Increasingly, more and more people are reporting that they are not getting enough sleep.  Of course, being deprived of sleep can harm our lives in various ways.  Lack of sleep has been shown to disrupt hormones in the body that can lead to obesity.  Sleeplessness can have a variety of other negative effects on our bodies.  Sleep problems can also lead to serious health issues including cancer and heart disease.

Even though we are stressed and exhausted, when we try to lie down at night often we cannot sleep.  There are, however, ways to get our sleep schedules back on track without taking potentially harmful medicines.  There are quite a few effective natural remedies for sleeping.  Many of these remedies also promote muscle relaxation.

Health Magazine recently published a list of the top natural sleep remedies that should help people sleep soundly again.

Magnesium and Calcium -- When you take magnesium and calcium supplements at the same time they are effective at helping induce sleep.  It is healthier to take these supplements together because sometimes heart problems can result from taking calcium alone.

Wild lettuce -- Wild lettuce has been known to calm restless feelings and help with anxiety.  The good news is you don’t have to eat tons of lettuce either.  Look for a wild lettuce supplement to take before going to sleep.

Hops -- Beer drinkers are already familiar with the power of hops.  Hops can also be used as a sedative for insomnia.  Take this supplement before bed in an extract form.

Aromatherapy -- Lavender can be used in aromatherapy to help with sleeplessness.  Some people put it on their pillow before bedtime.

Melatonin -- Melatonin is the hormone in our body that controls sleep.  As a result, taking low doses of melatonin can help to induce sleep.

Yoga/Meditation -- Peaceful yoga stretches can calm you down before bed and help you relax.  Also experts recommend that meditating before sleep can also help you have a restful night’s sleep.

L-theanine -- L-theanine is an amino acid that comes from green tea.  It is a good idea to take this in a supplement form instead of from the beverage. (Drinking green tea doesn’t offer enough L-theanine to make a big difference in your sleep pattern.)

Valerian -- Valerian is a very common remedy for insomnia.  It not only can make sleep deeper, but it can enhance the speed at which you fall asleep.

These natural remedies should help you get your sleep schedule back on track in a gentle and non-invasive manner.  It is important to be proactive so that you can get enough sleep every night before the lack of sleep harms your system.  And certainly don’t stress out about not getting enough sleep, as this can be counterproductive.  Stressful thoughts can lead to more anxiety and more sleepless nights!

Sources
health.com
washingtonpost.com