How To Relax And Fall Asleep
by Niall Roche

Many people that suffer from restlessness or insomnia on a regular basis are looking for ways to relax and fall asleep each night. There are many different techniques that can be used by an person to help them fall asleep each night and each method will need to be tested to judge each methods effectiveness. The person may have to try several different methods before finding one that works well for them.

One of the most effective ways to relax and fall asleep is to change the persons lifestyle to make sure that there are no distractions or exciting events occurring near the persons bed time that could reawaken their mind making it harder to fall asleep. Experts recommend not watching television in the bed before going to sleep and doing other tasks in the bed, such as working or reading, will condition the body to be alert while lying in the bed. It is believed that the more that the bed is used for sleeping only, the more conditioned the person will become to falling asleep quickly once they have gotten into the bed.

Some people choose to use relaxation techniques to prepare them for getting into the bed and going to sleep at night. Taking a warm bath scented with lavender or other relaxing scents is one way that people relax their mind and body before going to bed. Meditation and light exercise are other ways that people use to prepare their body for going to bed each night. Making sure that the person gets into the bed and immediately tries to go to sleep can also go a long way towards falling asleep quickly each night.

Some people need the help of sleep aids to relax and fall asleep each night. This can occur for many reasons including increased stress, lifestyle changes, new medications, or physical injury. There are several different types of sleep aids that can be used by people for sleeping through during the night and each one has its benefits.

The most commonly used sleep aids for falling asleep quickly are sleep aids that include drugs that can help a person sleep. These sleep aids can be purchased either over the counter at the persons local grocery store or with a doctors prescription from the local pharmacist. Often containing a sedative, these sleep aids have an increased risk of dependence for people that take them on a regular basis, so it is very important for the person to follow all instructions for the sleep aid carefully to make sure that they do not put themselves at risk for chemical dependence.

%26lt;title%26gt;Untitled Document Everyone experiences trouble sleeping once in a while. While this may be inconvenient, it’s often temporary. When occasional sleepless nights turn into a regular occurrence of many nights in a row with interrupted sleep, you might have a sleeping problem. When you doesn’t get enough sleep for an extended period of time your tiredness impacts every part of your life. Physically, you might notice a decrease in your productivity and daily activities. Emotionally, you may experience relationship problems or a change in your personality. Mentally, a chronicsleep problem can create stress and anxiety. There are three categories of sleep deprivation and insomnia. The first stage, called “initial”? insomnia, is when you first realize you’re having difficulty achieving a sleep state and occurs when it takes longer than a half an hour to fall asleep. “Middle”? insomnia is when you have difficulty staying asleep. Once awakened, you stay awake through the wee hours of the morning. The most sever level of insomnia is “late”? or “terminal”? insomnia. This is when you wake up early in the morning and stay awake after sleeping less than 6 hours. There are a variety of reasons that you may be having trouble sleeping. If your insomnia is due to a medical condition, your doctor will be able to provide you with suggestions and appropriate medical attention. If it determined that your sleep problem is due to a medical condition, the condition will be treated with the intention that this will in turn treat the insomnia. On the other hand, if your sleep difficulties are occurring because you are stuck in a cycle of sleepless nights, or your insomnia is due to your inability to reach a state of inner peace needed to achieve sleep, this book is for you. Here you ll find healthy options to try before taking potentially harmful and habit forming prescription sleep aids. In my book “SLEEP WELL available at a discount price at www.unwindsleep.com You’ll learn about: *· Preparing the perfect sleep environment *· Relaxation techniques *· The role of exercise and diet in your sleep health *· How to quiet your mind to promote good sleep *· Beneficial natural supplements When following the tips in this book, you will have all of the tools needed to stop tossing and turning at night and start enjoying a full night’s sleep, naturally. You will wake up feeling rejuvenated and attentive, instead of exhausted and restless. Prepare yourself drift off to dreamland naturally! Behavioral Changes for Healthy Sleep Habits 1· A regular bedtime 2 consistent wake time 3 record of any natural supplements you have tried Routine activities that are not stimulating such as brushing your teeth or reading. Moving through a regular bedtime process will signal to your brain that its time to go to sleep. The desired end result of having a sleep strategy is regular sleep that is restful and refreshing. Plan to get 7-8 hours of sleep nightly, and doesnot allow yourself to oversleep. If you wake up the same time every day you’ll establish a routine. Avoid naps during the day because your body will be confused, and it will interrupt your sleep pattern. You can’t bank extra hours of sleep, and trying to sleep later in the morning to make up for sleep lost overnight will leave you feeling tired. Every person has different sleep habits, so be patient while you work through the process of finding the sleep plan that works best for you.

