SLEEP & HEALTH
5 Organic Herbs & Extracts That Work Better Than Melatonin
Let’s dig into why melatonin shouldn’t be your long-term solution and take a look at five ingredients that are better for you and more effective at helping you achieve restorative sleep.
We all know how much better we perform when we’re well-rested rather than sleep deprived. We’ve also encountered countless news stories that reference research studies warning of the dangers caused by continued poor sleep. Everything from high blood pressure, diabetes, and memory loss, to poor muscle growth, depression, obesity, and reduced sex drive.
And melatonin is one of the most popular sleep aids that people reach for in order to improve their sleep. Melatonin is naturally produced by the human body so supplementing with it should be entirely safe, right? Not so fast.
Let’s dig a little deeper.
What is Melatonin?
Humans naturally produce the hormone melatonin in their pineal gland of the brain when darkness comes in the evening. It just so happens that most humans no longer go to bed according to the sun – and there are numerous things keeping us up at night. Stimulants like cell phones, TVs, eating late, alcohol, etc. are keeping us up way past when our brains naturally produce melatonin and thus many have decided to add melatonin to their bedtime routine – whenever that is.
We naturally produce melatonin so it must be safe to consume melatonin supplements, right? It’s not quite that simple. The melatonin in supplements may be made from synthetic components (most common), animals, and microorganisms. The use of melatonin supplements is known to cause dizziness, headache, and nausea. The long-term safety of melatonin supplementation requires further investigation, however, there is evidence of being habit forming, especially at larger doses.
A word about melatonin dosing: A healthy body produces between 10 and 80 micrograms a night. Supplements found in stores and online typically contain 5 to 20 milligrams per serving. To put that into perspective, 1 milligram is equal to 1,000 micrograms! Not only are side effects especially noted at higher doses, it can make sleep problems even worse by disrupting your body’s own circadian rhythms.
And because melatonin is a hormone, there are concerns that hormonal development could be affected by supplementation. With a growing use of electronic devices in even young kids, more and more parents are turning to melatonin to help their kids sleep. This may end up causing more harm than good in the long run.
Last bit of food for thought regarding melatonin: Over-the-counter use of melatonin has been banned for many years in Europe and several other countries.
Replace Your Melatonin Supplement
Try a sleep aid that contains truly natural plant-derived ingredients rather than synthetically made melatonin.
Many Common Sleep Aids Come With Side Effects
While there are seemingly infinite remedies available, an untold many of them come with troublesome side effects that are sometimes just as bad as the problem trying to be solved. From habit-forming over-the-counter drugs known to cause confusion and grogginess upon waking to prescription sleep aids that have become known for causing sleep accidents (sleepwalking, eating, driving, etc.) and even violence. Kevin James and Roseanne Barr are celebrities who tell horror stories related to taking a very common prescription sleep aid, for example.
It’s no wonder that many people feel frustrated and as if there is nothing they can do to get their sleep and lives back on track.
Celebs discuss Ambien:
Why Plant-Based Ingredients?
Did you know there are several plants that research has proven have compounds and elements that, if consumed prior to bedtime and as part of a healthy routine, can have profound effects on your body’s ability to attain healthy sleep without all of the awful side effects? Let’s dig deeper.
1. Chamomile
The MVP of pre-bedtime teas is a key ingredient for reducing anxiety, relaxing muscles, and inducing sleepiness. It is also a mild sedative. While drinking a cup or two of chamomile tea an hour or so before retiring to bed helps many beat insomnia and get to sleep, many report waking during the night to relieve-oneself. Once awake again, many have difficulty getting back to sleep.
Consuming a high-quality chamomile extract from the chamomile plant is known to produce the same sleep-inducing effects as the tea with the added benefit of not having to wake and relieve yourself in the middle of the night.
2. Hops
Hops is another naturally-derived ingredient known to have sedative effects. They’re not just for craft beers though. Hops are known to promote sleepiness, improve sleep quality, and reduce stress.
