The Top 5 Natural Sleep Aids

Sleep is an essential part of your well being. When you get enough sleep each night, you help both your body and your brain. But, some people have a hard time falling asleep or staying asleep through the night. If you aren't getting the sleep you need, and have already tried improving your bedtime routine, you might consider taking a natural sleep aid. These can help you get some rest without taking a prescription medication. To help you get some sleep, here are five of the best natural sleep aids on the market.

Liquid Sleep Multimineral w/Magnesium & Calcium Citrate by MaryRuth’s

Easy to Swallow

If you struggle to swallow pills, you'll appreciate this great tasting liquid natural sleep aid.

Best Overall

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Taking a natural sleep aid doesn’t need to be a challenge. With this great tasting liquid, it’s easy to get down. It’s a pineapple flavored mixture that may be able to help you get some sleep. In addition o other vitamins and minerals, this sleep aid contains magnesium and boron. This combination is thought to help calm and relax the body. When you’re calm and relaxed, you can reach a deeper sleep. This product is vegan and non-GMO. It does not contain melatonin. There aren’t any nightshades, wheat, dairy, nuts, or soy either. There isn’t any sugar. This product comes in a 32 ounce BPA free plastic bottle. Each serving is two tablespoons, or 1-fluid-ounce. This means there are 32 doses in the container.

Pros

Great taste
Includes many vitamins and minerals
Free from many common allergens

Cons

The texture is a bit chalky going down

Sleep Fairy Natural Sleep Aid

Natural Herbal Ingredients

You won't find any toxic ingredients in this natural sleep aid.

Runner Up

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If you prefer to swallow a capsule instead of taking a liquid dose, here’s a good quality natural sleep aid. It uses only natural herbal ingredients. Among the active ingredients you’ll find chamomile, valerian root, and magnolia bark extract. Also included are magnesium, melatonin, and GABA. These ingredients have been specially formulated in a way that may help you get a good night of sleep. These capsules are non-GMO. They’re vegan, and sterate-free. There are no drugs inside these pills, they are all natural. A serving size is two capsules, and there are 60 capsules in the bottle. Each bottle will last for approximately one month.

Pros

All natural ingredients
Easy to swallow veggie capsule
Sterate-free

Cons

Some people may find taking two capsules makes them too groggy the next morning – may be better to start with one

Benevolent Natural Melatonin Liquid Nighttime Sleeping Aid

Liquid Melatonin

Just 30 drops of this natural sleep aid may be enough to help you fall asleep.

Best Tasting

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A hormone made by your pineal gland, melatonin has been shown to help control your sleep-wake cycles. Supplementing your melatonin might be a good way to help your body get back into the right rhythm when it comes to sleep. This liquid melatonin is easy to swallow. There’s a great raspberry vanilla flavor. The product is alcohol, sugar, and gluten free. The ingredient list is very short, containing 3-mg of melatonin, vegetable glycerin, deionized water, and natural flavors. There aren’t any toxic chemicals inside. Each bottle comes with a dropper top, so you can easily measure the dose that you need. The recommend dosage is 30 drops, or 1-ml. There are 59 servings in each bottle, so each one will last nearly two months.

Pros

Great taste
Almost two month’s worth of doses
Simple ingredient list

Cons

The flavor is very sweet, so if you don’t have a sweet tooth, it may be too sweet

RESCUE Sleep Liquid Melts Natural Sleep Aid

Inexpensive Natural Sleep Aid

Get some sleep without breaking the bank with this natural sleep aid.

Best on a Budget

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If you’re trying to get some sleep but don’t have a lot of money to spend, you might be disheartened by the cost of some natural sleep aids. The good news is that you don’t have to spend a ton to find one to try. This inexpensive natural sleep aid contains Dr. Bach’s special combination of five flower essences and White Chestnut. It’s a formula that may help reduce stress and provide calm. And when you aren’t as stressed, you might sleep better. These capsules aren’t swallowed like most pills. Instead, you place one directly onto your tongue. Then you let it stay there while it melts. There’s a natural sugar-free orange and vanilla flavor. The product is alcohol and gluten free. It contains fish gelatin, so it isn’t vegan or vegetarian. This product is non-habit forming. There are 28 capsules in the bottle.

Pros

Inexpensive way to try to get more sleep
Non-habit forming
Sugar-free formula

Cons

Takes some time to dissolve on your tongue

Luna Naturally Sourced Ingredients Sleeping Pills for Adults

GABA and L-THEANINE

This unique combination of natural ingredients might help you fall asleep and stay asleep.

Best Herbal Blend

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There’s a unique combination of herbal ingredients in this natural sleep aid that may help you fall asleep faster and stay asleep all night long. This product contains L-Theanine, which is an amino acid found in green tea. It also contains GABA, a neurotransmitter your body produces, that can also be found in fermented food. These special ingredients are thought to promote healthy sleep habits. Other ingredients include chamomile, lemon balm, and passion fruit. These were selected for their soothing abilities. The capsules are made from vegetable cellulose. The directions call for taking your serving 30-60 minutes before bed, with water. There are 60 capsules in the bottle. A recommend dose is two capsules, so each bottle will last about a month.

Pros

Contains GABA and L-Theanine
Good blend of natural ingredients
Pill is easy to swallow

Cons

Takes some time to kick in

Frequently Asked Questions

Will natural sleep aids help me get more sleep?

If you’re having trouble sleeping, it’s important to discuss the matter with your doctor before you start randomly popping pills. Your provider will know your medical background, and offer ideas for how you can get more sleep. If there’s a specific natural sleep aid you are interested in, be sure to talk about it. Your doctor can provide additional insight on how the product may work for you. Many people find that natural products help them get sleep, but they do not work for everyone.

Are natural sleep aids safe?

Again, you want to consult your doctor before taking any new medications, including natural ones. Just because something is natural doesn’t mean it won’t impact your body or mind. Natural ingredients can have side effects. For instance, melatonin can head to headaches, daytime sleepiness, stomach cramps, and more. If you have any unpleasant side effects, stop taking the sleep aid and discuss it with your doctor.

Will natural sleep aids make me groggy in the day?

Everyone reacts differently to natural sleep aids. Since there’s a chance that you may be groggy the next day, it’s best to start carefully. Try your first dose on a weekend, or another day when you don’t have to get up and run to work the next day. That way if you are a little groggy, it’s not as big of a deal. You might also try starting with a half a dose until you see how your body reacts.