You toss and turn and count sheep, and you still can't get to sleep. If you don't want to or can't take a sleep medication, there are natural alternatives. People have relied on folk remedies for sleeplessness for hundreds of years. Modern medicine even provides scientific explanations for why some folk cures for insomnia and sleep problems work. Be aware that chronic insomnia can lead to, or be a symptom of, serious health problems, so if you need more than occasional help getting to sleep, consult a physician.
Warm Bath
Frustration and anxiety about the failure to get to sleep often leads to muscle tension, which exacerbates the problem. A warm bath relaxes tense muscles and may help you fall asleep. Adding epsom salts to your bath is an old remedy for tension, muscle aches and sleeplessness, as is adding oatmeal to a bath. The Doctors Book of Home Remedies recommends a warm bath a few hours before bedtime.
Chamomile Tea
People have used chamomile as a sleep aid for centuries, particularly in Europe. The flowers of the plant are dried and brewed as an herbal tea. Chamomile is thought to have a calming, and even sedative, effect on the body. Chamomile is a generally safe and mild herb, but some people are allergic, so seek expert advice if you aren't sure about using it for sleeplessness.
Lavender
The use of lavender for sleep problems is a very old folk remedy. The modern name for the old cure is aromatherapy. Filling pillows or sachets with lavender and putting them in bed with you has a soothing effect. In fact, the University of Maryland Medical Center points out that the scent of lavender may slow down the nervous system.
Warm Milk
Nearly everyone has heard that a glass of warm milk helps you fall asleep. A report by the USDA notes a link between sleep problems and low levels of magnesium in the body. The report suggests that the magnesium contained in milk may help raise levels in the body, thereby promoting better sleep over time. As an instant remedy, reports are mixed: it works for some people and not for others. If you want to try it, gently heat some milk in a pot on the stove. Do not boil.
Obscure Remedies
Traditional folk medicine would have you eat a raw onion right before bedtime to enable you to fall asleep fast. Cutting up an onion, putting it in a jar and smelling it is an alternative to eating the onion. Eating fried lettuce is an old French folk cure for sleeplessness.
