People that have insomnia sometimes prefer to seek a natural remedy to treat it. Some natural cures include herbal remedies considered harmless to most people including chamomile tea and lemon balm. One must pay close attention that not all natural cures are considered safe. Herbal remedies sometimes contain prescription medicines, and due to their classification, are not always regulated.

Valerian root, kava kava, chamomile, lemon balm, St. John’s wort and passion flower are examples of herbal remedies and have been used as insomnia cures for centuries. It is important to note that the safety and effectiveness of these compounds have not been formally researched. Any studies on herbal remedies are not standardized and therefore difficult to interpret. They are not based on standardized studies like the ones completed for prescription drugs as commissioned by regulatory agencies like the FDA.

Many people suffering from insomnia take melatonin to help them fall asleep. Melatonin is actually a hormone produced by the pineal gland in the brain and it uses tryptophan, an amino acid, as a building block. Commercially produced melatonin is available in supplement form and it has been used for a variety of medical uses including as an insomnia cure. Of the natural remedies used for insomnia cures, melatonin is the best studied, but it still remains unregulated in the U.S. Studies proving the effectiveness of melatonin as an insomnia cure still remains unclear. Completed studies demonstrate the substance does help people go to sleep faster, however it does not appear to have an effect on total sleep time or daytime fatigue or sleepiness.

It must be duly noted that melatonin is a dietary supplement, not a drug, and therefore its quality and effectiveness is not regulated in the U.S. (The regulation of melatonin is not enforced in the U.S. of all the developing nations.) Being a strong hormone, melatonin can produce strong side effects, many are unknown, on many parts of the human body. People taking melatonin as an insomnia cure are, in a way, experimenting on themselves.

Since the FDA does not regulate natural remedies, their quality is not controlled. Any compound affecting body chemistry has the ability to produce potentially harmful side effects. Although some studies purport positive benefits from the use of natural remedies, the substances tested in the lab are often not the same ones available to the public. Cases involving the reporting of harmful and serious side effects from taking natural remedies have been documented. In some cases, prescription drugs were found to be added to herbal remedies.

Insomnia cures don’t always have to involve drugs, natural or chemical. One should note there are natural therapies available that help induce a restful night’s sleep without the use of drugs.

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