Millions of Americans take sleep medications rather than using Alternative approaches that are just as helpful with far less side effects.

Every once-in-awhile you may miss a night of sleep; it’s when this happens every night it becomes bothersome. Maybe you are someone who can fall asleep but you wake-up over and over. Sleep is only beneficial if it is re-cooperative.

The obvious signs of sleep deprivation are lack of concentration, confusion, moodiness, pain plus when you don’t sleep well your body begins to over-produce cortisol and adrenaline which leads to poor health due to a weakened immune system.

In most cases insomnia can be helped with a few simple herbs. Chamomile is a very mild herb that most consider first its soothing and relaxing properties are safe even for restless or irritable children. For adults chamomile can be helpful if pain, anxiety or tension is what’s keeping you awake. Just one teaspoon in eight ounces of boiling water steeped for 5-10 minutes may be all that you need.

Let’s say you’re the type of person who falls asleep easily but you wake up and can’t fall back to sleep because of thinking too much. You know what I mean the list of chores, things said or unsaid and the list goes on. Then Lemon Balm can work wonders because it quiets the mind. The terpenes in Lemon Balm give it its sedative properties this is good for over-active or nervous adults or children who can’t sleep. It’s also known as "The Gladdening Herb" for insomnia due to depression, tension, anxiety or nightmares Lemon Balm works wonders.

Valerian is a very powerful non-toxic, non-addictive sleep herb that has been used for centuries. It will put you to sleep rather quickly with out a feeling of grogginess the next. Valerian relieves anxiety relaxing the CNS without quieting vital functions. It helps insomnia brought on by stress, pain, tension or Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome. Because of its definitive odor you may want to use valerian in tincture form or as capsules.

You can use a sleep pillow be made with a small muslin bag or a sock (you now have a use for your un-matched socks) filled with herbs like Lavender, Chamomile, Roses or Hops (use only a small amount of Hops or you will think you’re sleeping with dirty socks).

An aromatherapy diffuser with the oils of Lemon Balm, Lavender, Marjoram and Clary Sage blended together can ease you into sleep and help to keep you there.

Take some time before bed to unwind, listen to some quiet music, a guided meditation, drink a cup of relaxing tea (using herbs like Chamomile, Lemon Balm, Catnip, Linden, Roses, Passion Flower or Oatstraw either alone or in combination). Take a nice warm bath filled with relaxing herbs, light some aromatherapy candles and ease your way into sleep. Sleep should be enjoyable not just a chore to get you to the next day.