Suffer from insomnia, these are two natural remedies to help you sleep well

Dreaming of eight solid hours of sleep? You are not alone. Nearly 60 percent of Americans are struggling with insomnia, thanks to everything from anxiety over COVID-19 to constant disruptions in our routines.

As a result, more of us are turning to sleep aids. The problem is that the drugs don't provide much benefit to middle-aged women when used long-term, says Daniel Hal Solomon. "I often see women who start out with a week's supply of sleeping pills, but a year later, they're still taking them every night," he reveals. "While the drugs may work temporarily, our research has found that long-term use has no clear benefit."

The 47-year-old with a baby face. Here's what she does before bed
In addition to their potential side effects (strange dreams and sleepwalking), it's easy to develop a tolerance to these drugs.

As their effectiveness decreases over time, you will need to take more to get the same benefit. Fortunately, experts promise that you can sleep safely and soundly naturally.

Here are two natural remedies for sleepless nights:

Can't fall asleep? Try this tea

The "new hot healthy drink" taking social media by storm for its ability to help you sleep? Lettuce tea. "If you've ever cut the stems of romaine lettuce, you may have noticed a white liquid," says Michelle Schoffro Cook. "When consumed as tea in the evening, it helps us sleep."

Toss and turn all night? Move to soothing tunes

A new study finds that music with a slower tempo and longer note duration melts away stress to help you sleep. "I thought that only classical compositions would promote sleep, but we found that these musical features are more important than genre," says lead study author Thomas Dickson, PhD. "Once you find the music that works for you, listen to it at the same time before bed for 30 days to create a connection between that music and sleep – it will help you fall asleep faster."