Sleep Cures from Mother Nature

Relax in the Tub

Soaking in warm water can ease the transition into sound sleep -- and not just because it relaxes tired muscles. It also triggers a shift in body temperature, a natural cue it's time for shut-eye, explains Rubin Naiman, PhD, the Tucson-based author of Healing Night: The Science and Spirit of Sleeping, Dreaming, and Awakening. "When the sun goes down, the outside temperature falls, and the same thing happens inside our bodies to prepare us for sleep. After you climb out of a hot bath, you feel a pleasant chill. With the right timing, you can catch that wave and ride it into deep, blissful sleep."