Avoid the risks associated with sleep medications carrying “black box warnings” of harm (including death). Nature has several effective sleep aids ready to ease your tossing and turning and escort you gently into dreamland. Sleep is as individualized as it is essential to your health. Whether you generally fall asleep easily or are more of an insomniac, it’s good to have a few tried and true sleep aids on hand that are gentle, effective and, most importantly, non-habit-forming. You never know when jet lag, stress, or an irregular period in your life may have you counting sheep and praying for sleep. Despite their potential negative health impacts, drugs for sleep disorders are among the most often prescribed medications. While there may be certain situations when such drugs are required, for most people they should be a last resort after exhausting safer options, such as better sleep hygiene. When you do …