Various studies worldwide have shown the prevalence of insomnia is more than 30% of the population in the U.S. In fact, more than half of Americans complain about not getting enough sleep. In order to resolve insomnia symptoms sometimes, doctors prescribe certain medications.

However, taking medications have been found to do more harm than good in a long period of time. Researchers have found that their use may cause certain side-effects such as:

Diarrhea
Burning or tingling in limbs
Dizziness
Difficulty keeping balance
A headache
Unusual dreams
Stomach pain and tenderness
Changes in appetite
Uncontrollable shaking
Flatulence
Heartburn
Daytime drowsiness
Weakness
Mental slowing/problems with attention and memory
Constipation
Dry mouth and throat
Impairment the next day
Insomnia is categorized as a sleep disorder in which you have trouble falling or staying asleep due to numerous factors. Thus, include waking up in the middle of the night, facing difficulties falling asleep, waking up much earlier than needed, or having bad quality sleep.

In fact, difficulty maintaining sleep can be a result of psychological, biological, or social factors. This medical condition is not the same as sleep deprivation, since it’s caused by internal factors only, not things like loud noises, for instance.

Yet, the outcome is the same as both lead to a lack of sleep, that in turn causes:

Mood swings
Lack of energy
Chronic fatigue
Anger and bad temper
Fatigue throughout the day
Poor coordination
Reduced cognitive functions
Lack of concentration
Nausea and digestive problems
Bad memory
Migraines and/or headaches
Anxiety
Finding a natural alternative to sleeping pills should always be your priority. When you’re having a hard time sleeping, reach for your pantry. In fact, nutmeg is a common spice that helps in managing insomnia and improves sleep quality. Simply inhaling it for a few deep breaths is enough to fall asleep.

The nutmeg has a calming effect when consumed in smaller doses. In fact, there are various ancient medicinal practices that provides sleep-inducing and de-stressing effects.

Since nutmeg can have hallucinatory effects if taken in large doses. All you have to do is to add 1/4 teaspoon of nutmeg powder to a cup of water and drink it an hour before bedtime. Keep in mind that you should never exceed the dose, and avoid it in the case of pregnancy.