Over The Counter Sleep Helpers

Melatonin isn't the only supplement to help us get a good night's sleep. Here's a comparison of some of the more popular sleep helpers you can get at a pharmacy or online.

Melatonin	Valerian Root	Doxylamine
Natural hormone that regulates the sleep-wake cycle	Herbal remedy used for the past 2000 years	First generation antihistamine.
Helps you fall asleep faster Not as effective when it comes to keeping you asleep for longer Usually taken for 3-5 days	Commonly used to treat anxiety and stress Safe to take over four-six weeks	Short-term sedative Non-addictive Studies in mice have produced positive liver and thyroid cancer results Carcinogenicity in humans not studied
		Not Recommended!

Here's a good forum discussion on Melatonin and Valerian root's benefits towards aiding sleep.