What is a good (non narcotic/perscription) way to help fall asleep faster and stay asleep?
152144
As I understand it, sleep-aids are broken down into 2 types: "hypnotics" which essentially knock you out and "natural/hormonal supplements".  Ambien is a pretty mild prescription hypnotic (you can still get up to use the bathroom in the middle of the night and not stumble head first down the stairs).  Melatonin is a natural hormonal supplement that when taken helps relax you (and your mind) - some folks swear by it, some it does nothing for. There are many causes for sleeplessness, so it might help to have a talk with your DR. to figure out if there there is a cause such as diet, medication side-effect, etc. and then determine how to treat the problem.  I've heard some people try meditation and sound machines as well.
1048705
Try melatonin, a natural supplement.  Or valerian, an herb that induces sleep.
1184920
Drink a warm glass of milk and take Tylenol PM. It is non-addictive sleep formula. Plan to sleep 6 to 8 hours...restfull sleep!
339827
Tips for Getting A Better Night Sleep\n\n1. Avoid Alcohol\n* Alcohol can cause restlessness during the night. Caffeine and nicotine have substances in them that will keep you awake.\n\n2. Avoid Smoking\n* Nicotine has substances in it that will keep you awake.\n\n3. Avoid Caffeine\n* Caffeine has substances in it that will keep you awake.\n\n4. Exercise regularly\n* But do not exercise near your bedtime.\n\n5. Avoid sleep interruptions\n* Don't sleep with the pet, close your door, minimize light and noise.\n\n6. Relax before bedtime\n* A warm bath or light snack\n\n7. Avoid liquids before bedtime\n* Limits having to use the bathroom at night.\n\n8. Avoid long naps during the day\n* Naps can disrupt your sleeping pattern.\n\n9. Avoid trying to sleep\n* the more you "try" to sleep, the more difficult it becomes.\n\n10. Get up at the same time each morning\n* Too much time in bed can lead to restless sleep.\n\n11. Use your bed for sleeping\n* Not for unrelated activities like reading or watching tv.\n\n12. Check your medications\n* Medications might increase your sleep difficulties.
169860
Actually, warm tea is a great soothing agent. A hot bath works well too! A REALLY BAD book always puts me to sleep. *grin* Seriously though, physicians recommend keeping a routine, no matter how poorly you sleep. Wake up at the SAME time each morning. Do NOT take naps during the day. Eat balanced meals and go to bed at the same time each night. If you can't sleep, get up and do something for 30 minutes or until you feel tired again and lay down. It takes a few weeks for this to work, but it will getyou into a sleep routine.
354877
i have used a natural substance called melatonin. it naturally occurs in the body to tell your brain that it is time to go to sleep. it is sold in health food stores, and probably in wal mart too. it is non-addictive and it actually works.
544382
take medicine and just relax and sleep
823679
id say alot of herbal supplements. You can usually ask them at the vitamin stores.I expierience the same exact condition, and have tried that route. Unfortunately it diddnt word for me! I take a pill called kolonopin .05mg. Its the least strongest of the dose and works fine. I dont get groggy, and it helps take the edge off. Maybe if the natural method doesnt work for you , you can talk to your dr. There are alot of medicines tha dont make you feel like your on another planet! or drowsy! I even tried yoga. but i have 2 kids, im 26, and just got into 2 car accidents that limit my mobility. No dancing for me lately! and this is vegas!! good luck. And dont let it make you think your crazy, just overwhelmed at the moment!!
398357
avoid naps by eating apples to keep you awake.  excercise 3-4 hours before "bedtime".  drink water to avoid dehydration but don't drink so much that you have to go to the bathroom.  darkness helps soothe your eyes so does lulling noises like fans.  music may help you, and it may not.  hav a comfortable pillow and blankets.  find a cofortable position.  maybe fetal, on side, on back, legs crossing...\n\nAnyway, hav a good one
41424
I try staying awake to finish term papers a lot.  Keep the lights on so that you don't think of it as night time.  Too much caffine will make you hyper, but just enough will keep your brain stimulated enough to stay awake.  Try sleeping a lot the night before and take a nap that day so you aren't as tired at night.  Try to do all your research before hand so that all you need to do it put it all together.  Do your citations and stuff the next day.  A lot of people say power naps help, but for me if I were to lie down I would stay asleep all night.  Whatever works for you.
750828
Stay active. Do something that requires your full attention such as cleaning, exersizing, dancing, talking. Keep the lights on and the music on a upbeat sing-a-longable (I know thats not a real word!) channel! Drinking caffiene will also keep you awake but it isnt good for your body.
21604
Getting up and walking around helps a lot.  Drink some water.  Find a diversion that can keep you engaged for a minute or so when you get sleepy.  Sometimes when I get really tired in the afternoon I do math problems in my head or try to remember arcane facts about cars.  Q&A is also a good way to keep your mind alert...