While you certainly can drink alcoholic or even non-alcoholic beers before bed, consuming liquids can of course lead to night wakings.
Hops extract on the other hand, can be consumed in non-liquid form with the same benefits.
3. Black Seed Oil
Ever had trouble falling asleep due to muscle soreness? Us too. Black seed oil is known for its anti-inflammatory properties, its ability to improve sleep quality, and its ability to reduce anxiety.
Black seed oil, also known as black caraway, black cumin, and black onion seed, comes from a plant called Nigella sativa. This flowering plant native to Eastern Europe and Western Asia has been used in medicine for thousands of years due to its many healthy benefits.
4. Ashwagandha
Think of ashwagandha as a utility player in the world of herbal sleep remedies. It can reduce inflammation and stress, calm the central nervous system, and improve mood.
Also known as “Indian Ginseng,” ashwagandha comes from an evergreen shrub found in India, Africa and some parts of the Middle East. It is commonly consumed as a paste.
5. Cannabidiol (CBD)
There’s a growing body of research suggesting that CBD, full-spectrum CBD specifically, is a natural, non-addictive sleep aid. It can reduce stress and anxiety, extend REM cycles, and help maintain a healthy sleep-wake cycle.
CBD can be derived from both the hemp and marijuana plants. However, only hemp-derived CBD is federally legal across the entire United States due to the 2018 Farm Bill. CBD is made from the flower of the hemp plant and contains little to no THC, the compound that is known for producing a high feeling.
While there are a growing number of health-related success stories tied to CBD, this plant extract still has a stigma among many. And it’s difficult to advertise products containing CBD. We theorize that this is perhaps due to CBD’s ability to help with such a wide ranging list of health ailments, which could cause sales declines for pharmaceutical companies. But you’ll have to judge for yourself after you try a high-quality CBD product at the proper dose for your desired effect. We think you’ll view it as another plant-derived tool.
Will These Ingredients Cure My Insomnia?
Everybody is different and there are infinite reasons why great sleep may be evading you BUT these ingredients along with healthy sleep habits give your body a fighting chance at getting a consistently great night’s rest.
There certainly is no magic cure for everyone’s sleep problems but scientific research shows that consuming high-quality, organic, plant-derived herbs and extracts such as those in this article produce great sleep for many.
Can Natural Solutions Really Compete With Medications and Drugs?
Natural herbs and extracts can be extremely helpful to those suffering from insomnia and other sleep related issues. In fact, they are often reported to work significantly better and with little to no side effects than over-the-counter and prescriptions drugs. Natural ingredients are widely considered extremely safe and effective.
While many report that no one ingredient does the trick for their sleep on an ongoing basis, combining the sleep inducing qualities of several sleep-linked herbs and extracts creates a potent force that improves sleep quality without the nasty side effects that many alternatives come with.
What Do You Recommend For Great Sleep?
We here at Rado Life view tackling sleep issues similarly to building a house. Just as you wouldn’t build a house using only one tool, you shouldn’t try to tackle tough sleep problems with only one ingredient. Load your tool belt with several powerful natural ingredients to help your body achieve the restful sleep you deserve and need.
If you’re fed up with getting consistently poor sleep, we encourage you to try a high-quality product containing all 5 of these sleep-friendly ingredients. They’re known to help even the most stubborn sleep issues.
We wish you many nights of rejuvenating sleep and many days of productive energy!
Seeking More Restful Sleep?
Calm your body and mind without the use of synthetic melatonin, antihistamines, or prescription drugs.
Benefits of The Plant-Derived Ingredients Mentioned In this article:
More Deep Sleep
Deep sleep is especially important so you can wake rested and stay healthy.
Longer REM Cycles
REM sleep is important for repairing tissue and strengthening the immune system.
Calmer Nerves
Quickly calm your body and mind to support calmness.
Refreshed Mornings
Wake up refreshed and ready to take on your to-do list with no grogginess.