Melatonin is a great way to naturally and safely ameliorate your sleep problems (as we have discussed before). But did you know that you can make your melatonin more effective by taking certain natural sleep aids right along with it? We want to share with you the secrets to make melatonin more potent and effective than taking it on its own – no prescriptions or dangerous over-the-counter sleeping pills necessary!
#1: Help Overcome Insomnia With the Power of Hops
If you’re not a big beer drinker, you may not be familiar with hops. But if you are, then you probably have an idea of what we’re about to say. It’s not necessarily the alcohol in beer that makes you feel sleepy after a drink or two. More specifically, it’s the unique botanical compounds which naturally exist in the hops plant that are responsible for your drowsiness. As a matter of fact, it’s not uncommon for hops farmers to have a tough time keeping their employees awake during the harvest season. That’s how effective hops are at putting people to sleep!
#2: Get Very Good Rest With Valerian Root
Valerian root has been used by humans for centuries, dating all the way back to ancient Rome. While it has had a variety of uses over the years, the most common modern use for valerian root is to promote sleep and relaxation. The plant compounds in valerian root have a direct effect on GABA receptors in your brain. It helps your brain produce more GABA, which is a neurotransmitter famous for helping you feel relaxed and calm.
And that isn’t just hippy-dippy pseudoscience, either. A double-blind study from the highly respected Foellinge Health Centre in Sweden tested valerian root supplements on a sample group of elderly patients with sleep problems. 89% of those who participated in the study reported experiencing better sleep – with zero negative side effects!
#3: Can Chamomile Solve Sleep Problems? German Doctors Say Yes
Germany is one of the few first world countries where chamomile is so potent that some doctors will literally prescribe it to their patients in place of a pharmacologically derived sleeping pill or an anti-anxiety medication. Chamomile has strong clinical evidence for being effective against insomnia and anxiety because it also has a beneficial effect on GABA levels in the brain. The specific subgenus of chamomile which grows abundantly in Germany – most commonly referred to as German chamomile, blue chamomile, or true chamomile – is the form that is most effective for people who are struggling with their sleep.
And in case you hadn’t guessed yet, all three of these supplements – valerian root extract, hops extract, and German chamomile – have a synergistic effect to boost the effectiveness of melatonin!
How to Get More Hops, Valerian Root, and Chamomile
It’s not nearly as difficult as you might think to get more hops, valerian root, and chamomile into your daily routine. Here are a few tips to help get you started:
- Hops – Do not use our advice as an excuse to drink more beer (if anything, drinking too much too close to bedtime can make your sleep worse, not better!). Instead, try looking for a concentrated hops extract in liquid form. You can find bottles of it at almost any health food or vitamin store. Just a few drops under your tongue should do the trick.
- Valerian root extract – The most popular method of taking valerian root for sleep or anxiety problems is usually in capsule or tablet form. Most grocery stores and supplement stores will have valerian root on the same shelf next to their melatonin supplements. So look out for those the next time you’re ready to refill.
- Chamomile – Chamomile tea is by far and away the most popular way to get the calming, soothing effects of this plant into your system. But if you don’t like tea, there are alternatives. Chamomile supplements in capsule or tablet form are also quite popular. You might even be able to grow some chamomile for yourself because it is such a hearty and stable plant.
Most people – especially older adults who don’t have the time or the energy to swallow a handful of pills and capsules each night – prefer sleep supplements which include all of these ingredients in one pill. This is also a highly effective and convenient option. But at the end of the day, what matters most is what works best for you.
