My bed is literally my favorite place to be (besides the gym). But as much as I love to sleep, it’s been a struggle for over two decades. From racing thoughts that make it tough to drift off to multiple night awakenings, sleep just isn’t my strong suit. My room is pitch black and cool, I use an eye mask, ear plugs, white noise and all of the other lifestyle hacks recommended to me by sleep experts over the years. But even then, good sleep doesn’t always come easily. I’ve tried everything from over-the-counter remedies like melatonin and Unisom to prescription medications from my physician. They work, but aren’t meant to be used long-term and usually come with annoying side effects (like next-day grogginess) I’d rather live without.
As a health writer, I test and review supplements regularly, and with my history of sleep challenges, I’ve tested a range of products that promise a better night’s rest. When I tried Nightcap gummies by Juna, I was optimistic but skeptical that they’d make a noticeable difference. But after taking them for a full 30 days, I’m now sold: These are the sleep aid my body has been waiting for.
A note on supplements
The products included on this list are dietary supplements. Statements about these products have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Dietary supplements are not appropriate for everyone and may interact with other supplements or medications, so talk to your health care provider before adding a dietary supplement to your routine.
The oversaturated sleep market can be daunting to sift through, but Juna’s Nightcap gummies are the real deal. In total, I tested six natural sleep aids (you can see the others I tried below), and while they all had benefits, this is the one I keep using.
Juna’s Nightcap gummies are designed to promote relaxation and quality sleep without a groggy aftermath. They contain a proprietary blend of six key ingredients, although the exact amounts of each aren’t disclosed on the label, so it’s not clear which may be offering the greatest benefit. Here’s what the science says generally about the ingredients as they relate to sleep:
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Passionflower extract. According to animal studies and a small, placebo-controlled human trial, passionflower has shown promise as a supplement to enhance sleep. But more conclusive evidence is needed to determine if it’s beneficial for sleep promotion.
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Tart cherry extract: “Tart cherries are a natural source of melatonin, the hormone that regulates sleep,” says board-certified sleep medicine physician Dr. Raj Dasgupta. While preliminary research is promising, only two small-scale, industry-funded studies have been performed. More data is needed to establish the benefits of tart cherry extract for insomnia.
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Wild jujube (GABA): This product contains 200 mcg of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) in the form of wild jujube. GABA is a neurotransmitter in the brain that is believed to reduce stress and anxiety and improve sleep. Dasgupta says that although wild jujube may have sedative effects, strong clinical evidence on its effectiveness is lacking, and more studies are needed.
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Magnesium “Magnesium is one of my top recommendations for sleep support, as it plays a key role in regulating neurotransmitters — like GABA — that promote relaxation,” says registered dietitian Jessica Corwin. She says magnesium can help reduce cortisol (the stress hormone), ease muscle tension and improve sleep. According to research, it may help improve sleep quality and duration.
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L-tryptophan: L-tryptophan is an essential amino acid, meaning we need to consume it through our diet because our bodies can’t produce it, says registered dietitian Shelley Balls. “L-tryptophan plays an important role in the production of serotonin, a neurotransmitter that promotes relaxation and sleep,” she says. In a meta-analysis published in the journal Nutrition Reviews, tryptophan supplementation at ≥1 gram showed improved sleep quality.
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Phytomelatonin (from St. John’s Wort): Melatonin is a hormone naturally produced by the body that regulates the sleep-wake cycle. The sleep-enhancing effects of melatonin are well documented for jet lag and certain sleep disorders — usually in doses of 1 to 6 milligrams, but it’s not recommended to be used long term. The Juna Nightcap gummies contain 0.3 mg, the amount naturally produced by the body each day. This amount may be all that’s needed to improve sleep efficiency in individuals with jet lag and those with low melatonin levels.
My experience
I tested each of the products for a full 30 days. While I had positive results with a number of the options, the Juna Nightcap gummies are the ones I’m continuing to use. Not only did I experience better sleep from the very first night I tried the supplement, but over the course of the month I fell asleep faster and had fewer middle-of-the-night wakings with this product. I also experienced zero morning grogginess, and on the nights when I did rouse from sleep, I was able to fall back asleep quickly — a feat that can sometimes take me hours when I’m not using a sleep aid.
