Good sleep practices: What's helpful vs harmful

Sleep is a fundamental biological need and along with nutrition and exercise forms the foundation of physical and mental health and wellbeing. However, a staggering 40% of Australians (over 12 years of age) are regularly experiencing inadequate sleep,¹ impacting negatively on short and long-term health.²

In an attempt to get to sleep, 23% of the Australian population are dependent on prescription sleep medications and 14% on melatonin.³ Around 60% of people with sleeping disorders use complementary medicines.⁴ But what is helpful and what might be harmful?