Natural Sleeping Remedies
COMPLEMENTARY There is a wide range of natural sleep remedies available – here’s the lowdown on what works
CHAMOMILE
has been a popular natural sleep remedy for centuries and helps many people to feel calm and relaxed before bedtime. Many people swear by a cup of chamomile tea before bed – and it’s completely safe.
VALERIAN
is a herbal extract and one of the most popular natural supplements for insomnia. When taken over time, it’s claimed it can reduce the time taken to fall asleep and improve sleep quality. Although research has been mixed on the results, most show a helpful effect.
KAVA
has sedative properties and has been used as a herbal remedy for stress and anxiety. While studies show it does indeed help with insomnia, it’s now been banned in parts of Europe due to links with cirrhosis, hepatitis and liver failure.
TRYPTOPHAN
is an amino acid that boosts the production of serotonin, a neurotransmitter thought to help people go to sleep. Found naturally in milk and turkey it’s generally not available in supplement form.
TAI CHI AND YOGA
Dr Sarris, senior research fellow at the University of Melbourne found that one of the best ways of helping with insomnia was to practise mind-body interventions like tai chi, yoga and acupressure.
VERDICT
“Most natural sleep therapies work better when taken over days or weeks – they don’t have the immediate, soporific effect of benzodiazepines,” says Sarris. “The issue is that the quality of some herbal medicines varies. They may work well for some people but not for others. Get a good quality preparation and give it a go and see if it works.”