Sleep Problems? Do-It-Yourself Treatments
Trouble sleeping is a common complaint and popular reason for a visit to the doctor. Some people may be reluctant to visit the doctor for this problem, however, because they don’t want to take sleeping pills with side effects or are afraid of becoming dependent on the pills. There are home treatments for sleep problems that might help.
Herbs and other homeopathic substances have always been used to help people with sleep problems. Here are some of the substances that are commonly used.
*Valerian root reduces anxiety and stress levels, allowing you to fall asleep and feel more rested. Since there are no negative side effects, valerian root is one of the more commonly used herbs.
*The scent of lavender is so relaxing and helps reduce stress as well. There are many ways to use lavender, including store-bought products and fresh lavender, to help you sleep.
*Kava Kava, when taken before you go to sleep, can reduce your stress level and help you relax so you can fall asleep. Depending on how much you take, this herb can be very potent.
Not all products advertised as natural are automatically safe for you to use. You need to find out as much as possible about an herb or other natural medicine before you start taking it.
Often people will have a nice hot relaxing cup of tea to help them sleep. You may not be aware of the food items that have the same properties. Many proteins including eggs, chicken and fish contain tryptophan, a substance found to promote relaxation and to treat sleep problems. Most of us have heard of the tryptophan because of the effect turkey has on us after a big Thanksgiving dinner. This substance is also the reason that a warm glass of milk from mom always helped you sleep.
Tryptophan works best when combined with complex carbohydrates and calcium. These other substances reduce the interference from other chemicals in your body and help with absorption of tryptophan.
We all try to add things to our nightly routine like warm milk or a hot bath to help us sleep. What we often don’t think about is how we need to take out the caffeine products and alcohol before bedtime. Caffeine and alcohol can cause trouble falling and staying asleep.
All the herbs in the world won’t help if you don’t set up a regular sleep schedule with a set bedtime and set time to wake up every day. By following a sleeping schedule, you are actually teaching your body how to sleep. The more regimented your schedule is, which means no staying up late and sleeping in on weekends, all the better. When your body learns to recognize when it needs rest, you’ll sleep better. The better you sleep at night, the better your whole day will be!
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