Several medicinal plants have a long history of use to support healthy sleep. These include valerian, passionflower, skullcap, lemon balm, and hops.

Double -blind clinical trials have also shown some of these herbs, along or in combination, to be significantly more effective than placebo and as effective as benzodiazepines. While benzodiazepines are well known to cause daytime sleepiness, presumably due to degrading sleep quality, these herbs have actually been shown to increase alertness, at least in part by improving sleep quality. They can also help support a calm mood, according to the results of controlled trials.

The herbs have also been suggested to have other restorative and supportive effects on the nervous system, though there is less complete research in this area.

All of these herbs have beeb studied and shown to be non-toxic and free from side effects, even for children.

None have addictive or tolerizing effects.