Natural Sleep Aids: Healthier Way To A Good Night’s Sleep?

Natural sleep aids can be a safe, gentle way to help you relax and get a good night’s rest.

Safer than most standard sleeping pills, natural remedies can offer a solution to any number of sleep-related problems from snoring to sleep apnea to insomnia. There are a variety of different methods which can be used to achieve restful sleep, so you should investigate all the options and find the one which works for you.

There are various herbal supplements that can be used as natural sleep remedies.

Containing such ingredients as Valerian and Melatonin, they help to balance hormone levels and improve the function of neurotransmitters which in turn allow the body to achieve a state of calm. And unlike prescription sleeping pills, these natural products carry almost no side effects and are not addictive.

My friend is meditating, relaxing and listening to music as a natural sleep aid remedy to improve her sleep quality.
My friend is meditating, relaxing and listening to music as a natural sleep aid remedy to improve her sleep quality.

Other natural sleep aids involve the use of relaxation techniques such as meditation and yoga. Again, the goal is to achieve a state of peacefulness and calm. By focusing the mind and freeing oneself of stress, the body is able to relax and the mind to remain at ease.

Sometimes, these techniques can be used in combination with aromatherapy to enhance the feeling of relaxation.

Elements of a healthy lifestyle that includes things like yoga, meditation, good nutrition, and adequate exposure to sunlight all work together as natural sleep aids.

Another one of the most simple natural sleep aids, which many people tend to overlook, is exposure to light. The body uses light as a signal for when to wake and when to sleep. If you are not getting enough sleep, then perhaps your body’s natural response to light is being thrown off. Taking an early morning or late afternoon walk can help your body to get the light exposure it needs.

Among the long list of natural sleep remedies is the use of sound to help the body relax. Certain sounds, such as running water or wind, can have a calming effect. Some people respond better to a lack of noise and white noise machines, which block out all excess noise, can help in this case.

My friend sleeping soundly after using meditation as a natural sleep aid remedy
My friend sleeping soundly after using meditation as a natural sleep aid remedy

Music can also be a helpful aid, allowing the body to feel relaxed and more open to sleep. While it may sound strange, the diet is actually the best of natural sleep remedies. Cutting out natural stimulants like sugar and caffeine, eating foods that contain tryptophan, a sleep-enhancing amino acid, and making sure you are getting the proper amount of magnesium, which is a natural sedative, can all go a long way toward ensuring that you are getting a good night’s sleep.

Chamomile tea is another very common one of the natural sleep aid. A cup of chamomile tea before bed has proven to reduce anxiety, relieve muscle tension and calm the digestive system, making it easier to fall asleep.

My friend making Chamomile tea as a natural sleep aid remedy
My friend making Chamomile tea as a natural sleep aid remedy

And like other herbal sleep remedies, since chamomile carries no side effects, it is perfectly safe to take in order to cure insomnia or other sleep problems.

If you are under a great deal of stress it’s important to get enough physical exercise. Stress that arises from the fight or flight response triggers a rush of hormones like adrenaline that you need to work out of your system.

If you don’t effectively deal with stress it can result in many physical and mental effects that will damage your health and make it more difficult to get to sleep.

An insufficient amount of sleep can be the precursor to many other health problems, so it is never something that should be dismissed. If you are having problems getting to sleep at night, don’t assume that you have to rely on sleeping pills. Look into all your options and you just might find a safe, simple, natural technique that will have you sleeping peacefully and feeling better.

Read more of my articles on natural sleep aids