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Browsing the shelves in your local supermarket or pharmacy, you’ll see lines of bottles of pills promising a better night’s sleep. But how do you know what will work? What’s more, you don’t want to be putting any old thing in your body - how do you know which chemicals you can trust?
At MattressNextDay, we’ve discovered the top five best selling natural sleep aids and supplements that not only help you drift off, but help you enjoy a deeper sleep. Teas, tablets and essential oils, if you find yourself struggling to get to sleep, give something on this list a try.
1. Valerian
Valerian root has been used in Traditional Chinese medicine for thousands of years. Scientists say Valerian helps increase the levels of gamma aminobutyric acid (GABA) in the brain, which helps decrease levels of anxiety and produces a calming effect.
Valerian root extract also contains antioxidants such as hesperidin and linarin, which have sleep-enhancing properties.
Valerian root can be made into tea, essential oil drops or capsules for easier consumption. Incredibly, the Sleepeezee Ortho Bespoke mattress range also uses the Valerian flower to produce a calming aroma, helping you drift off to sleep.
2. Lavender
Possibly the most well-known natural sleep aid, inhaling the beautiful scent of lavender can instantly make you sleepy.
Lavender essential oils contain chemical components like Linalool, Linalyl Acetate and Camphor, which relieve anxiety and act as sedatives.
Lavender oil is incredibly versatile - use it in a diffuser, rub it into your skin, or spray a lavender mist onto your pillow.
You can also hang a pouch of dried lavender near your head when you sleep, or keep it with your linen to make your bedding smell gorgeous - the options are endless!
3. Magnesium
Studies have found that magnesium can help your body create the naturally occurring chemical Melatonin, which regulates your sleep-wake cycle.
Lowering blood pressure and having anti-inflammatory properties, magnesium helps you stay in a deep, restful sleep, as well as helping you drift off quicker.
Green, leafy vegetables such as spinach, or seeds, nuts and even dark chocolate have high levels of magnesium.
However, if you’re not getting enough magnesium in your diet, you can easily find magnesium supplements on the high street and at many health food stores.
4. Passionflower
Passionflower fruit - or Maypop - has been used for thousands of years as a herbal sleep remedy. Similarly to chamomile, passionflower can be made into a tea.
Not to be confused with a passion fruit martini, passionflower tea can soothe your stomach and ease anxiety, helping you fall into a relaxing slumber.
Research suggests that not only does passionflower help you get to sleep, but also improves the overall quality of your sleep.
Add some dried passionflower to boiling water to make a delicious tea just before bedtime.
5. Sea Moss
Sea moss is currently a big hit, with TikTok health guru’s praising its numerous benefits such as improved energy levels and immune system response.
But can sea moss improve your sleep? Research suggests that sea moss can indeed improve the quality of your sleep, as it can reduce stress levels.
Sea moss also improves digestion and has anti-inflammatory properties, so you’ll be less likely to experience broken sleep.
Sea moss is also rich in nutrients that aid sexual health, so whatever you get up to in the bedroom, sea moss can help!
At MattressNextDay we’re all about helping you get the best night’s sleep possible. We love discovering and providing you with new tips and tricks to try, as well as providing you with the best mattresses on the market.
We do encourage you to do your own research before taking any supplements though, and consult with your doctor if you’re worried about any side effects!