Ah…a good nights sleep. We all want to get in the recommended 7-8 hours, yet according to the National Sleep Foundation, almost one-third of Americans sleep 6.5 hours or less each night. So, not only are we walking around in a bad mood, eyes half open, giant cup of Joe in hand, but now research shows that we are actually putting our heart at risk!

Research by Dr. Alexandros Vgontzas, professor of psychiatry at The Pennsylvania State University in Hershey reveals that even modest sleep deprivation may be associated with low-grade inflammation, which can lead to a number of cardiovascular problems.

Vgontzas and his team of researchers deprived 25 men and women just two hours of sleep per night over a six-week period. They measured blood levels for immune-system molecules called cytokines, which are normally secreted during inflammation and infection. Both men and women in the study had increased concentrations of cytokines, which confirms lack of sleep may stimulate an increase in chronic inflammation.

This is troublesome, particularly because continuous inflammation has been shown to lead to hardening of the arteries, high blood pressure, stroke, heart disease and even heart failure. Also, lack of quality sleep has a significant effect on your blood sugar levels. If you are sleep deprived, it requires more insulin to balance your blood sugar levels, which, in turn, can lead to heart disease and a host of other health related problems.

So, you know you need more shut-eye but getting to bed early and sleeping in later just aren’t an option with your busy schedule. Maybe the quantity of hours shouldn’t be your main focus, let’s try focusing on getting “quality” sleep. The first option that comes to mind for most people who want to sleep more soundly is to seek out over-the-counter or prescription sleep aids. However, there are several downsides to consider:

• Risk of tolerance - meaning your body can require more and more of the medication in order to achieve results.

• The lingering effects of sleepiness from the previous night’s dosage can affect your safety, the safety of those around you and even put lives at risk.

• They can be highly addictive ‘ creating the danger that the body will never really learn to sleep on its own again

A far better choice is to consider more natural approaches. You can do simple things like avoiding caffeine and television before bedtime, or practicing relaxation exercises to help you unwind. You can also seek out a natural herbal supplement that will help you achieve the solid sleep you need in order to maintain good health and take care of your heart. Trying these more natural approaches may be just the thing to safely help you obtain a solid nights rest without the risks associated with other traditional medications.

There you have it. The evidence is overwhelming; getting sensible amounts of good quality sleep is essential to achieving optimal health and particularly a healthy heart. Ultimately it’s up to you to make the right decision regarding your individual health. Remember… more zzz’s equals less disease!

What Non-Prescription Sleep Aids Actually Work?

People suffering from insomnia need help. Sleep is an integral part of a healthy lifestyle, and lack of sleep can affect everything from attitude to physical performance, among other things. However, prescription drugs make people nervous because of their side effects as well as the risk of addiction. Therefore, many patients suffering from insomnia prefer the idea of non-prescription sleep aids. Many people though don’t know what sort of help is available without a prescription, and they question how effective it is. OTC Sleep AidsOver the counter, or OTC, sleep aids contain antihistamines. While people normally use antihistamines to combat allergies, they can also promote drowsiness, and therefore sleep. Even though there is anecdotal evidence from patients regarding the effectiveness of these pills, the claims have not been backed up by research. Additionally, OTC sleep aids have a number of side-effects including daytime drowsiness, blurred vision, dizziness, forgetfulness, and dry mouth.Herbal RemediesIf one wishes to avoid the antihistamines, they may look into herbal treatments. Melatonin, a hormone that regulates the body’s sleep-wake cycle, is available as a dietary supplement. Research exists that shows melatonin indeed helps patients with insomnia. However, the dose is important in properly treating the condition, and a further study shows that 0.3 mg may be the ideal dosage for most people. Like OTC drugs, melatonin has side-effects, such as drowsiness, itching and headaches. Additionally, it can cause problems for people with allergies or immune system issues, so those individuals shouldn’t take melatonin. Other herbal treatments, including tryptophan, chamomile, and valerian (among others) reportedly aid in sleep; however research has been inconclusive as to their effectiveness. The inherent risk of side-effects from these herbal remedies must be taken into account as well.Other AlternativesWhile most people think of taking some form of medication to treat ailments, with insomnia simpler measures exist that can be performed with little or no risk to the patient’s health. First, a person should monitor their diet and exercise to ensure they aren’t doing things that are counter-productive to rest too close to bedtime, such as ingesting caffeine. Additionally, people need to reserve their bed for sleep. To ensure their brain associates the bed with sleeping, patients should do all other activities, including watching television or reading, in a different location. Lastly, a variety of relaxation techniques, from daily yoga to progressive relaxation while lying in bed, aid in promoting rest.Even with the wide variety of non-prescription sleep aids available to the person locked in the grips of insomnia, patients need to avoid most of those treatments prior to speaking with their doctor. Non-invasive changes can generally be made without risk, but a physician is the best person to determine which, if any, of the other treatments will be most effective for an individual patient.

