Here to help

Independent health store advice on getting a good night’s sleep

Looking for advice on natural health and wellbeing? Your local independent health store can offer a wealth of expertise. This month we talk to Emmy Atkins, the shop manager for Good & Green in East Grinstead

Many people struggle to get to sleep at night, and we are often asked for advice on natural sleep remedies here at Good & Green in East Grinstead. We always have a conversation with our customers to find out what’s at the root of their health issue. In the case of sleep, for example, we might ask if they are stressed and whether it’s a long-term issue or a one-off. It’s not just about giving them a pill; we really want to find out what’s going on in order to help.

A natural blend

We manufacture and produce our own supplement brand, G&G Vitamins, and our sleep formula is called G&G Night Aid. It’s a blend of natural herbs, minerals and vitamins designed to support a good night’s rest and increase the quality of sleep. The key ingredients include chamomile, reishi mushroom and magnesium. We also have a product called G&G Cal-M, which is a blend of calcium and magnesium that you mix into water, and it’s great for helping with relaxation.

There are plenty of herbal remedies that can help to promote sleep, such as valerian, saffron, passionflower and California poppy. Vitamin B6 is another supplement that we recommend to help calm the nervous system. On the homoeopathic side we recommend Helios Sleep. This seems to work well for temporary sleep issues rather than long-term sleep problems.

Help for relaxation

Some sleep remedies help to support the body’s production of melatonin, which is a hormone that aids restful sleep. Biona’s Tart Cherry Juice is a good product that can help with this. Another one is honey. Our top tip is to have a cup of warm milk with honey before bed.

Essential oils can really help with relaxation and getting to sleep. Lavender is a particularly good option and you can diffuse it, inhale it or spray it on your pillow before going to bed.

Roman chamomile is another essential oil that is lovely and also safe for children. We like the Amour Natural range, particularly the Sleep Ease blend. One of the main ingredients is sweet orange, which has mood-boosting properties and so may be able to help if stress is contributing to the sleep problems. We also like Vetivert, which is very relaxing and grounding.

One of the things that I’ve started to use is Dr Bronner’s Lavender Pure-Castile Liquid Soap. You can wash with it, brush your teeth with it and wash your clothes with it. It’s free from harmful chemicals and the lavender scent is very relaxing. This could make a nice addition to your bedtime routine.

Bedtime rituals

We always recommend having a good bedtime ritual. Avoid using your mobile phone just before bedtime and perhaps have a relaxing bath with some Epsom salts or Himalayan salts. Drink a cup of warming herbal tea, read a good book and snuggle on the sofa. Put on some cotton or silk PJs and get into a bed made with freshly laundered sheets, so that you can feel comfortable and relaxed.

We hope these tips help you to enjoy a good night’s rest!