H.W. Woods is the industry leader in over-the-counter treatments for insomnia. Our high-quality sleep aids are made in Australia for Australians.
More than 1.5 million Australians have trouble falling or staying asleep. Improving sleep hygiene may help improve your sleep.
H.W. Woods has been a fixture on the Australian pharmaceutical landscape since 1938. A family-run company, our core business focuses on producing high-quality, pharmacist only sleep aids that are both safe and effective.
Harold W Woods left school at the age of 13 to help the family as a pharmacy delivery boy, working in various jobs and industries before heading the highly successful stationery company Redmond Inglis. He then returned to his roots to start H.W. Woods in 1938. In its early years, H.W. Woods supplied local pharmacy products such as prescription and non-prescription medicines as well as sundries such as soaps, beauty products and giftware.
H.W. Woods developed Woods Cod Liver Oil, which became its leading product of the time, “helping Australian families remain vital and fight off colds and flus”. It sold well throughout the 40s and 50s as a forerunner for the popular fish oil trend that continues today.
H.W. Woods launched an over-the-counter sedative to promote calm and sleep. This popular product sold well into the 1980s when more modern active ingredients saw it replaced with a new product.
H.W. Woods consolidated its position as a pharmacy supplier and wholesaler, adding further products and lines to the expanding catalogue. Due to transport restrictions and the travel distances required in a country the size of Australia, offices and distribution centres were opened in every capital city.
Harold Woods passed the business on to his stepson David Shakespeare, who successfully ran the business for 25 years. As the world modernised and globalised, David steered the company through the digitisation of the workplace and the globalisation of the market at large. Many strategic decisions were made in this period such as recentralisation to a main distribution centre and a more specialised offering of niche products. This consolidated our business model and helped Woods to ride out the opening of the Australian market to international players. H.W. Woods continued to establish a position as the leader in over-the-counter sleep aids in Australia.
Harold Woods passed the business on to his stepson David Shakespeare, who successfully ran the business for 25 years. As the world modernised and globalised, David steered the company through the digitisation of the workplace and the globalisation of the market at large. Many strategic decisions were made in this period such as recentralisation to a main distribution centre and a more specialised offering of niche products. This consolidated our business model and helped Woods to ride out the opening of the Australian market to international players. H.W. Woods continued to establish a position as the leader in over-the-counter sleep aids in Australia.
Adam Shakespeare took the reins in 2007, the third generation of the family to do so. Adam has consolidated the company’s position despite multiple entries into the competitive space. H.W. Woods remains Australia’s pre-eminent supplier of over-the-counter sleep aids.
Sleep is essential for your mind and body to function normally. Why?
If you don’t get a good night’s sleep you might feel irritable, forgetful or lack energy.
Eight hours a night is a good amount for the average adult to sleep. Since sleep is a time for the body to recover and grow, children and adolescents need more sleep. The average teenager needs nine or more hours of sleep each night.
There are many reasons why people find it hard to sleep. These can range from your general health and emotions to the state of your pillow or mattress.
Transient insomnia (lasting a few days) and short-term insomnia (lasting a few weeks) is usually caused by an emotionally exciting or stressful event, such as an argument, a wedding day or exams.
Long-term or secondary insomnia is ongoing, lasting a month or even years. Medical and psychiatric problems, drug use or other issues requiring medical attention can be the causes of long-term insomnia. Common causes:
Lifestyle, irregular sleep hours due to excessive socialising, jet lag, alcohol/caffeine/drugs, insufficient exercise, environment, excessive noise, uncomfortable mattress or pillow, overheated or underheated room, health problems, pain from injury or illness, Indigestion (eating a heavy/oily meal could upset digestion), eczema/skin irritations, asthma, psychological concerns, stress, grief, depression, medication or other drugs, side effects of certain drugs, sleep disorders, narcolepsy, Restless Leg Syndrome, Sleep Apnea, irregular breathing during sleep.
There are many effective ways to treat insomnia or contribute to healthy sleep.
Making simple lifestyle changes can relieve sleep issues. Sleep hygiene tips are often highly effective and medication may not be required. It could be as straightforward as purchasing an appropriate pillow or passing on that 3pm coffee.
If somebody is experiencing a difficult period due to work stress or a relationship breakdown, then counselling may ease some emotional strain, making sleep easier. Or adopting relaxation techniques such as meditation might help ease the mind.
If insomnia persists there are several prescription and non-prescription treatment options available.
Sleep hygiene refers to habits that help you have a good night’s sleep. These may include following a consistent body clock, avoiding stimulants like drugs, alcohol or caffeine, or allowing time for relaxation.
Common sleeping problems (such as insomnia) are often caused by bad habits reinforced over years or even decades. If you have tried and failed to improve your sleep, you may like to consider professional help.
There are many simple and effective ways to improve your sleep hygiene:
Sleep isn’t a static state of consciousness. We all go through various distinct stages of sleep, over and over, every night. Generally, the brain moves from light sleep to deeper sleep and eventually to rapid eye movement (REM) sleep.
REM sleep occurs regularly, about once every 90 to 120 minutes. Brain waves in REM sleep are faster than in non-REM sleep. REM sleep is associated with dreaming and with stimulation of the parts of the brain used for learning, while body repair and growth tends to happen during non-REM sleep.
It’s important to get the right mix of both REM and non-REM sleep to maintain your natural sleep cycle and help you wake rested and refreshed.
If you’re one of the many Australians who has trouble getting to sleep or staying asleep, there are things you can do to help.
You might like to get a good understanding of sleep hygiene and try implementing some of the tips mentioned above. If you’re still experiencing sleep problems, you might like to consult a professional.
These questions and answers were sourced from the Better Health Channel and Stop Counting Sheep websites. You might find answers to other questions you have on these sites.
For medical emergencies, please consult a health care professional or visit your nearest hospital. Please note that we are unable to provide you with individual medical advice. Enquiries of this nature are best directed to your healthcare professional.
As a member of the Australian Self Medication Industry (ASMI), we align closely with the value of responsible self-care and welcome all feedback.
Sometimes medication doesn’t work in the way we’re expecting. We encourage you to get in touch if you’ve experienced any adverse reactions to our pharmacist only sleep aids.
If you'd like to get in touch, or submit a general enquiry, fill out the form here.
You can also report on adverse effects related to one of our products by phone on (03) 9544 6466.
