i used to give valerian root to my old dog to calm him during storms.
seriously dwd, before my life became intense enough to tire me, i did have trouble sleeping. i have found that tylenol pm helps me. it doesn't necessarily make me sleepy but if i wake in the middle of the night, i have an easier time getting BACK to sleep. also, i don't have any residual effects from it, it doesn't keep me goofy. other things do but not that.
something else i have is a white noise machine next to the bed. if i find i'm having trouble falling asleep, i turn it to "ocean" sounds and the waves slapping up on the beach put me right out. it's also an alarm clock. i wake up to songbirds instead of that infernal BEEEEP BEEEEEP BEEEEEEP.