Sleeping pills, while effective, are often accompanied by undesirable side effects. There is also this unfortunate reality to contend with: sleep induced by such pills does not equate to "normal" sleep. Sleeping pills reduce the amount of deep sleep (Rapid Eye Movement, or REM, sleep), and leave people drowsy when they wake. Some sleeping pills are also addictive. Luckily, there are several remedies that can improve the quality of sleep with minimal side effects.

5-HTP and melatonin are supplements that can be used to treat insomnia. 5-HTP is a form of tryptophan, an amino acid that is converted to serotonin in the brain. A natural sleep-inducing chemical, serotonin promotes the production of melatonin. 5-HTP and melatonin have been reported to allow people to fall asleep more quickly and decrease the number of nighttime awakenings. However, melatonin will produce a sedative effect only in people whose melatonin levels are low.

Herbal remedies include valerian, German chamomile and kava. Valerian is used more commonly; as with 5-HTP and melatonin, people who take valerian fall asleep quickly and have longer stages of REM sleep. For people who have a difficult time sleeping due to stress or nervousness, chamomile has been used medicinally for thousands of years in Europe. It is a popular treatment for sleep disorders and anxiety. Short-term studies also suggest that kava is effective for insomnia due to anxiety, particularly in improving sleep quality and decreasing the amount of time needed to fall asleep.