Over-the-counter, herbal, and home remedies
Over-the-counter medications for insomnia rely on antihistamines to sedate the brain.
These medications should be avoided because they can cause grogginess the next day, as well as constipation, confusion, and even delirium, especially in older people.
Lots of people try to treat their insomnia with alcohol. This is true that alcohol helps you fall asleep, but it interferes with sleep later in the night, so drinking actually makes sleep worse overall.
Several dietetic supplements, including melatonin and valerian root, are said to help sleep, but there is little evidence to support the claims.
Unlike the drugs, manufacturers of dietary supplements are not required to prove that their products are safe or effective before marketing them.
Using an herbal insomnia cure is not a common practice simply because there is not as great a profit from selling herbal insomnia cures as there is from selling man-made insomnia drugs.
Serotonin plays a major role in proper sleep; scientists have long suspected serotonin to be the primary factor in getting a good night's sleep.
Serotonin is a mainly neurotransmitter in the brain and is synthesized by the body in the pineal gland. When the rate of serotonin is low or depleted, synapses between the nerves in the brain is significantly altered. Low serotonin rates can cause depression, aggressiveness, and mental illness.
Note: Serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are used to treat depression as they help maintain the supply of serotonin in the brain; however, a common side effect is insomnia.
That is the disadvantage of Serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs); they often leave the patient with insomnia despite the increase in serotonin levels!
It is currently being studied heavily by many pharmaceutical companies because of its effects on sleep. This has been shown to increase the length of the deepest sleep periods, REM sleep, and thus increase the quality of sleep.
It is caused by the increase in serotonin levels. In addition it seems to be free of any significant side effects; thus making it one of the best herbal insomnia cures.
Moreover, expect three to four weeks of taking the drug to elapse before its effects will be seen.
| 