How To Relax And Fall Asleep

Many people that suffer from restlessness or insomnia on a regular basis are looking for ways to relax and fall asleep each night. There are many different techniques that can be used by an person to help them fall asleep each night and each method will need to be tested to judge each method’s effectiveness. The person may have to try several different methods before finding one that works well for them.One of the most effective ways to relax and fall asleep is to change the person’s lifestyle to make sure that there are no distractions or exciting events occurring near the person’s bed time that could reawaken their mind making it harder to fall asleep. Experts recommend not watching television in the bed before going to sleep and doing other tasks in the bed, such as working or reading, will condition the body to be alert while lying in the bed. It is believed that the more that the bed is used for sleeping only, the more conditioned the person will become to falling asleep quickly once they have gotten into the bed.Some people choose to use relaxation techniques to prepare them for getting into the bed and going to sleep at night. Taking a warm bath scented with lavender or other relaxing scents is one way that people relax their mind and body before going to bed. Meditation and light exercise are other ways that people use to prepare their body for going to bed each night. Making sure that the person gets into the bed and immediately tries to go to sleep can also go a long way towards falling asleep quickly each night.Some people need the help of sleep aids to relax and fall asleep each night. This can occur for many reasons including increased stress, lifestyle changes, new medications, or physical injury. There are several different types of sleep aids that can be used by people for sleeping through during the night and each one has its benefits.The most commonly used sleep aids for falling asleep quickly are sleep aids that include drugs that can help a person sleep. These sleep aids can be purchased either over the counter at the person’s local grocery store or with a doctor’s prescription from the local pharmacist. Often containing a sedative, these sleep aids have an increased risk of dependence for people that take them on a regular basis, so it is very important for the person to follow all instructions for the sleep aid carefully to make sure that they do not put themselves at risk for chemical dependence.

The Long Search For An Insomnia Natural Cure

A growing number of Americans are being affected by a condition called insomnia each year. These people can barely find the energy to get out of bed each morning and do the work that needs to be done. And while the focus is here at home, this condition is affecting nearly one third of the earth’s population. So it’d be safe to say that an insomnia natural cure that works is needed.For those of you who don’t know what this condition is, it’s basically the inability to go to sleep or even stay asleep. Your body doesn’t function very well without this seemingly inevitable process, or even at all. However, there’s that huge number of people who can’t get any sleep including myself. It’s not as simple as closing your eyes at night and hoping for the best.If you’ve ever felt like you didn’t have the energy to sit up, try experiencing that seven days a week. That’s just one of the several symptoms that come with sleep loss as we search for an insomnia natural cure. And in a world where jobs require you to keep on the move or use your mind all day to come up with ideas or even type, the inability to focus has a strong toll on your job and your daily life.So why don’t we just go to the doctor or visit a local store to find some herbal remedy? The sad truth is that neither alternative is truly beneficial. While your herbal remedies for sleep may work for a few months, the people who have the long term form of insomnia will eventually become immune to the ingredients of these capsules. And is there really any hope at the doctor’s office?When you go to the doctor looking for an insomnia natural cure, there’s not much he or she can do for you. If the problem has just appeared and hasn’t been around a while, there’s not a whole lot to worry about because it can go away. But for those of us who have dealt with it for months or even years, the only option seems to be prescription sleep aids.It’s easy enough to remember to take a pill every day, wouldn’t you agree? If only it was that simple, because what you’re taking can take a toll on your health. While the ever-growing number of commercials are coming on television nowadays to promote the benefits of these sleep aids, they rarely mention the side effects. If you like hallucinations, maybe it’s for you, but I’ll have to pass. And just like drug addicts who become addicted to medications, you can become as easily addicted to these prescription sleep aids. So the search continues for that insomnia natural cure that works without all the side effects.

