Insomnia is a serious disorder that eventually affects your life in many ways. It can affect your work life as well as your personal life. It drains your motivation and energy and decreases your productivity. Moreover, chronic insomnia can lead to depression and high blood pressure.
Many people do not want to choose prescribed drugs for their insomnia, as most pills have their fair share of risks and side effects. Therefore, it is best if you could find relief for this problem through natural supplements and aids.
15 Natural Supplements and Aids for Insomnia
Natural supplements can be beneficial for you to have a better sleep. Different supplements and aids can be found that is good for insomnia. We have shared 15 of the most effective ones.
1. Night Shred
Night Shred is a supplement from Inno Supps. It is a nighttime fat burner that helps you sleep better. This is a natural formula that helps overcome insomnia. No harsh chemical has been used in this supplement.
Although the primary goal of this product is to help you with weight loss, it increases your temperature and eventually burns excess fat. It enables you to sleep well as a by-product. So, if you have insomnia and are overweight, this could be perfect for you.
This all-natural product has many ingredients that help with relaxation and sleep. Some relaxing ingredients include chamomile, GABA, valerian, 5- HTP, and passionflower. These ingredients help you to de-stress, relax and have a sound sleep.
2. Melatonin
Melatonin is a hormone that our body produces. This hormone signals the brain to sleep. It naturally starts increasing during the evening and starts decreasing in the morning. Lack of melatonin can cause insomnia.
The imbalance of melatonin happens when you mess up your routine. Due to travel, work, or other issues, there could be times when you cannot sleep at night. This disruption in routine ends up disrupting the melatonin cycle too.
You can take melatonin as a supplement when your sleep schedule is interrupted, or you cannot sleep at night. This supplement is proven to improve sleep disorders.
Melatonin also helps with sleeping in the daytime when your body denies sleeping. This supplement enables you to fall asleep fast and ensures sound sleep.
3. Lavender
Lavender is very popular for its purple flower and fragrance. It is used in perfumes, cosmetics, soaps, diffusers, and so on. This aromatic flower extract is well known for its relaxing properties.
Lavender oil can improve insomnia. It helps you to have better sleep quality. In fact, this aromatherapy is used for people with sleep disturbance or dementia. It also helps to decrease anxiety.
Smelling lavender oil before sleep is enough for a sound sleep. However, you can also put on a few drops of lavender oil on your hand, forehead, or behind the ears to sleep better. You can put it on the pillowcase as well before going to sleep.
4. Valerian Root
Valerian is an herb, and its root is used for anxiety, depression, and menopause. The origin of this herb is in Asia and Europe. It is used as a sleep-promoting supplement in the United States and Europe.
This supplement can improve sleep quality and sleep disorder symptoms. It is observed that taking 300 to 900 mg of valerian root can help with sleep quality and sleep duration. However, the results of valerian root as a supplement for insomnia have been inconsistent.
5. Magnesium
Magnesium is a mineral with several health benefits. It is important for improving overall health, especially for the brain and heart. Many people do not know that magnesium can help soothe your mind and body. It enables you to relax and fall asleep. Precisely, it relaxes the muscles of your body, and eventually, you fall asleep.
Magnesium, melatonin, and vitamin B make the perfect cure for insomnia. We have already found out that melatonin is the most effective hormone to make one have a good sleep. Magnesium plays a significant role in producing melatonin.
6. GABA
GABA stands for gamma-aminobutyric acid. It is an amino acid and a neurotransmitter. It helps your brain to relax and sleep.
GABA is used in many supplements for curing insomnia as it reduces stress, relaxes your body, and makes you fall asleep. Taking Gaba as a supplement can help you have quality sleep for longer. It reduces stress and makes people fall asleep quickly.
GABA occurs naturally in your body and in food. However, synthetic GABA supplements are also available these days.
7. CBD Oil
Cannabidiol is commonly known as CBD. It is a component that can be found in marijuana and hemp plants. CBD can help with some sleep disorders. It is also known to reduce excessive daytime sleepiness.
CBD oil reduces anxiety and helps you to relax. You can have a better sleep if you use CBD oil. Although there have been some legal restrictions regarding CBD, research has shown that it is safe to have CBD as a sleeping supplement.
You can find CBD in different forms, like CBD oil, CBD gummies, capsules, etc. However, it is best for pregnant or breastfeeding people not to use CBD as a supplement for insomnia.
8. Passionflower
Passionflowers are native to North America, and they are popular as a natural remedy for insomnia. They are being cultivated in different regions like Europe, Asia, Africa, and Australia due to their positive effect on insomnia.
Having passionflowers tea is the most common way of consuming this natural ingredient. Having passionflower tea can help you have a better sleep.
The influence of passionflowers on your sleep can vary depending on what form you are taking it. Taking them as a tea might have a different impact than having a supplement or capsule.
9. California Poppy
California Poppy is used in traditional medicines as a sedative. It is a different species of Opium poppy. Researchers have found that it helps raise the levels of GABA, which eventually helps you have the chemicals that influence relaxation and sleep.
California Poppy should not be taken as a supplement for an extended period. It can result in stomach problems as a side effect.
10. Glycine
Glycine is another amino acid that works in the nervous system. It controls the nervous system and helps you have a sound sleep. This works by lowering your body temperature during the night, creating the body temperature required for a good rest, and signaling your brain to sleep.
Having three grams of glycine before sleep improves the quality of your sleep. Moreover, you are more likely to feel better the following day too. It can also help those who are sleep-deprived during the daytime.
Besides taking glycine as a supplement, you can get it by consuming foods such as meat, eggs, fish, spinach, kale, cabbage, beans, bananas, etc.
11. Chamomile
Chamomile is a daisy-like plant that has a history of treating sleep problems. It has been popular since ancient Egypt. It can help with anxiety and improves sleep quality.
Chamomile has calming effects. It is due to an antioxidant called apigenin. This antioxidant works on specific brain cell receptors and helps the body relax and fall asleep.
Chamomile can be taken as a herbal tea as well as in capsules. Although it is a natural component and does not often have side effects, it is better for pregnant and breastfeeding people to avoid having chamomile. Furthermore, it can also trigger allergies in some people.
12. 5-HTP
5-HTP stands for 5-hydroxytryptophan. It is a compound that can be found in different foods. Our body uses 5-HTP and creates melatonin. We have already learned that melatonin is the hormone that influences us to sleep. So, having 5-HTP increases the chance of having a better sleep.
5-HTP supplements can be extracted from plant seeds. Taking it as a supplement can improve your sleep quality. However, it can have side effects such as nausea and headaches if consumed too much.
13. Kava
Kava is a native plant of the South Pacific. It is popular for curing anxiety. It is also known to help with sleep. Having low doses of kava supplements can help you sleep better. However, it has some risks. Kava is known to have risks of liver damage.
14. Magnolia Bark
Magnolia Bark is more popular in the Chinese medical community as an ingredient for improving insomnia. It is used for anxiety and depression. Although there has been debate about the effectiveness of magnolia bark on your sleep, it can relax your body and decrease stress.
15. Tart Cherry
Tart cherry extract is a natural remedy for quality sleep. It allows you to sleep better and longer. Sweet cherries are not the same as tart cherries, though.
Conclusion
The 15 supplements and aids that we have shared work incredibly well with mild insomnia. We suggest you try these natural ways before opting for a high dosage of drugs for your insomnia. Hopefully, you will be benefited, and these supplements can help you sleep well.
However, if they do not work well, there is a high possibility of you having chronic insomnia. In that case, it would be best to consult a specialist for further advice as you might need to take prescribed drugs to cure insomnia.
