I use magnesium and valerian to sleep. I noticed the valerian didn't help as much when my magnesium supplement ran out. I take 400 mg of magnesium in the morning (if this gives you a laxative effect, decrease the dosage to 250 mg), then the Valerian at night. It works much better for me than even prescription sleep aids--I had a scary panic attack on Ambien and Rozerem wired me so I didn't sleep for 3 days. But the Valerian feels quite natural; my body doesn't fight it, the way it did when I took Trazodone for sleep. I usually fall asleep about an hour after taking it (I read until I feel it is beginning to take effect), and I sleep through the night. The smell is awful--my husband can't believe I actually swallow the stuff--but it works.