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My experience from taking FrequenSea for just two weeks is truly amazing, I’m 42 years old and notice a big change in my energy levels. Not to mention that I sleep so much better at night. At one time I was taking prescription sleep aids, but not any more.

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You’ve done all that sleep habits stuff to make your child go to sleep or stay asleep. Nothing worked. Now you’re desperate enough to try some natural sleep aids for children but you don’t know where to begin. There are more natural sleep aids in the stores than there are prescription sleeping pills. Here’s a fast and easy guide to 5 popular natural sleep aids for children. 1. Melatonin What is melatonin? It’s a hormone secreted from the pineal gland in our brain. Thought to help our bodies’ sleep-wake cycle i.e when it’s time to go to sleep and when it’s time to wake up. Melatonin decreases the time it takes to fall asleep (”sleep latency”), and may increase the duration of sleep. Melatonin Fast Facts The most popular natural sleep aid for helping adults with jet lag or effects of shift work Also popularly used as a sleep aid for children, more than 20 studies have shown that melatonin helps children with insomnia to fall asleep quickly Side effects: daytime drowsiness headaches, dizziness, a “heavy-head” feeling, stomach discomfort Safe with short-term use (three months or less) as concluded by the U.S. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (2005) Dosage should not exceed 3 milligrams and it’s not recommended by healthcare professionals to give to kids younger than 10. Being a popular OTC sleep aid, pharmaceutical grade synthetic form is available in many brands; AVOID natural forms that are basically melatonin derived from animal’s pineal glands due to possible contamination It must be noted however, nearly all studies of melatonin were on “special needs” children i.e. autism, other development disabilities, blind. Their bodies either don’t produce melatonin or do so only erratically. 15% of pediatricians still recommend melatonin as a sleep aid for children with insomnia, according to the medical journal Pediatrics (2002) Before Using Melatonin As A Children Sleep Aid: -discuss with your pediatrician to rule out medical reasons for insomnia, such as breathing difficulties or behavioral conditions such as attention-deficit disorder - parents should first try techniques to change the child’s sleep behavior 2. Chamomile (Matricaria recutita) What is chamomile? It’s one of nature’s oldest herbal sleep aid used for centuries. It is also one of the gentlest herbs making it so popular as a children sleep aid. The active ingredients are flavonoids namely, chrysin and apigenin, believed to reduce restlessness helping one feel more relaxed and more prepared to sleep. It also has anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties. That’s why it’s also popularly used in cases of stomach irritation. Safe for both adults and children. It does not lead to dependency and has not been shown to have any side effects. However, it may cause allergic reactions in people who have plant or pollen allergies. Most often drunk as a tea, which has a mild, pleasant flavor. Also available for internal use in capsule or tincture form Known as a ‘plant doctor’ stimulating the health of other plants, you will find it popularly combined with other herbs to make standardized herbal remedies.However, this also means you have to use with caution if your child is on other drug therapies. It may increase the effects of other sleep aids. 3. Valerian (Valeriana officinalis) What is valerian? A herbal sleep aid that is also one of the top 3 popular OTC sleep aids for children. Its active ingredient is still unclear therefore how it works is unclear too. Generally thought to help reduce the time to get to sleep and possibly improve sleep quality. It also eases nervous tension, muscle tension and anxiety Generally safe when taken in recommended dosages. However, high doses of valerian can cause nausea, headaches, dizziness, vivid dreams, weakened heartbeat and even paralysis. It works well in combination with other sedative herbs. Valerian and lemon balm preparation is the most popular combo sleep aid for children since a study done in Germany showed fast and significant improvement for children under 12 with restlessness or dyssomnia (sleep disorder). 4. Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis) What is lemon balm? It’s an aromatic mint plant recognized by European herbalists for its ability to help induce sleep and ease nervousness. In Germany, lemon balm preparations have been approved for treatment of nervous insomnia. It also protects the gastrointestinal tract against ulcers. Therefore, lemon balm is a popular remedy for insomnia accompanied by a nervous stomach. Taken as a tea, lemon balm is quite tasty. When used as a sleep aid for children, the dosage according to the German study are valerian and lemon balm tablets with 160 mg of valerian root dry extract and 80 mg of lemon balm leaf dry extract. It is not associated with any toxicity or side effects. 5. Passion flower (Passiflora incarnata) What is passion flower? This herb, used by the Aztecs as a sedative, helps relax the mind and body to induce restful sleep. The active ingredient, harmine, and related compounds help inhibit the breakdown of serotonin. It also contains chrysin, the same flavonoid found in chamomile. It is an especially helpful sleep aid for sleep disorders caused by chronic pain, muscle conditions and anxiety. Taken as a tea, tincture or as capsules. Safe for use as either a sleep aid for children or adults. However, because the most common side effect of passion flower is drowsiness, don’t take it unless you plan to sleep for while. Now that you know these 5 natural sleep aids for children, always consult a licensed healthcare provider first if you are thinking of using any of them for your child. Also, you should tell your healthcare provider about all of the supplements and medication your child may be taking so that he can evaluate any potential drug-supplement interactions. It’s not easy to find appropriate supplement brands for these 5 popular natural sleep aids for children. The supplies are usually in adult dosage or in different combinations not according to the studies for children sleep aids. Find out what’s available on the market in this compiled list of Natural Sleep Aids For Children This information is brought to you by OTC Sleep Aids.com

