Take This And You’ll Sleep Like A Baby!

I’ve had sleep problems since my mid 30s, when I’d pop up in the wee hours of the morning and toss and turn, unable to get back to bed.

In an effort to deal with my wakefulness, I’ve tried all sorts of plans and potions, from getting up to work at 3 a.m., to the prescription drug Ambien, to over-the-counter liquid melatonin. Ambien knocked me out pretty quickly, but made my sleep fitful, filled my head with weird dreams (weirder than usual!) and left me feeling groggy in the morning. Melatonin takes hours to start working, so you’re out of luck if you don’t remember to take it until you’re ready to retire.

I finally went cold turkey a few years ago, to see if I could fall asleep easily, and remain asleep, without drugs or synthetic hormones. Besides, neither of those is recommended for long-term use. Although I do occasionally enjoy six or even eight hours of uninterrupted sleep these days, without the benefit of sleep aids, they’re (sadly) the exception, rather than the rule.

So, when the folks at Sambrosa Care asked if I’d try their nighttime syrup, Sambrosa Sweet Dreams, I was game.

Successfully selling throughout Europe, Australia and Canada, it was launched in the United States almost two years ago. “Many of our European customers who are experiencing menopause benefit from the syrup,” said a company spokesman.