Millions of people all over the world suffer from sleep problems. Some people have insomnia, and with others it may just be an occasional night. There are many options for sleep aids no matter what category you fall into. Prescription sleep aids are available, but if you are not comfortable with these, here are a few other tricks you may want to try.
Herbs
The Chinese have used herbal remedies for centuries and swear that they work. When taking herbs you should keep in mind that it may take a few tries before they start working. Also remember that this is not a cure for your sleep disorder, merely an aid in finding dreamland. If you decide that herbs is a route you would like to try please consult your doctor, as they may interact with other medications you are on.
Teas
Herbal tea is another method that may help you fall asleep. There are many different varieties of tea you can choose from. Chamomile is known to help soothe you, where as ginseng and catnip have a light sedative. There are also teas made from passion flower, red clover, peppermint, or lemon balms.
Supplements
Supplements are another remedy you might like to try, especially if you are not a tea drinker. Some supplements such as valerian also come in the form of tea. This is another herb that may take some time to take full effect in your body, so just be patient when trying this. Kava kava, hops, and St. John’s Wort are a few other supplements that may work for you.
Food
Melatonin is another supplement that may help, but this is a hormone that is a naturally occurring hormone found in the brain. This hormone is produced at night to help you feel drowsy so you can sleep. Melatonin can be found naturally in foods that contain the amino acid tryptophan. Turkey, soy and milk products are all good sources of tryptophan. If your diet is lacking these foods it may be necessary to take a supplement of melatonin.
Others
Some people try many things to help them get a restful night’s sleep. Something as simple as doing exercise on a daily basis, rearranging your furniture to create feng shui, doing deep breathing exercises, using visual imagery, or even muscle relaxing techniques may help you. Some more non-traditional methods may include acupuncture, self-hypnosis, meditation, or acupressure.
When deciding what method or remedy you would like to try it helps to know what is causing the sleeplessness in the first place. You may also have to try more than one remedy before you find one that is right for you.