Prescription sleeping medication like Rozerem seems promising without the problems of dependence and rebound insomnia. However, people continue to look to OTC sleep aids as alternatives. These may not boast the same effectiveness as prescription sleeping medication and their hangover side effects are infamous. Here are the 5 actual reasons observed why OTC sleep aids are still very popular. 1. It’s convenient. That’s obvious. The most popular ones are the antihistamines that have FDA’s approval for use as OTC sleep aids so you don’t have to get a doctors’ prescription. It is a recognized fact today that having the occasional or transcient insomnia due to work or lifestyle circumstances is common. OTC sleep aids are recognized to be useful in such situations. The only problem is that some people might start to rely on them out of habit and take them long term instead. 2. There are less surprises. These antihistamines have been around for a long time, much longer than the popular prescription sleeping medications like Ambien and Lunesta. Antihistamines are decades old while non-benzodiazepines like Ambien emerged in the 1990s. Hence, the probability of unknown dangerous side effects is much lower for antihistamine OTC sleep aids. As it is, doctors are usually wary of new sleeping medications that have not stood the test of time. This is one of the 2 major objections from prescribers that any drug company faces when marketing a new medication. Painful lessons were learnt with the withdrawal of drugs like Vioxx, the painkiller and Avandia for diabetes. It must be noted however that supplement OTC sleep aids differ from antihistamines. Supplements do not require FDA approval as over the counter sleep aids and hence, long term safety have not been documented all along. 3. The lesser evil. The side effects of OTC sleep aids are deemed the lesser evil. Most people put up with the infamous hangover side effect or have simply adapted how they take the OTC sleep aids e.g. smaller doses or just sleep earlier and longer. Granted these hangovers and other related side effects can be extreme for some people. However, next day drowsiness seems less bizarre than unconsciously sleepwalking on prescription sleeping medications. FDA has recently required that stronger warnings were added to sleeping medications’ labels about these side effects that can be life threatening. 4. Cheaper than a can of coke. An OTC sleep aid costs only 30-40 cents compared to Lunesta at $3-$4 a tab. People are happy to resolve their sleeplessness at lower cost and lower risks. Cost is always a major deciding factor if the additional benefits of prescription sleeping medication don’t measure up to the price difference. 5. Instant lifestyle. Change is constant and fast for this sleepless 24/7 generation. We want both instant gratification and instant solutions for our stress filled lives. OTC sleep aids are readily pocketed along with our blackberrys and ipods. It goes without saying that there is no magic panacea for insomnia. Over the counter sleep aids are best used for the occasional insomnia at recommended doses. You will develop tolerance if used longer than necessary. As with prescription sleeping medications, OTC sleep aids must be taken responsibly i.e. being aware of possible drug interactions with any current medication, resolving the underlying cause of insomnia, etc. Next, find out what OTC sleep aids are in the market with OTC Sleep Aids: A Quick Overview You can also find Natural Options with the Fast Guide To 5 Popular Natural OTC Sleep Aids.

