doesn’t do that, so we cannot recommend them.
Should You Steep Before Sleep?
Humans around the world (especially British humans) depend on tea to wake up and more tea to make it through the day. Having another cup of the stuff—provided it’s uncaffeinated, as all sleep teas are—before bed seems perfectly natural. But do these teas really work? Are all of them created equal?
The Evidence Points to a Better Way to Fight Insomnia
For me, and many patients, C.B.T. works. And as studies show, it works better than drugs. That moment with my children, a couple of years ago, was the last time I fell asleep reading to them.
The Trouble With Sleep Aids
Not all sleep medications are the same. Here’s how to find one that works for you.
The Truth About Over-The-Counter Sleep Aids
These days there is a wide variety of OTC medications filling pharmacy shelves that are advertised as sleep aids for those struggling to drift off at the end of a long and stressful day. However, the active ingredient in many of these drugs is one that will be familiar to people with allergies: antihistamines. The only difference is often marketing, according to sleep medicine experts.
Thousands of kids are getting sick from downing melatonin pills
Researchers are drawing attention to a rise in poisonings in children involving the sleep aid melatonin — including a big jump during the pandemic.
The best sleep supplements for a restful night
Simply put, sleep has never been so marketable, and while we'd say a new mattress is probably your best bet for a sound night's rest, if you're not ready to make the investment, the world of sleep supplements is also booming.
15 Natural Sleep Aids to Help Give You the Best Rest of Your Life
While many people rely on prescription pills to help them fall asleep at night, there are concerns about the side effects of these medicines, which is why natural sleep aids are often the first stop for someone looking to get more rest. While they won’t cure medical insomnia, some vitamins or guided meditations can be a way to get a sleeping cycle back on schedule.
4 Cannabis Sleep Aids Baby Boomers Should Know About
Sleep problems are the uninvited companion of the aging, and a growing number of Baby Boomers and older adults are trading their over-the-counter sleep aids for cannabis.
The 15 Best Sleep Supplements...
These days, countless sleep supplements promise to make it easier to catch some shut-eye (and all the benefits that come along with it)—but which ones actually work?
Introducing Stitches!
Your Path to Meaningful Connections in the World of Health and Medicine
Connect, Collaborate, and Engage!
Coming Soon - Stitches, the innovative chat app from the creators of HWN. Join meaningful conversations on health and medical topics. Share text, images, and videos seamlessly. Connect directly within HWN's topic pages and articles.