I also found these gummies easy to take — the dose is only a single gummy, and it’s pleasantly flavored. I took it about 30 minutes to an hour before I wanted to fall asleep and I found myself feeling relaxed and drowsy by the time I was ready to hit the hay.
While I don’t love that the individual doses for each of the six ingredients aren’t clearly listed on the packaging, I’ve found that my body does seem to respond better to mixed-ingredient options like this supplement, rather than those that only feature a single ingredient. However, as Dasgupta points out, this makes it harder to know exactly what you’re dealing with and may be more of a “red flag” for individuals taking medications or managing illnesses that may preclude the use of certain ingredients.
Precautions and risks
It’s important to note that the FDA does not approve dietary supplements for safety and effectiveness before they’re marketed to the public. That’s why it’s crucial to consult your health care provider before adding a sleep supplement to your wellness routine.
Dasgupta emphasizes that certain groups should exercise extra caution, including women who are pregnant or breastfeeding, individuals taking medications and those with certain medical conditions like kidney or liver disease. “St. John’s Wort can interact with many medications, including antidepressants, blood thinners and birth control; magnesium can cause digestive issues like diarrhea and L-Tryptophan may interact with medications that affect serotonin, like antidepressants, potentially leading to serotonin syndrome,” he says.
The bottom line
“The Juna Nightcap Sleep Gummies contain a mix of ingredients that could support relaxation and sleep,” says Dasgupta. However, he adds that the overall effectiveness depends on the dosages of each ingredient, which aren’t clearly disclosed. What’s more, some ingredients, like passionflower and tart cherry, have less scientific backing for sleep, so results may vary.
While I found the gummies highly effective, they may not be a fit for everyone. Working on your sleep hygiene before resorting to a sleep aid is also essential “It”s always best to start with lifestyle strategies — like establishing a regular sleep routine, reducing evening blue light exposure and managing stress — before relying solely on supplements,” recommends Corwin. And as always, it’s a good idea to check in with your healthcare provider, especially if you’re taking other medications.
Other products I tested:
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Natural Dreams by Univera is a great option if you’re looking for a melatonin-free supplement. It’s designed to increase the time you spend in deep sleep, the stage of sleep that helps you feel more rested when you wake up. I slept well and woke up feeling refreshed. The only small con was that my mouth felt dry — a potential side effect of the valerian root it contains.
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Rest by Hey Freya is another melatonin-free option that helped me sleep without next-day grogginess. One of its key ingredients is L-theanine, which promotes rest by reducing anxiety. I definitely felt a calm state of mind before drifting off into slumberland. I also like that the blend, which also contains valerian root and magnesium, is vegan and non-GMO.
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MoonBrew Night Time Superfoods is a melatonin-free drink mix that really helps me unwind at the end of the day. I tried the hot chocolate flavor; it tastes just like the real thing minus the sugar. The main ingredients are magnesium, L-theanine, jujube and chamomile. Overall, I liked the calming effects and slept better than usual.
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Thorne Melatonin-3 is a no-frills supplement containing 3 milligrams of melatonin. It’s a solid choice (which happens to top our list of best melatonin supplements) if you’re looking for a straight melatonin option, but I personally find a blend of ingredients to be more effective. It’s also NSF Certified for Sport, which helps guarantee safety and quality.
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JUNG+ Advanced Sleep Repair is designed to improve sleep over a year, but I tested it for a month and still noticed improvements. Mainly, I didn’t wake up as often and felt less groggy in the mornings. It contains solid, research-backed ingredients like magnesium and L-theanine and is melatonin-free. While I’d love to keep using it, it’s hard to justify the high price point ($69) when there are other effective options available for less.
Meet the experts
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Raj Dasgupta, MD, an ABIM Quadruple board-certified physician specializing in internal medicine, pulmonology, critical care and sleep medicine and chief medical adviser for Sleepopolis
Our health content is for informational purposes only and is not intended as professional medical advice. Consult a medical professional on questions about your health.