Your insomnia comes and goes? You need at least 5 hours of sleep? You want something fast that you can get without a prescription. Besides, you really don’t want to mess with those presumably “heavy duty” prescription sleeping medications. So here are the fast facts about non prescription sleep aids to guide you. Usually, non prescription sleep aids generally refer to 2 types of sleep aids. They are the antihistamines and the dietary supplements. Antihistamines: 1. How do they work? The ones used as non prescription sleep aids have been around for awhile, probably since you were a kid. These are the very drugs you take when you have cough and cold or allergies. These antihistamines are very popular not just because they are effective for your cough and allergies. You recover faster because the “benefit” of their side effect of prolonged drowsiness “forces” your body to rest and recover. In the same way, you are basically using the drowsiness side effect to get you to sleep 2. What are they? Antihistamines used as non prescription sleep aids consist of 2 types of active ingredients i.e. diphenhydramine and doxylamine 3. Popular brands are: Sominex, Nytol, Tylenol PM, Benadryl (Diphenhydramine compound) Unisom, Equate (Doxylamine compound) 4. Side effects that are common: Prolonged drowsiness or hangover effect that impairs driving, etc Dizziness Fatigue Headaches Reduced alertness Vomiting Racing heartbeat and constipation are also becoming frequent complaints in this group of non prescription sleep aids. 5. Who Can’t Use Them However, there are certain groups of people who cannot use the antihistamines as a non prescription sleep aid. As with any medication, they are not for pregnant or nursing women due to unknown risk of drug transfer to the fetus and young infant on mother’s milk. You are advised against taking diphenhydramine (Sominex, Nytol) if you have: Heart problems Glaucoma Enlarged prostate Especially for Unisom, you can’t even take them if you’ve got asthma or bronchitis. 6. Other precautions when you take the antihistamines. Avoid alcohol. It increases the sedative effects of the pills. Even a small amount of alcohol combined with sleep aids can make you feel dizzy, confused or faint. Never mix with a sleeping pill, sedative, tranquilizer, or another antihistamine. This could lead to dangerous drug-drug interaction outcomes. Dietary Supplements: 2 of the most popular dietary supplements used as non prescription sleep aids are melatonin and valerian. This is followed by chamomile, a much milder non prescription sleep aid, that is frequently combined with other herbs as supplements in capsules. Melatonin It’s a hormone secreted from the pineal gland in our brain. It regulates our bodies’ internal clock or circadian rhythm i.e when it’s time to go to sleep and when it’s time to wake up. Melatonin has created much interest among researchers; you will find over 14,000 studies on this hormone compared to valerian with 556 studies, according to the National Institute of Health (NIH) database. Melatonin is probably the most widely prescribed among herbal non prescription sleep aids. Even 15% of pediatricians who prescribe sleep aids for children with insomnia recommend melatonin, according to the medical journal Pediatrics (2002). Its synthetic form is available in many brands; AVOID natural forms that are basically melatonin derived from animal’s pineal glands due to possible contamination Side effects that are common are daytime drowsiness headaches, dizziness, a “heavy-head” feeling, stomach discomfort It may interact with common drugs Valerian It’s a plant; its active ingredient is still unclear therefore how it works is unclear too. Valerian appears to increase the body’s available supply of the neurotransmitter gamma aminobutyric acid (GABA). It’s generally thought to help reduce the time to get to sleep. Valerian is less effective than prescription sleep medication. One possible advantage of valerian, however, is that it does not seem to cause as much of a “hangover” effect the next day. Also, people taking sleeping pills sometimes have a temporary worsening of insomnia when they are discontinued (rebound insomnia), an effect that hasn’t been reported with valerian. Available in many brands but hard to compare as the potencies of various ingredients vary from preparation to preparation. Generally safe when taken in recommended dosages. However, high doses of valerian can cause nausea, headaches, dizziness, vivid dreams, weakened heartbeat and even paralysis. Not to be used by pregnant or nursing women like any other non prescription sleep aid It may strongly react with other prescription on non prescription sleep aids, alcohol, and other medications Chamomile It’s one of nature’s oldest herbal sleep aid used for centuries. It is best known as one of the gentlest non prescription sleep aids around. The active ingredients are flavonoids namely, chrysin and apigenin, believed to reduce restlessness helping one feel more relaxed and more prepared to sleep. It also has anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties. That’s why it’s also popularly used in cases of stomach irritation. Known as a ‘plant doctor’ stimulating the health of other plants, you will find it in countless brands as it is popularly combined with other herbs to make standardized herbal remedies. It does not lead to dependency and has not been shown to have any side effects. However, it may cause allergic reactions in people who have plant or pollen allergies. Avoid using with other prescription on non prescription sleep aids, alcohol and medication as it may increase their effects Find out other options like Natural Non Prescription Sleep Aids with the Fast Guide To 5 Popular Natural OTC Sleep Aids. This guide is provided by OTC-Sleep-Aids.com