Sleeping should not be a job or a chore. If you have trouble sleeping and think you’re alone, bury that thinking. Naturally-sourced sleeping aids harmonize with your body's processes to give you a restful night's sleep.

So which sleeping aid should you choose?

When many people hear the phrase “sleeping aid,” melatonin first comes to mind. While it’s effective in the moment, the long-term effects can take a toll on you both physically and mentally over time.

So what do you do when you need to rest up for a big day? A solution that isn’t as well-known, but should be, is valerian root. We will break down the melatonin vs. valerian root debate in this guide. We'll cover what makes a good sleep aid and help you understand if switching to valerian root is right for you.

Let's get to it! 

Valerian vs. Melatonin – What's Wrong with Melatonin?

The idea that additional melatonin may not be good for the body seems surprising. It is a natural product found in almost every living being. However, creating it artificially within your body through external medications could actually work against your ability to sleep over time. 

Just like with any other substance a person would ingest to create a specific effect, your body will get used to melatonin products over time. Essentially, you build up a tolerance. Many consumers find that the amount it takes to produce the same effects gradually increases over time. This may lead to a cycle of dependency. 

On this front, when deciding between melatonin vs. valerian root, valerian-based supplements are preferable. Valerian's more subtle means of working with your body to get you to sleep are far less likely to lead to dependency.

Furthermore, this isn't the end of the problems melatonin can cause. Consumers have also frequently reportedheadaches, nausea, fatigue during the daytime, and nightmares after long-term use.

Effectiveness and Quality of Sleep 

So the $32,000 question is – which of valerian vs. melatonin is most effective for sleep quality?

Melatonin

Melatonin starts out as an effective sleep aid – after all, that's its job. But that's just the melatonin that naturally occurs in your body. When you add extra melatonin artificially, it's a different story.

Extra melatonin ceases to contribute to a good night's sleep. It starts having the opposite effect. Extra melatonin may cause nightmares, irritability, and numerous conditions contributing to poor sleep.

Dependency on an artificial sleep aid can become a vicious cycle. Your body adjusts to the heightened melatonin levels when you use it as a supplement. The more you need, the more pronounced withdrawal symptoms become.

Valerian Root

Valerian root has been used to promote healthy sleep for thousands of years. Its medical properties are not yet fully understood, but its extensive history as a natural sleep aid makes it attractive compared to synthetic sleeping pills.

Valerian has very few (if any) side effects. This sets it apart from most pharmaceutical sleep aids. It's considered to produce full-body relaxation and ease mental tensions.

It should be enjoyed as part of a balanced diet, combined with regular exercise. Healthy behaviors let your body prepare properly for sleep, and helpful herbal remedies like valerian may contribute to a relaxed mental state as you drift off.

Valerian root is used in the MDSleep product because we value natural ingredients and holistic sleep hygiene. Our bodies tolerate everything in moderation; even a natural chemical like melatonin becomes harmful if overused.

What Makes Valerian Safer and More Effective Long-term 

For many, this is the sticking point in the valerian vs. melatonin debate. Melatonin involves an intake of a hormone, therefore creating a change in your body. By contrast, valerian works with the chemicals that are already there to release those that might be inhibiting your sleep. 

Here's the crux of the valerian vs. melatonin issue – while the latter suppresses the problem, the former treats the cause. Many sleeping aid products aim to overpower the chemicals that are keeping you awake.

Essentially, it's a battle going on within your body, and that's why you're left feeling so tired. And that's why you always need more – the issue at the root is still there. 

One of the most common causes of poor sleep is stress. Many users find that instead of feeling heavy and overwhelmed, the valerian lulls them into a feeling of relaxation.

It alleviates the anxiety symptoms that inhibit sleep, such as an excessively fast heartbeat, tightness in the chest, and racing thoughts. In fact, it has even earned a reputation as a natural stress medication. When you treat what's actually keeping you awake, you will not only fall asleep faster, but you'll stay asleep throughout the night. 

What's the Best Way to Get Valerian Root? 

MDsleep supplements allow you to enjoy the benefits of valerian root alongside other natural ingredients that benefit sleep. Dosage is carefully controlled to provide the most relaxing effects with minimal fuss.

Along with reducing sleep and anxiety symptoms, the herbal remedies we use have numerous purported health benefits. Valerian and hops flowers have both been used in traditional medicine to reduce physical pain and inflammation, which, of course, also play a huge role in the inability to sleep.

Treating poor sleep is never about forcing yourself to rest. It's about taking better care of yourself during the day and ensuring your body gets what it needs to shut down properly. That begins with the MDSleep supplement.