435667
yeh well i dont know the answer but i can suggest a few things to help you sleep. Try not to have caffiene afetr about 5pm, becasue it keeps you awake...same goes with coke and chocolate. If you cant sleep, have a glass of warm milk, it has sedating properties in it. Also, avoid foods high in sugar before bed, because it will keep your metabolism active and you will have insomnia. Best of luck
1020429
for the sake of better sleep: \n\n1. Keep regular hours. The best way to ensure perfect nights is to stick to a regular schedule. If you sleep late one morning and rise before dawn the next, you can come down with a home-bound version of jet lag. To keep your biological clock in sync, get up at the same time, regardless of how much or how little you've slept. \nTry to stick close to your usual sleep schedule on weekends and holidays as well as workdays. If you stay up late on Friday and Saturday nights and sleep-in the following mornings you may give yourself a case of "Sunday-night insomnia": You get to bed early to be bright eyed on Monday morning and try to sleep, but you can't. The harder you try, the more wakeful you feel. When travel or work throws of your routine, try to maintain some semblance of regularity. Eat your meals at the same times you normally do. Try to get some sleep during your usual bedtime hours. And return to your normal schedule as soon as you can. \n\n2. Exercise regularly. Exercise enhances sleep by burning off the tensions that accumulate during the day, allowing both the body and mind to unwind. While the fit seem to sleep better and deeper than the flabby, you don't have to push to utter exhaustion. A 20 to 30 minute walk, jog, swim or bicycle ride at least three days a week--the minimum for cardiovascular benefits--should be your goal. \nBut don't wait too late in the day to exercise. In the evening, you should be concentrating on winding down rather than working up a sweat. And don't expect early-morning exercise to have any impact on the tensions that build up during the day. The ideal exercise time is late afternoon or early evening, when your workout can help you shift gears from daytime pressures to evening pleasures. \n3. Cut down on stimulants. North Americans drink 400 million cups of coffee a day and get extra doses in tea, cola drinks (including diet colas) and chocolate. Some people seem sensitive to even small amounts; others build up a tolerance. \nIf you're a coffee lover, have your last cup of the day no later than six to eight hours before your bedtime. Its stimulating effects will peak for two to four hours later, although they'll linger for several hours more. Late-evening caffeine can make it harder for you to fall asleep, diminish deep sleep and increase nighttime awakening. \n\nCaffeine isn't the only dietary sleep-robber. Tyrosine, a substance found in chocolate, Chianti and cheddar cheese can trigger heart palpitations in the night. Diet pills contain stimulants that can keep you awake. Other drugstore drug interactions can also disrupt you nights. If you're taking any prescription or over-the-counter drugs, ask your doctor whether they may affect your sleep. \n\n4. Sleep on a good bed. A good night's sleep starts from the bottom up. You're less likely to get deep, solid, restful sleep on a bed that's too small, too soft, too hard or just plain too old. Unfortunately, we tend to get used to our old mattresses and box springs--just like a broken-down pair of old running shoes--and may not realize they've gradually been losing their comfort and support. If your bed is older than eight to ten years, use our on-line bed check to determine if it is ready for retirement. In selecting a new sleep set, follow Goldilocks' rule: Try a variety of mattresses and choose the one that feels just right for you. \n5. Don't smoke. Nicotine is an even stronger stimulant than caffeine. According to several studies, heavy smokers take longer to fall asleep, awaken more often and spend less time in REM and deep NREM sleep. Because nicotine withdrawal can start two to three hours after their last puff, some smokers wake in the night craving a cigarette. When smokers break their nicotine habit, their sleep improves dramatically. In one study, two-pack-a-day smokers who quit cut the time they lay awake in bed by almost half. \n6.
22445
I'm a University student who is always staying up late or pulling all nighters. The worst thing you can do is have a quick nap. Once your body starts shutting down its so hard to get it going again. Drinking pop and energy drinks are ok but not great because they contain sugar. Sugar makes you energized but once it burns off it brings you to an ultimate low. So the best caffeine is a cup of straight black coffee because it doesn't have such a bad come down. Plus those energy drinks have some weird things in them and they cost alot (since I need several drinks for an all nighter). The best suggestion is to study or do homework not at home. If you have access to your school at night like a University go there. Less distractions the better for your attention. I also know people who take ritalin to help them study because gives them a boosted concentration. I don't suggest this if a doctor didn't prescribe it to you. I do know people that use it when they don't have ADD and they have said some good things. Since it is illegal take medication and the side effects are unkown its not a good idea even if it does work. Anyway goodluck with the all nighter as you are probably procrastinating right now ;)
307300
try a lavender spray, lavender helps put people to sleep.  but if its thoughts in your head that are keeping you awake, lay down and slowly count backwards from 1000...it will keep your mind off of anything that is disturbing you and if you get off track its easy to get back on...i have lots of problems trying to sleep sometimes and counting backwards always helps, before you know it, youll be waking up in the morning.
551445
I know you said no medicine but I have a tip. I too am into natural healing but you need to regulate your sleep patterns in order to fix your issue. When the sun goes down someone with normal sleep patterns will have in increase in their melatonin. It is a brain chemical that helps us to sleep through the night. You may have a shortage of this for a variety of reasons. You can take a melatonin supplement 20min before you want to fall asleep. After taking this supplement for as little as two weeks your body will start to regulate it's own melatonin levels and return you to a normal sleep schedule. I take it every few years when I feel like my lack of sleep is negatively effecting my life. Give it a shot. It is totally natural and non addictive. \nIt may have many other uses and has been reported to make people feel better, strengthen the immune system, and reduce free radicals in the body. Current research is underway to determine it's effect as an anti-oxidant, immno-modulator in cancer, delayed sleep-phase disorders, and jet lag. So it is actually good for you!