Sound solutions pave way to a good night's rest

For solutions, people are turning to sleeping aids, including melatonin pills.

"The melatonin pill is a mature product that helps people to sleep better, and is one of the main ones that we want to bring to the Chinese market," Yam said.

He said that in recent years melatonin sleep gummies, or candies, have also become highly popular in the US.

"Gummies are convenient and consumers do not need to take them with water," Yam said. "Moreover, they have made sleep-aid products more fashionable, meeting the needs of younger consumers keen on new things."

Yam said demand among Chinese consumers for imported wellness products offers huge potential for the company's products, adding that it views the country as an important growth market.

Wang Gerun, CEO of Cherubi-Mind (Beijing) Technology Co, plans to mass-produce the company's eye mask, which uses artificial intelligence, from next year. It is currently used solely for professional sleep therapy.

Wang, who worked as a psychologist for more than 10 years, said that since 2009, he has been involved with a system that helps monitor pilots' mental condition, including their stress and anxiety levels and sleep quality.

"We have noticed that people in China are seeking better sleep, as stress resulting from various factors has become the main cause of insomnia," he said. "We researched an eye mask that can monitor brain activity and help the wearer fall asleep more easily."

The mask comes complete with soothing music and instructions on how to stay calm and fall asleep gradually. Electromagnetic waves are used to massage areas around the eyes, and all data on the wearer's mental state is sent to an app, enabling adjustments to be made to provide better-quality sleep.

Wang said that currently AI eye masks are only sold to hospitals or companies, and have been used to treat 30,000 to 40,000 people in China. The company is working on versions of the mask designed specifically for different groups of people.

"We have also cooperated with more than 2,800 psychological consultants. If people have any questions about their sleeping problems, they will be able to share their data monitored by the mask with the consultants through the app to get help easily," he said.

Wang added that as awareness of "sleep health" increases, demand for related products and treatment will continue to grow.

In July, the Want Want Group in Shanghai launched a sleep-inducing drink called Dream Dream Water, which comes in a 100-milliliter bottle featuring a picture of the moon.

Xie Jing, a departmental beverage growth manager for the group, said the company decided to develop the product in January last year, as many people in China were experiencing problems getting a good night's rest and were willing to pay for "sleep health".

"Our executives have been very supportive of the research and development carried out for Dream Dream Water, as they are under great work pressure and sometimes cannot sleep well or for long enough," she said.

The company has invested more than 20 million yuan on a production line especially for the beverage, which Xie said could help people sleep well for longer, as it contains sleep-inducing ingredients including the amino acid theanine.

She said that during the first month of trial operations for its store on Tmall, more than 2,000 bottles of the drink were sold. About 1,000 bottles a month are currently being sold.

"The sleep-aids sector is an area that we will attach increasing importance to," she said, adding that the company is researching more products aimed at different groups of people.

Sun, from CBNData, said that despite rapid growth, no major brands have yet consolidated their presence in the market, and many individual demands are yet to be met.

"People of different ages or from different areas will have varying preferences for sleep-aid products, but relatively few brands and categories are available," he said. "Realizing the potential of the sleep-aid market will be worth the wait."

Yang Yuxiang, a senior nutritionist and psychologist in Beijing, said that in addition to stress, other factors can cause insomnia, including an imbalanced diet or illness.

"It is important for people to pay more attention to their sleeping patterns and seek professional advice when necessary," she said.