First of all, you have to find out what is causing your insomnia( difficulty to sleep).
Before using any remedies, we have to go to the source of the problem.
Insomnia can be caused by a number of reasons:
One of the causes that we don't think about is being too tired (either mentally or physically). It will interfere with your sleep.
Overstimulation from coffee or tea is another good cause. Chocolate is another stimulant.
But, you would not believe what is the major cause of insomnia: EMOTIONAL UPSET
Now the suggestions to help you sleep:
Hot baths before going to bed
Hot milk
Avoid sugar, especially white sugar (later I will talk about how white sugar is refined)
A daily walk
Liquid Magnesium (a teaspoon morning and night in juice)
Complex B vitamins (2 caps with each meal) from wheatgerm or dehydrated liver or natural yeast.
Teas made of: valerian, peppermint,orange peel,camomille, thyme. Valeriane is very powerful though,take with moderation if taken by itself. I cup before going to bed.
More to follow...

> I'll be interested in this too. I live a
> rather fast paced stressful life. I get
> through the day okay, but when I go to bed
> my mind keeps going over everything that
> happened. I have trouble sleeping more
> nights than not.

> The things I've used that work aren't good
> for you. I have tried Melatonin, but it
> didn't really do anything for me. I may not
> have used the proper dose, because I've
> talked to others that it works for.

> The only over the counter thing I use on a
> regular basis is Benadryl. The same Benadryl
> you may have taken for allergies. The active
> ingredient is Diphenhydramine. This is the
> same thing used in over the counter
> sleepinig pills including:

> Excedrin® Pm
> Sleep-Eze 3®
> Sominex 2®
> Diphenhist®
> Nytol®

> I get it as a generic product at my HMO for
> next to nothing. I'm sure that commercial
> drug stores sell it generic too. It does
> work, but because it is an antihistimine, it
> really dries me out. Sometimes I wake up
> needing to drink water.

> It is non-addictive. My doctor recommended
> it instead of taking tranquilizers to go to
> sleep. I'm sure it isn't good for anyone to
> take this kind of thing over the long term,
> so I would like to find something natural
> that actually works.