Natural Remedies for Insomnia

When you need a good night's sleep you'll try just about anything to get one. If a couple of pills are promising instant relief from insomnia, why not take some right? That's one way of getting to sleep, but next time you're tossing and turning in bed we ask that you try something different.

As tempting and easy a solution it is to reach for a bottle of sleeping medication, there are natural remedies for insomnia that are healthier and safer. We'll explain them in more detail here in this post. 

• Magnesium and Calcium

  The two natural ingredients most synonymous with a good night's sleep are magnesium and calcium. Known to promote sleep on their own, the combination of both makes this an effective one-two knockout punch.

• Melatonin

  Another reason why we can't turn our back on the drugstores completely is because of excellent natural products like this. Melatonin is a natural hormone that controls sleep, which is present in all of our bodies. Adding more melatonin to your system is a way of helping it drift off to sleep more effectively.

• Aromatherapy

  With studies showing lavender is a natural sleep aid, it is widely used in aromatherapy products promoting a good night's sleep. It's inexpensive, nontoxic, and commonly used in air freshening sprays.

• More Exercise

  Generally speaking, if you're struggling with not getting enough sleep at night, you may not be fitting enough physical activity into your day. The body has to be physically tired in order to fall asleep and stay asleep throughout the night, so if you're not tiring it out then it's not going to give you the amount of sleep you desire. Check out how sleep affects your work out.

• Valerian

  Valerian is by far one of the better-known natural sleep aids. It promises to improve deep sleep, to improve the speed of falling asleep, and has also been associated with producing an overall higher quality of sleep. Rather than being taken just when it's needed, valerian works best when it is taken over a longer period of time. Sensible caution should be taken when considering herbal remedies like valerian however–check out the sound advice of Dr. Wei-Shin Lai.

• Lifestyle Changes

  Now this is going to be pretty vague, but if the title of this section hit home with you already chances are you know what we're referring to. For example: if you're finishing off your third large coffee at the end of the day, and wondering why you can't get a decent sleep at night, it's time for a change.

• Sleep Music & Sleep Sounds

  Listening to the right music helps people fall asleep, and so can listening to the right sounds. For some, being surrounded by the right sounds using SleepPhones® headphones can be exactly what they need to get some shut-eye. Everyone has their own preference, which is why you can get sleep sounds to create almost any atmosphere you’d like. Whatever will put you to sleep at night.

Wrapping it Up

Here you have a wide variety of natural remedies for insomnia. Instead of reaching for the pharmaceuticals, make a healthier choice by going the natural route.

Find more about managing sleeplessness at our "Insomnia" resource page.