“Last night I closed my eyes only to wake a full hour before I had to get up. I can’t sleep once again. Worse yet it is Saturday; my only morning to sleep in.” It’s been a busy week and like you, I need sleep to recoup my energy. Clients share some version of their insomnia with me weekly. This is just one that I heard recently. Many people can’t sleep. The reason varies. There are many natural ways to get a good nights’ sleep.
Copious numbers of people try prescription drugs like Ambien or Lunesta only to experience horrible side effects. They range from bad dreams, sleep-walking, not being able to wake up. Lower Libido is another complaint I keep hearing too. The one time I tried it I hallucinated!
Even some forms of natural medicine can have side effects. My advice don’t give up with holistic aids there is more than the name of the product or ingredient to consider. There is the cultivation and the foods you consume. That’s right your mix of foods, and natural substances, when you can’t sleep, can interact.
Why Our Minds Can’t Sleep
When we can’t sleep, it may be our minds are over-busy, or we suffer from physical pain. These are the two most common problems that create the sleeplessness. Increasingly a high percentage of sleep issue is hormonal in both men and women! I’ve seen patients with insomnia for many reasons; I don’t give up and encourage you to not either.
Our brain and nervous system need neurotransmitters or chemicals to function. When our minds can’t slow down, these chemicals don’t activate correctly. Acupuncture is an extremely helpful part of a healing program for long-term or chronic sleepless nights. There’re three types of sleep aids I like to recommend to help you when you can’t sleep. I’ll cover one in this article, share a few, and include the others in another article.
The Body’s Hormone For Insomnia
Melatonin, for instance, is a natural hormone made by the Pineal gland inside the brain. Our brain knows to stop making it from light hitting the eye. Because we stay up late, have on bright lightening, the Pineal gland doesn’t get the signal.
I had to try a few brands to find one that didn’t cause nightmares for me. This is a common consequence, especially when taken within 2-3 hours of drinking alcohol. Some clients do better with a sublingual form over a capsule. For me, it doesn’t matter it’s how it made. This is why I encourage people to try numerous brands before giving up on Melatonin.
A few other forms we use are a homeopathic remedy and slow release blend. Sometimes the type of Melatonin you take makes the difference for insomnia.
How melatonin works in our body is different from the other sleep-aids I’ll share with you in this article. It is similar to a clock starting to increase around 9 pm making you sleepy and decreasing to untraceable levels at 9 am. Lowering lights, turning down the TV, or shutting it and computers off at 9 pm can enhance your ability to fall asleep naturally. If you don’t go to bed until a few hours later, fill this time reading in a gentle light that doesn’t fill the entire room.
When You Can’t Sleep Try Natural Options
Melatonin isn’t the only natural formula I recommend to clients with insomnia. When I can’t sleep a few specific herbal prescriptions or my favorite, a neurotransmitter work wonders. Gaba or Gamma-Amino Butyric acid is another neurotransmitter. It acts as a tranquilizer for most people. It is non-habit forming and it is a chemical that is made in the brain.
It is used for relieving anxiety, improving mood, reducing symptoms of premenstrual syndrome (PMS), and treating attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). It is also used for promoting lean muscle growth, burning fat, stabilizing blood pressure, and relieving pain, according to WebMD.
Even deficiencies in micronutrients can cause insomnia. We offer testing to help you get to the root of the problem and treat it naturally.
I’ve had patients who haven’t had a good night’s sleep in years start sleeping better with acupuncture and one of these various natural supplements. To learn more about the other insomnia options schedule your visit today.
More at http://www.webmd.com/sleep-disorders/tc/melatonin-overview
