Products to help you sleep

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MGN

(SWEEPS FEED)- Like 48 percent of Americans, Cindy Simmons is in search of more z’s.

“When I first go to sleep, I have a hard time going to sleep and then, if anything disrupts my sleep in the middle of the night, I have a very hard time falling back to sleep,” Simmons said.

After participating in a sleep study, tests ruled out any medical issues to blame for her restlessness so when a friend suggested an alternative, Simmons was open to it.

“She recommended an essential oil called vetiver that I mix with coconut oil, um, and I rub on the bottom of my feet. It sounds like a lot of witch-doctory stuff, but it works,” Simmons said.

Dorene Peterson, president of the American College of Healthcare Sciences, points out lavender has long been proven to have a relaxing effect. It, and other scents and herbal remedies, are now being offered in new kinds of beauty products.

“There are a number of wellness-based products that can assist with providing a healthier sleep,” Peterson said.

From essential oils you can rub or dab on your body, to aromatherapy sprays for your sheets, to dead sea salts you can use for a soak in the tub, to sleeping with an herbal pillow, many new products are popping up, promising to help you rest.

Proponents agree if the herbal or holistic options aren’t working for you after a few weeks, seek out expert help.

Simmons is thankful she took the advice of her friend, because without her oils… “my body is so tired, I can’t go to sleep. So frustrating.”

Peterson suggests you watch which products you use because some may help you relax, while others will re-energize you.

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