Almost everybody has a sleepless night every now and then. As long as it is occasional, there is no real harm. However if the absence of a good night sleep happens on a regular basis, it means trouble. Your body needs the time to rest and recover and when that time is not provided, the body starts to protest. Before you start to look at treatments in the natural first aid kit, you have to go and see your doctor, because insomnia can be treated on its own, but it can be a sign or symptom of another condition. However if any health issue is excluded you can try some of the following remedies to fight your insomnia.
Valerian has been used against insomnia for a very long time. It is a herb which nowadays is a general accepted over-the-counter remedy in some European countries. How it works inside the body is still a bit of a mystery, but it seems to have an effect on the calming neurotransmitter GABA. This remedy is not addictive, unlike clinical sleep medications. However it doesn’t work for everyone and you have to be careful with taking valerian in combination with other medication effecting the central nervous system.
Melatonin is a natural hormone which is found in the human body. This is a popular remedy when there has been a disturbance in the cycle of sleep/wake (shift workers, jetlag). It is a supplement for the natural process of serotonin (another hormone) being converted into melatonin at night when the light reduces.
Kava is a herb that can be very helpful for people with insomnia which is related to anxiety. There may be some risks of liver issues, so this must be prescribed by a qualified Naturopath.
Taking these herbs before bedtime is not something you can do for the rest of your life. You have to look at different kinds of relaxation during your bedtime routine. These can exist from muscle relaxation exercises, yoga or visualizing yourself in a very quiet and peaceful place like the beach or the forest.
Your diet also has a direct effect on your quality of sleep. Even your breakfast can determine how you are going to sleep tonight. You need to take a look at your coffee drinking habits and cut them back or rather out. Then there is the nice ingredient of sugar which can really destroy you trying to get into sleep if you have had too much during the day. Magnesium happens to be a natural sedative. Try and have a magnesium rich snack at night and see if it makes you a bit sleepy. Magnesium can be found in dark green veggies, cashew nuts, almond nuts.
The bedroom plays a big part in your sleeping habits. Keep it dark, quiet and without any distractions and only use the bedroom for sex and sleep. Maybe a little light and soft music can be allowed if it helps you to relax.
When you are suffering from insomnia it is really worth trying some of these techniques, because it is only a matter of time before your body starts protesting.
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