Here to help

Independent health store advice on natural sleep remedies

Looking for advice on natural health and wellbeing? Your local independent health store can offer a wealth of expertise. This month we talk to Julie Goodwin, owner of the Natural Health stores in Welwyn Garden City and Hertford

Sleep problems are a very common issue that we deal with every day in our shops. So many customers come to us seeking advice on how to get a better night’s sleep and we are always happy to recommend various natural remedies.

Initially we will try to find out why the customer is having problems sleeping and how long the problem has been going on for. There are so many reasons why people struggle to sleep, from hot sweats to restless legs or simply not being able to switch off at night.

We are finding that a lot of customers are coming to the store asking for advice about anxiety, which can be linked with sleep problems. Digestive problems can be part of the picture too, with some people experiencing reflux at night. The key is often to calm the anxiety and then the other problems such as reflux and lack of sleep will resolve themselves.

Mighty magnesium

Our number one remedy for sleep problems is magnesium. This can either be taken in supplement form, at night, or in the form of flakes that you add to a bath or an oil that you apply to the skin. One of my favourite remedies is NaturesPlus KalmAssure Magnesium NightTime which contains ingredients like chamomile, ashwagandha and lemon balm, in addition to magnesium.

Another product I recommend is Natures Aid Passiflora Complex as it helps to calm the mind if you find it difficult to switch off the mental chatter that can stop you getting to sleep. I’ve had some really good feedback from customers on that particular product. Something that works well in combination with it is Ainsworths Dr Bach Fast Asleep Spray. It’s a Bach Flower Remedy that helps with relaxation. Those two products work very well together.

I recently had a customer who was experiencing problems with cramp and restless legs at night. She was already taking magnesium but was quite dehydrated, so one of the things I recommended to her was the Viridian Sports Electrolyte Fix Liquid.

Sports electrolyte drinks help to rehydrate the body and can help to alleviate cramping and restless legs.

Calming meditation

Valerian is a very good natural remedy for sleep. We often recommend A.Vogel Dormeasan which contains valerian and hops in a liquid herbal tincture. Another good product is Living Nutrition’s Organic Fermented Night Time capsules. This is a fermented product which contains valerian, passionflower and hops, all of which are very good for promoting sleep.

In terms of general advice, I recommend that anyone who is struggling to sleep tries meditation. I started meditating during lockdown and it’s been absolutely incredible for me. It gives me a little bit of time out and really helps to calm my mind. I use the Calm app, which works well for me. Insight Timer is another good app.

I recommend switching off your phone before you go to bed and staying away from social media as this can provoke anxiety and disrupt sleep. I also try to encourage people to go out for a walk in nature. This can really help you to switch off and calm any anxious thoughts.

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