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Good sleep is a valuable asset that too many people, unfortunately, miss out on. Without the proper amount of rest, your productivity, mood, and physical health can start to decline. And while prescription sleep aids may offer a quick fix, they often come with many downsides, which a natural sleep aid doesn't tend to have. In this post, you'll discover the different types of natural sleep aids available to you and conclude with the best one for each corresponding type.

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What Are Natural Sleep Aids?

A natural sleep aid is a product that contains natural ingredients to foster relaxation and promote restful sleep. They are devised as a momentary solution to deal with short-term sleeplessness, comparable to the one experienced during jet lag. They come in several forms, each varying in potency:

Apart from melatonin, which is a naturally produced hormone, most natural sleep aids derive from a combination of calming herbs or oils that work to great effect.

Since these sleep aids are naturally-based, it puts them at a distinct advantage over their prescription counterparts as they're generally safer to use and non-habit forming (source). Couple this with the fact that they're inexpensive and easy to come by, and it becomes clear why they sell as well as they do.

Disadvantages to Using a Natural Sleep Aid

While these aids are less likely to cause adverse reactions compared to prescription sleep aids, they're not problem-free. Depending on your bodily constitution, certain herbs, oils, and other natural ingredients can potentially cause upset stomachs, skin irritation, grogginess and other undesirable symptoms.

Also, there's always a small chance of them interacting with prescription medications. For example, valerian — a flowering plant commonly used to help induce sleep — is known to have over 500 possible drug interactions! (source).

Bottom line — make sure to use the same amount of caution with these products as you would with any prescription medication.

What Is the Best Way to Use Natural Sleep Aids?

First and foremost, make sure to always read and follow the product directions before using any natural sleep aid. While there's a greater chance of abusing prescription sleep aids like Ambien, natural aids like melatonin can also be harmful when taken in large amounts for longer than two months at a time (source).

Consistency is also very important when using these products, especially in cases of persistent insomnia. Without keeping to a regular schedule or dosage amount, it becomes much more difficult to tell how effective a sleep aid really is.

Thus, make sure to take your sleep aid of choice as close to the same time every night as possible without making drastic changes to the dosage amount.

Lastly, taking notes or maintaining a journal to keep track of how long it takes you to fall asleep, how long you're able to stay asleep, and how well you feel upon waking in the morning is an effective way to better understand your sleep patterns and identify areas where you might be able to make improvements in your sleep quality.

Note: When in doubt, always consult a physician before taking any type of natural sleep aid.

How to Choose a Natural Sleep Aid

Do you suffer from occasional bouts of insomnia or has it developed into something more insidious? Determining the best product for you depends on this very question.

If your sleeplessness is less serious in nature, you may want to start out with a less potent concoction such as a sleep tea or homeopathic remedy. For incessant insomnia, however, you may want a more powerful solution such as a melatonin supplement or other natural sleeping pill.

After you determine the type of sleep aid that best suits you, you'll then want to conduct a bit of research and comparison shop to identify products with good track records. You might also have other considerations in mind such as restricting yourself only to vegan, non-GMO, and/or gluten-free-based products, depending on your preference.

To make the search process easier, we've included reviews of seven of the best sleep aids, one for each form  described earlier...

Conclusion: What Is the Best Natural Sleep Aid?

Selecting the best natural sleep aid for you depends on the severity of your sleeplessness. For mild bouts of insomnia, a sleep tea like the Organic India Tulsi Wellness may be all you need to overcome the problem. Recurring bouts of insomnia, however, may call for a stronger treatment such as NatureWise 5-HTP Sleep Capsules. Not only does this supplement help you doze off to sleep, its mix of natural ingredients can also boost your overall well-being.

Now Over to You!

What are your thoughts about our recommendations? Leave your comments below!