Approximately 64 million Americans suffer from insomnia, are are seeking insomnia cures. Treatments for insomnia generally fall into one of three categories: cognitive behavioral therapy, herbal treatments, and medications.

Insomnia medications are effective and widely available, but can cause side effects, and more importantly, because these drugs depress the nervous system, they open up the possibility of harmful or fatal drug interactions. Some sedatives have been found to be habit forming. Some sleep aids are also available without a prescription, but act in the same way as prescribed sedatives and can cause the same problems. Therefore, you want to find natural insomnia cures.

Herbs have long been used to aid sleep, and a study published by the journal Pharmacopsychiatry in 2000 on the herb Valerian suggested that, when taken more than one time, it was moderately effective in treating chronic insomnia. Other studies have also been published that suggest Valerian and other herbs can help with sleeplessness.

Herbal supplements are popular and many people swear by them. The main problem with herbal treatments is that they aren't regulated in the U.S., so consumers can never be sure what is in them. Also, although there are some studies supporting the effectiveness of certain herbs or herb combinations in the treatment of insomnia, the effectiveness of most herbal treatments is either untested or unproven.

Cognitive behavioral therapy seems to offer the best long-term solution to insomnia. Cognitive behavioral therapy teaches people to undo behaviors and assumptions that are counterproductive to restful sleep.

A recent article on MSN made some helpful suggestions for insomnia cures, such as, don't use your bed for anything but sex and sleeping, avoid consuming caffeine a few hours before bed, and do not exercise close to your bed time. The first suggestion teaches your body to associate your bed with sleep, something that you may have unknowingly been discouraging if you read, watch TV, or work on your laptop in bed. The other two suggestions pinpoint just two of the stimulating, and thus sleep destroying, activities that you should avoid before bedtime.

When deciding on a treatment for insomnia, it's best to see a doctor first, even if you aren't interested in insomnia medication. A physician can rule out medical causes of insomnia such as hormonal imbalances or neurological causes like depression.

A mental health professional can help you focus on your particular barriers to sleep, and there are also many self-help books on treating insomnia.

If you are having trouble sleeping, you need to find natural insomnia cures that do not involve drugs. Click here to access a whole list of ideas that will help you fall asleep and stay asleep