Zzzzzz....

We all know the benefits and FEEL the benefits of a good night's sleep. There are some really simple herbs you can take to help grab those Zzzzzzs! The Fresh Pharmacy team would like to pass on Web MD's wonderful suggestions:

Natural Sleep Aids: Dietary Supplements

• Valerian is a dietary supplement that has been used since ancient times to combat insomnia and nervousness. Although many people use valerian as a sleep aid, its effectiveness in treating insomnia has not been proven in well-designed scientific studies. Jawad Miran, DO, a sleep medicine specialist at Somerset Medical Center's Sleep For Life program in Hillsborough, N.J., cautions that that there is little consistency in the quality or ingredients of valerian preparations on the market today: "There is no one compound which is valerian, rather there are numerous compounds in varying amounts," says Miran. So, it's best to check with your doctor and pharmacist for your custom formula.

• Chamomile, like valerian, is a traditional herbal remedy that has been used since ancient times to fight insomnia and a wide range of other health complaints. Chamomile is sold in the form of tea, extract, and topical ointment.

• Melatonin is a hormone that is produced by the pineal gland in the brain. Melatonin is believed to play a central role in regulating sleep and circadian rhythms. Synthetic melatonin is a popular dietary supplement that is sold as a sleeping aid and antioxidant. There is evidence that melatonin eases circadian rhythm disorders like jet lag and delayed sleep phase disorders.