The Best Natural Sleep Aids
(Reviews And Buyer's Guide 2019)
Last Updated on
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.
Contents
- 1 The Best Natural Sleep Aids (Reviews And Buyer's Guide 2019)
- 1.1 Natural Sleeping Pills
- 1.2 Essential Oil
- 1.3 Sleep Spray
- 1.4 Homeopathic Remedy
- 1.5 Sleep Tea
- 1.6 Melatonin Supplement
- 1.7 Sleep Pillow Spray
- 1.8 What Are Natural Sleep Aids?
- 1.9 What Is the Best Way to Use Natural Sleep Aids?
- 1.10 How to Choose a Natural Sleep Aid
- 1.11 Conclusion: What Is the Best Natural Sleep Aid?
- 2 Articles Mentioned In This Post
- 3 Read More Posts About Natural Sleep Aids
Product | Our Rating | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|
1 | Natural Sleeping Pills: NatureWise 5-HTP Sleep Capsules | ||
2 | Essential Oil: Plant Guru Sleep Tight Blend | ||
3 | Sleep Spray: Source Naturals Melatonin Sleep Spray | ||
4 | Homeopathic Remedy: Genexa Sleepology Sleep Aid | ||
5 | Sleep Tea: Organic India Tulsi Wellness Sleep Tea | ||
6 | Melatonin Supplement: Natrol Melatonin | ||
7 | Sleep Pillow Spray: Snooze Button Labs Delightful Doze |
Product Type | Product | Our Rating |
|---|---|---|
Natural Sleeping Pills | ||
Essential Oil | ||
Sleep Spray | ||
Homeopathic Remedy | ||
Sleep Tea | ||
Melatonin Supplement | ||
Sleep Pillow Spray |
Top Products
Natural Sleeping Pills
Essential Oil
Sleep Spray
Homeopathic Remedy
Sleep Tea
Melatonin Supplement
Sleep Pillow Spray
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:
Type | Form | Potency Level | |
|---|---|---|---|
1 | Ingestible | High | |
2 | Absorbable; Inhalable | Medium | |
3 | Absorbable | Medium | |
4 | Ingestible | Low | |
5 | Ingestible | Low | |
6 | Ingestible | High | |
7 | Ingestible | Low |
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...
Natural Sleeping Pills
Natural sleeping pills are normally comprised of natural substances like herbs, vitamins, melatonin, and 5-HTP to spur the production of serotonin — the neurotransmitter responsible for regulating mood and sleep, among other functions.
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The main ingredient in this natural sleeping pill — 5-HTP — acts as a serotonin building block to regulate sleep cycles, helping to improve sleep. It also includes Vitamin B6 to aid in converting the 5-HTP into serotonin for greater effectiveness.
As far as natural supplements go, NatureWise is among the very best. Thus, if you're looking for a nonprescription sleeping pill that's unlikely to cause side effects, this supplement might do the trick.
PROS
- Fast acting
- May boost mood
- May reduce appetite
- All natural ingredientss
- Non-habit forming
- No side effects
CONS
- Capsules may be difficult for some people to swallow
- May not work for some people
Essential Oils
Derived from different parts of plants, essential oils are naturally-based oils used for therapeutic purposes, including sleep-related issues. Sold as single oils or blends, top quality night time essentials oils can soothe the body and promote relaxation for better sleep.
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Sometimes all that's needed to enjoy a good night of rest is the subtle workings of an essential oil such as the Plant Guru Sleep Tight Blend — a carefully concocted mixture of oils that give off a calming menthol aroma to relax both the body and mind.
If you want to avoid taking sleep supplements in digestible form, this Sleep Tight essential oil blend may be worth a try, especially for less serious sleep issues. Plus, it's cheaper than most of its competitors with little difference in quality.
PROS
- Good quality
- Pleasant aroma
- No need to swallow pills, capsules or liquids
CONS
- Could cause irritation if placed on skin directly
- Effects may be too subtle for some
Sleep Sprays
Typically sprayed under the tongue, sleep sprays offer an alternative way to consume melatonin and other sleep-inducing ingredients in a non-digestible form. Sleep sprays are fast acting and easy to use.
