Haven’t had a decent night’s sleep since KRudd was in office? We tested natural sleep aids and found three that will help you doze like a teenage boy.

By Sabrina Rogers-Anderson

Remember when you’d fall into a deep sleep as soon as your head hit the pillow and snooze peacefully for eight hours, waking up feeling refreshed and ready to tackle the day? If you’re like me, it’s probably a very distant memory. 

Pregnancy, having three kids (including twins) in less than three years and menopause have all wreaked havoc on my sleep quality. I generally don’t have trouble falling asleep, but I wake up several times during the night and sometimes take ages to drift back off.

Yet, compared to a lot of my friends, I’m not a bad sleeper. One of my best mates has terrible insomnia that I wouldn’t wish on my worst enemy.

There are a bazillion natural sleep aids and supplements on the market, but do any of them actually work? As your wellness guinea pig, I put several Aussie brands to the test and here are my top three selections.

Budget pick: The Australian Sleep Co Night Oil Roll-On & Pillow Spray

I have mixed feelings about essential oils. While high-quality formulations may be effective at treating conditions including insomnia, anxiety, depression and even Lyme disease, there are so many substandard and diluted versions being sold to unsuspecting customers.

Not so with the Australian Sleep Co’s lead scientist, Candace Gabelish, PhD, at the helm. She holds degrees in medical and environmental microbiology, biochemistry, biotechnology and chemistry, and she meticulously formulates all the company’s products.

I tried the Night Oil Roll-On on my pulse points combined with the Deep Sleep Pillow Spray. Crafted with top-grade essential oils including French lavender, bergamot, chamomile and sweet orange, they both smelt divine and relaxed my senses.

I fell asleep quickly and only woke twice that night, going back to sleep peacefully within minutes. These beautiful products made me feel serene and I love their scent.

Pros: A wide range of delicious-smelling products made in Noosa using high-quality ingredients that won’t leave you feeling groggy.

Cons: They may not solve complex sleep problems.

Price: $28.00 for the roll-on (10ml) and $32.00 for the pillow spray (100ml)

Mid-range pick: The Goodnight Co Deep Sleep Drops

Founded by two working mums who were desperate for some ZZZs, the Goodnight Co has a mind-boggling number of products to address a variety of sleep issues. Their homoeopathic Deep Sleep Drops are by far their best seller.

The drops are made with ingredients I’d never heard of, such as Coffea cruda to calm your busy mind, Daphne indica to help you fall asleep and stay asleep, and Passiflora incarnata (passionflower) to reset your circadian rhythm.

I placed eight drops under my tongue 30 minutes before bedtime as indicated and immediately fell into a deep slumber. I did wake briefly a couple of times, but I woke up in the morning feeling super rested and refreshed. For best results, you should use the drops every night before bed and anytime you wake up during the night.

Pros: The Deep Sleep Drops effectively help regulate your sleep with high-quality natural ingredients.

Cons: They contain alcohol, so you may prefer another Goodnight Co product if you want to avoid it.

Price: $35.00 for 50ml

Luxe pick: Honest Health Co Stress and Sleep Support

With 41 five-star reviews and not a single lower rating, Honest Health Co’s Stress and Sleep Support Powder piqued my interest. Its four hero ingredients - magnesium, KSM-66® Withania (Ashwagandha), glycine and passionflower - are said to relieve stress, support nervous system function and promote healthy sleeping patterns.

I mixed a scoop of the tasty berry-flavoured powder with water about 30 minutes before bedtime, and I swear I felt more chilled out as soon as I drank it. I have no idea if it was a placebo effect, but I’ll take it! I felt like my sleep was deeper than it had been in months and I even had a little sleep-in! If I got such great results after only one dose, I’m curious to see how much my sleep quality improves after a couple of months.

Pros: It’s super-effective and tastes great.

Cons: The price tag is a little higher, but isn’t sleep priceless?

Price: $62.00 for 330g

If sleep is an issue for you and you'd love to chat about it, join the community today.

To learn about why sleep is so important, watch Matt Walker's Ted talk — Sleep is your Superpower.