Over the years, the number of people who have trouble sleeping has increased a lot. Unfortunately, these problems can lead to several chronic conditions which can pose a serious risk for your health. So, it’s more than understandable why so many people have turned to the use of over-the-counter (OCT) tablets for sleeping in order to help them get a good night’s sleep.
What Are Sleeping Tablets?
As the name implies, sleeping tablets are special medications designed to make you feel relaxed in order to treat insomnia or some other sleep disorder you might have. They are also great for those of you who have the ‘habit’ of waking up in the middle of the night and can’t go back to sleep.
Generally speaking, there are several types of these tablets that work differently. Some of them are designed to cause drowsiness, while the other types are designed to shut off one part of the brain that keeps you alert.
Which Ingredients Are The Most Popular in OTC Sleeping Pills?
Depending on your condition and problem severity, you can choose from some OCT sleep tablets which are gentler to your body with their natural main ingredients.
Rhodiola Rosea
Rhodiola is a herb that is quite common in the European and Asian mountains and is also known as arctic root or golden root. Instead of the leaves like in many other herbs, in this situation, it’s the Rhodiola’s roots that are considered adaptogens which means that they can help your body become resistant to stress.
Except for its root, this herb also contains more than 140 active ingredients where the most potent are rosavin and salidroside which are also great in treating anxiety, stress, depression, and fatigue. Practice shows that this herb can also help improve the symptoms of burnout that can mainly happen with chronic stress.
In addition to this, Rhodiola is also great in reducing fatigue which can lead to improved brain function. This, on the other hand, is closely related to having a good night’s sleep which explains why Rhodiola is a common ingredient in many different sleep tablets. By feeling mentally and physically relaxed, you’ll be able to get the most out of your night rest which will result in a better you.
Passionflower
The first thing you should know about passionflower is that there are around 500 species of it and only Passiflora Incarnata has proven great in treating insomnia and anxiety. Practice shows that using tablets that contain Passiflora Incarnata can boost the level of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) in the brain, lowering brain activity which can lead to relaxation and improved sleep. In Europe, this specific species is also used for treating agitation and restlessness. In America, some sorts of passionflower are also used for treating wounds, boils, earaches, and problems with the liver.
Valerian
Valerian is another type of herb that people use for treating insomnia and anxiety. It’s said that valerian can improve the oversleep quality and help people fall asleep faster. Usually, this herb can come in the form of sleep aid tablets, capsules or drops, and is quite popular in Europe and Asia, however, slowly but surely it became popular all around the world. The one thing you should know is that there are some risks and side effects when taking it, so understanding them while also consulting with a doctor is recommended.
Lavender Essential Oil
Lavender is a herb that is mainly used as an essential oil because it’s quite potent. Since this herb is mainly used to promote a feeling of relaxation and calmness, it’s also used for improving sleep. Lots of studies have been made and all of them show that lavender can affect the nervous system or more specifically, calm the central nervous system which can result in improved sleep.
Instead of taking it in the form of tablets, you can simply enjoy its benefits by using it as a healthy living essential oil . By diffusing this amazingly scented and extremely helpful oil, you will feel fresher during the day while helping you calm your mind and help you sleep faster and deeper.
Except for promoting sleep, lavender essentials oil may also reduce stress and anxiety which are quite common these days. Whether you feel stressed and anxious from being totally overwhelmed from work, or you simply have a hectic daily schedule that includes taking kids to school while also juggling other daily activities, this essential oil can help you calm your senses and feel more relaxed.
The best of all is that you can use it both at home and at work. All it takes is stocking on a diffuser and adding a few drops of this essential oil in it. Simple as that! And for those times when you’re outside and don’t have the time to diffuse it, inhale it from the bottle, or mix it with a carrier oil in a small roller bottle and apply it on your wrists and behind the ears so you can feel it all the time.
It’s of vital importance to mix the essential oil with a carrier oil (coconut, almond, jojoba, etc.) when applying it directly on the skin because pure essential oils are quite potent and can cause burns.
How to Safely Use Sleeping Pills?
Use Them as Prescribed
Whether you’re buying OCT or prescribed sleeping capsules, you should follow their instruction and dosage. To have a full effect, you should also make sure to get the needed eight hours of sleep so you could feel fresh and well-rested the next day. Otherwise, you risk feeling drowsy and with a ‘foggy mind’, without energy. Avoid using higher doses to get better sleep because this may cause sleepwalking, drowsiness the next morning and doing daily chores without remembering later on.
Try Using Them During the Weekends
When starting to use sleeping pills, doctors recommend using them during the weekends when you don’t have to go to work or on those days when you don’t need to wake up early. This is essential since you don’t know how you will react to them. In the end, these sleep tablets are designed to help you sleep faster and better, and not knock you out. If you notice that you don’t feel good, fresh and aware the very next day after taking them, you should consult with your doctor.
Take Them for a Short Period of Time
One of the most common questions about sleeping pills is whether is it bad to take sleeping pill or not. Truth is that they are best and safe to use for a short period of time, for instance, every night for about two to four weeks and that’s it. But even if you decide to take them for a short period of time, you should check in with your doctor.