Search

Online Sleep Trends: Do they work?

online sleep trends

Sleep experts have set the record straight around some of the most popular sleep trends online

Dr. Sham Singh (Sleep Psychiatrist at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center), Maryanne Taylor (Founder and Sleep Consultant at The Sleep Works) & Jade Zimmet (Child Sleep Consultant at Beyond The Stars Sleep Coaching) have revealed the truth about some of the most popular sleep trends and videos seen online, in collaboration with Naturecan.

With the days getting shorter and the nearing clock change threatening to affect our sleep schedules, many will be turning to the countless sleep related social media videos for advice – but the factualness of some of this content may be questionable.

According to a recent study from The University of Chicago, nearly 60% of TikTok videos from non-medical influencers contained non-factual information, and even 15% of videos from medical professionals sometimes advised incorrectly.

recent survey from Naturecan also discovered that 33% of Brits take health advice from social media, and over half (51%) are unsure if the content creators they take advice from are qualified to do so. With social media platforms increasingly being used as search engines, even for health issues, users must be careful who they take information from. For medical advice, only ever trust the professionals. 

That’s why Naturecan has teamed up with these experts, to reveal the truth behind some of these sleep trends. Take a look at their comments below:

Online Sleep Trends – Melatonin

Melatonin has been prescribed by doctors for a long time to aid with sleep problems, but this TikTok dives into a lot of seemingly terrifying side effects and some outlandish claims against the supplement. So, what do the experts say? 

Dr. Sham Singh, Sleep Psychiatrist at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, says“The video accuses the supplement of being highly addictive and possibly leading to serious side effects, such as shrinkage of testicles in rats. These viral claims about melatonin are all greatly exaggerated and for the most part, not really true. First, melatonin is not addictive in the way that other sleep aids or medications can be, and there is no strong evidence it worsens insomnia when used appropriately. Some countries, like the UK, have made it prescription-only, but that’s more a matter of regulation rather than any proof of harm. The claim of testicular shrinkage did originate with rat studies, but has not been demonstrated in humans.

Melatonin is absolutely a hormone that governs your circadian rhythm, and overuse or misuse – for instance, taking it at incorrect times – really wreaks havoc on your natural sleep-wake cycles. The bottom line on melatonin is: use it sparingly and make it part of an overall approach to sleep hygiene.”

Online Sleep Trends – Magnesium 

Magnesium is being promoted as a holy grail sleep product on social media currently – do the experts agree?

Maryanne Taylor, Founder and Sleep Consultant at The Sleep Works says: “Magnesium can be helpful for some people when it comes to sleep, but it’s not necessarily a magic fix. It plays an important role in factors such as muscle relaxation and calming the nervous system, which is why it is often linked to better sleep. While studies show promising results regarding magnesium’s role in improving sleep quality, research is still limited, so more evidence is needed to confirm its overall effectiveness.”

Dr. Sham Singh says: “Magnesium has acquired a reputation for being a sleeping aid, but it’s far from a universal solution. If someone has a deficiency in magnesium, supplementation might help improve sleep, but in cases of already good levels of magnesium, adding more may not make much difference. While magnesium can support relaxation, it is not a panacea for insomnia or other sleep disorders.

Online Sleep Trends – Limes for helping babies sleep

The latest TikTok trend for parents and their babies seems to be to cut up a lime, leave it in a bowl close to your baby’s cot, and then relax with a full uninterrupted night’s sleep. Is this effective, or a desperate ploy for some extra shut eye…?

Jade Zimmet, Child Sleep Consultant at Beyond The Stars Sleep Coaching says: “I’m an expert in child sleep and I see new trends coming out so often, one of the latest being the “lime” craze. This found many parents using cut limes in their baby’s room to help their sleep – the science behind this was that they “get rid of negative energies” and bring a sense of calm. I did read some positive stories in this, but for many it didn’t solve their child’s sleep challenges. The truth is, if the little one is having trouble connecting sleep cycles at night, there are usually bigger reasons behind this. It’s about getting to the root of it, in order to really know how to support them and keep it sustainable.”

Online Sleep Trends – Lavender

Lavender is often associated with sleep and used in many age-old sleep tricks, like dried lavender bags under your pillow, essential oils, calming bubble baths meant for bedtime, and so on. This lady created a lavender pillow spray – is it really all it’s made out to be?

Dr. Sham Singh says: While lavender and geranium are commonly cited as being calming oils, with some studies to prove that lavender at least does relax people, I would be quite circumspect with DIY pillow sprays. Their effectiveness is pegged on whether an individual is sensitive to scent and whether the calming effects are psychological or physiological. Lavender has been specifically studied for its light sedative properties, although such effects are subtle and not universally effective. 

From a safety point of view, some essential oils, such as lavender and geranium, though safe when used in small topical amounts and diluted, can irritate the skin or cause allergic reactions. The smells may put some people to sleep, but for sure, this is not the sleeping-on-a-cloud miracle for those problems. So, while this spray might help a person calm down and comfort themselves before going to bed, I would not rely on this spray very heavily as a key sleeping remedy.

Online Sleep Trends – Pineal Gland Meditation

This TikTok about the meditation method went viral with over 6.5 million views, but does the technique really work?

Dr. Sham Singh says: “The meditation of the pineal gland consists of the stimulation of the pineal gland, or more popularly called the “third eye,” responsible for the production of melatonin. There is very scarce scientific evidence to directly support this particular practice of pineal gland meditation, but overall, meditation has been shown to reduce stress levels and lower anxiety, promoting general relaxation, which helps in sleep. The pineal gland meditation itself does not induce sleep directly, but the overall relaxation it provides may help those with stress-related sleep disturbances.”

Online Sleep Trends – Counting sheep

Although not really a social media trend and more of a childhood hack, most people have at some point in their lives tried the technique of counting sheep, and some even swear by it – but is it really a worthwhile practice? 

Dr. Sham Singh: “Counting sheep is one of those age-old techniques that works for some people, but is not universally effective. The method is based on distraction – on the principle that by focusing the mind on some simple, repetitive task, it is prevented from straying into stress-inducing thoughts. Generally speaking, other relaxation techniques are much more efficient in the process of sleep improvement.”

Maryanne Taylor says: Scientific research on this is limited, but a study at Oxford University showed that the practice is actually boring for many people to do for a long period, and so may not prevent the mind from wandering to other stressful thoughts.”

About the experts:

Dr. Sham Singh is a Sleep Psychiatrist at the Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, who received his medical degree from University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Medicine. He approaches mental health holistically, and uses a combination of medication management and analysing lifestyle modifications to help his patients manage their conditions.

Maryanne Taylor is the Founder of and a Sleep Consultant at The Sleep Works. An experienced and certified sleep consultant expert for adolescents and adults, she was diagnosed with chronic fatigue herself as a young adult, and since then has dedicated her career to providing education, strategies and support to others within the sleep field.

Jade Zimmet is a Child Sleep Consultant at Beyond The Stars Sleep Coaching, a self-proclaimed “sleep geek” and a mum herself. After struggling with sleep deprivation whilst raising her two children, she studied and qualified in Infant & Child Sleep Consultancy, as well as becoming an ADHD Sleep Awareness Practitioner. 

Five Foods That Will Help You Sleep

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Share:

More Posts

Sign Up to Our Newsletter

Get the latest articles straight to your inbox

Sign up for our newsletter with the latest news trends and inspirations about better sleep.