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Unlike standard melatonin supplements, this orange-flavored sleep spray delivers a dose of melatonin, vitamin B6 and inactive ingredients in sublingual form. As such, it enters the bloodstream directly once absorbed under the tongue, helping you to fall into a restful sleep quickly.
While a sleep spray like the Source Naturals Melatonin Sleep Spray may not be as potent as ingestible pills, it's a good alternative if you have trouble swallowing pills.
PROS
- Enters the bloodstream quickly
- Comes in a low dose
- No side effects
CONS
- May not be as potent as most melatonin pills and capsules
- Somewhat strong orange flavor
Homeopathic Remedies
A holistic treatment with a long history, homeopathy is based on the principle that the body can heal itself naturally given the right remedy. Homeopathic treatments are typically gentle with few side effects if any.
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Formulated and produced in the United States with the assistance of physicians, this all-natural homeopathic sleep remedy is designed to create a deep, restorative state of sleep without the side effects characteristic of many prescription sleeping pills.
But as a homeopathic product made from super-dilated organic substances, Genexa Sleepology may or may not work as well as some of the other products on our list.
PROS
- Fast acting
- Chewable, pleasant-tasting tablets
- Certified organic
- Non-habit forming
CONS
- May not work for some people
Sleep Teas
Sleep teas usually contain sleep-inducing herbs like chamomile, passionflower and valerian root to help relax your body for a restful night of sleep. Flavors vary from spicy and creamy to smooth and refreshing.
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Is enjoying peaceful slumber as easy as pouring a cup of tea? It could be if your sleep-related issues aren't due to hormonal imbalances or serious health conditions like sleep apnea.
Featuring a moderately-spiced unique blend of calming herbs, Organic India Tulsi Wellness Sleep Tea prepares you for sleep in a gentle, non-invasive way. But unlike other natural sleep aids, sleep teas can take up to an hour or more to work so you have to plan accordingly.
PROS
- Effective combination of sleep-inducing herbs
- Supports immune system
- High in antioxidants
- Can enjoy hot or cold
CONS
- Not as fast acting as other aids
- Spicy, earthy flavor may not be to everyone's liking
Melatonin Supplements
Melatonin is a naturally-produced hormone in the body that acts as a powerful sedative at night. Insomnia is often due to low amounts of melatonin which a synthetic form can help address. Melatonin has been found to work well for the treatment of sleep disorders. While effective, melatonin for sleep supplements should always be used with caution.
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Unlike many melatonin supplements, Natrol Melatonin delivers the sleep-producing hormone steadily over an eight hour period, granting you restful sleep throughout the entire night. It also includes vitamin B6 which helps increase the effectiveness of the melatonin.
This vegan-friendly supplement works quickly, inducing sleepiness within 20 minutes on average. Natrol Melatonin is an especially good product to try when other alternatives haven't done enough to resolve your insomnia.
PROS
- Fast acting
- All natural ingredients
CONS
- May produce possible side effects including stomach discomfort and grogginess
Sleep Pillow Sprays
Using a combination of essential oils and other ingredients, the fragrance of a pillow spray can help soothe your nerves and prepare you for a peaceful night of sleep once sprayed onto pillowcases and bedsheets.
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For a simple way to reduce tension before bed and make the process of falling asleep a little more pleasant, Snooze Button Labs Delightful Doze can meet the demand. That said, sleep pillow sprays like this one are most effective when combined with something more powerful like Natrol Melatonin.
Free from harmful chemicals and dyes, this formula consists of the pleasant-smelling ingredients of lavender, chamomile, ylang-ylang, orange and sandalwood.
PROS
- Pleasant aroma
- Effective sleep-inducing ingredients
- Won't stain your pillow
CONS
- Fragrance may not appeal to some people
- Will be smelled by anyone you're sharing a room or bed with
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!
