Sleeping Aids

Nobody likes to have trouble sleeping and the more trouble you have falling asleep, the more desperate you are for the sleep to come. What is frustrating is that the stress you are feeling from trying to (finally) fall asleep is probably part of what is keeping you awake. If a few nights have gone by and you are still having problems sleeping, you are probably tempted to start grabbing one of all of the sleep aids available over the counter at the drug store. Before you go “sleep aids crazy” though, try some of these natural sleep aids:

The following herbs can help relax the body and mind and get you ready for bed:

Chamomile: Chamomile is a natural relaxant. It also helps people with their digestion and soothes their systems. A simple cup of chamomile tea before bed is a great way to encourage sleep.

Jasmine: Jasmine is best use as an aromatic sleep aid. Put a few drops of jasmine essential oil into your bathwater or use a jasmine linen spray on your pillow case at night. The smell of the jasmine will help your body relax. Jasmine tea has also been used as a mild sedative for nerves.

Kava Kava: This herb is a member of the black pepper family and is often used to encourage a full night's sleep. Don't use this regularly though as long term use has been known to cause damage to the liver.

Lavender: Lavender, like jasmine, is an aromatic relaxant. Putting its oil into your bath or using a lavender linen pray will help you relax each night and you'll fall asleep before you know it.

Peppermint: Peppermint tea helps you relax at night and it can also help with gas and digestion issues. It shouldn't be mixed with iron supplements because peppermint can block iron absorption in the body.

St. John's Wort: This herb is good for relieving mild depression and anxiety and is often used as a relaxant before bedtime as it can improve the quality of your sleep. Talk to your doctor before taking it, though, as it can interfere with some prescription medications.

Valerian: This is the most famous herb used to fix insomnia and sleeplessness. Valerian can ease muscle tension and nervous tension. It can help you deal with stress. The reason valerian works so well as a sleep aid is that valerian tea is a natural sedative. Don't take too much because too much can cause significant health problem.

Everybody experiences sleep problems once in a while and while your first instinct might be to head to your pharmacy, why not try some of the sleep aids that are already available to you in your own kitchen? You probably have some peppermint tea or some lavender soap. Over the counter sleep aids usually do more harm than good. There are plenty of sleep aids that are natural to choose from. Sometimes all it takes is a glass of warm milk and a turkey sandwich to do the trick.

Difficulty Sleeping Tip #1

Caffeine is only your friend during the morning hours. Even though you might not think that caffeine affects you very much, it does play a big part in your body's ability to settle down and rest at the end of the day. If you must have coffee, switch to decaf after lunch. Caffeine can affect your body for up to eight hours. The longer it has to leave your system the less likely it is to affect your sleeping habits.

Difficulty Sleeping Tip #2

Exercise will not wear you out; it will actually pump you up. Exercise actually gives people energy. While you might feel tired immediately after a workout, your body will not sleep well if you try to do your workout right before bed. It is also bad for your body as a rule to go from lots of motion to staying still. This is why there are warm ups and cool downs before and after exercise workouts.

Difficulty Sleeping Tip #3

While many of us may fall asleep while watching television, if you are having sleeping problems, you want to give yourself at least an hour before going to bed that is television free. Television is a stimulant for your brain (even if the material is not particularly scholarly in content). Watching it right before bed keeps you awake and it takes a while for your brain to wind down after you turn the television off.