A Look At Sleep Aids

Sleep experts are adamant about the importance of a good night's sleep

. Studies into the matter have indicated that at least seven hours of sleep is beneficial to the human body in many ways. Sufficient sleep will have a positive effect on overall health, help in cell repair, boost memory, lower stress and curtail the risk of depression. Getting a better night's sleep is generally the case with people who avoid caffeine in the evening hours, working out regularly, avoiding naps during the day and deal properly with work and personal stress. If you do these things and still find it difficult to get proper sleep, you may want to look into sleep aids.

Over the counter sleep aids typically have an antihistamine based drug as the active ingredient. This is usually diphenhydramine or doxylamine. Both of these might be effective for a little while but after a couple of weeks they will probably stop working. They also have side effects which may include drowsiness, dizziness and dry mouth. Pregnant women should not take them.

Also available are prescription medicines. Some of them focus on getting you to fall asleep. Others focus on getting you to be able to stay asleep. There are some that focus on both. Prior to prescribing any sleeping aids, your doctor will want to sit down with you to go over your sleep patterns and try to determine what may be causing your insomnia. These prescriptions will come with notification of warnings including potential for addiction, interactions with other drugs and possible loss of effectiveness.

Perhaps you have heard of valerian. This is an herb commonly used in Europe to combat sleep disorders. It is also used against muscle pains, restlessness and anxiety. It is said not to be habit forming and does not give people a groggy feeling in the mornings. Results from valerian may take a couple of weeks to show themselves. Headaches and upset stomach are two possible side effects. Interestingly enough, the effect of valerian on people is not unlike the effect on cats of catnip.

Melatonin is a key ingredient in some natural remedies. Melatonin is a naturally occurring hormone in the body, produced within the brain by the pineal gland. It acts as a controller of sleep cycles and is often taken by folks who have their sleep cycles disturbed, such as with jet lag.

The U. S. Food and Drug Administration has not yet approved a certain supplement, kava. Kava is a shrub found in the South Pacific. The root from this shrub contains kavalactone which is said to aid in sleeping. This approach has been used since ancient times but now there is concern over its affects on the liver. For this reason, the U. S. Is skeptical of the product.

Non-medicinal approaches have been recommended as solutions to sleeplessness. Relaxation methods such as visualization and yoga are two examples. Careful attention to diet has also been suggested as a means to fend off insomnia. Avoiding foods and beverages laden with caffeine and sugars, while taking in foods that are magnesium-rich or contain tryptophan, has been a successful formula for some people.

Regardless of the approach taken, getting yourself on the path to a good sleep is essential for a healthy body and mind. Before deciding on any sleeping aid, thorough research into all alternatives should be undertaken.

by: Christopher Adams

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