Best Sleep Aids – the 3 Best Sleep Aids

I have struggled with sleep for most of my life. I think I was around 10 when I first realized that sleep just did not come easy for me. Since that time, I have made a point to learn just about everything that I can about things that would help me sleep better.

I must confess that I have even tried prescription drugs. While they were somewhat effective, I never liked the idea of getting hooked on prescription sleep aids. Additionally, most of the time I woke up feeling a bit “hungover”. That is why I started looking for natural sleep aids. The three best sleep aids that I have found are Valerian, Melatonin and 5-HTP.

I also stumbled on one sleep aid that you absolutely don’t want to try – more on that later.

Valerian

Valerian is a mild sedative that is particularly effective in helping those with nervous tension and insomnia fall and stay asleep. It has been used as a sleep aid since the days of Ancient Greece. One of the key benefits is that Valerian has been shown to be non-addictive. Scientific studies have shown that Valerian is, in fact, a very useful treatment for insomnia.

Melatonin

Melatonin is a hormone that induces sleep that occurs naturally in our bodies. Melatonin levels are very low during the day and then increase in the evening as it gets darker. As we get older, melatonin levels decrease. For this reason, melatonin is a particularly effective sleep aid for older individuals. Melatonin can also help any time the sleep/wake cycles have been disturbed. For example, many people take melatonin to battle jet lag.

5-HTP

5-HTP is perhaps one of the best sleep aids that there is. It is considered by most to be as effective as prescription drugs. It increases the time spent in deep sleep by about 25%. (REM sleep) Most people who take 5-HTP wake up feeling rested rather than hungover.

What Not to Try: Kava

Kava is a particularly effective anti-anxiety supplement. It can be used for insomnia that is a result of anxiety. Unfortunately, it has been linked to liver failure. In fact, the FDA has put a warning out and Kava sales have been banned in the UK.

I have used all tree of these sleep helpers at one time or another and have found them to be effective at helping me fall asleep and improve the overall quality of my sleep.

Of course, there is much more to understand about how valerian, melatonin and kava work. Please visit us on the web to learn more about the BEST SLEEP AIDS.