Showing posts with label insomnia. Show all posts
Showing posts with label insomnia. Show all posts

Wednesday, March 18, 2015

Can't Sleep?

Hi Friends! Do you feel drowsy during the day even after an 8 hour sleep. Not able to feel refreshed in the morning or can't sleep at night these might be symptoms of insomnia. Though insomnia may not be the only kind of sleep disorder it may be a warning for other problems. The symptoms vary from person to person as mentioned above or many others like not able to sleep at night or waking up many times at night or not able to sleep after waking up once.

Insomnia is a complex condition usually due to number of factors. You need to figure out the cause which disturbs your sleep. Your treatment can be tailored only after you know the cause. Some of the causes can be stress, depression, medication which can affect sleep, trauma, environment etc. Also certain other sleep disorders sleep apnea, narcolepsy & restless legs syndrome can lead to insomnia. Anxiety & Depression are are the two most common causes of chronic insomnia.

Some natural remedies which help you have a good night sleep:

1. Melatonin is a hormone which is responsible for the sleep/wake cycle. It causes drowsiness, lowers the body temperature & puts the body to sleep mode. Calcium & Magnesium have a role in the making of melatonin by the brain. So drinking a warm glass of milk at night helps you sleep better. Also Calcium & Magnesium can be taken in synthetic form in tablets. Also good sources of Magnesium include green leafy vegetable, wheat germ, pumpkin seeds etc.

2. Have bed time snacks to avoid sleep disturbance due to hunger. If hungry at night it can wake you up at night, but also a food with high glycemic index can keep you awake at night. Such food causes insulin & blood glucose to spike up and causes anxiety. Such foods should be avoided at night. Food high in fiber & low in glycemic index will keep you full and also avoid any anxiety.

3. Tryptophan an amino acid in milk & poultry is known to induce the production of serotonin. Foods rich in tryptophan have shown help in better sleep cycle due to serotonin which is known to calm our senses & prevents depression.

4. Tea has L-Theanine which is an amino acid (a higher percentage presence in Green Tea), which helps reduce heart rate & improves immune responses to stress. It induces the brain to secrete hormones which relaxes the body.

5. Lavender oil is a cheap, non-toxic way to slip peacefully into a good sleep. It has shown good effects in patients with problems of insomnia. Valerian root also has the same effects and used from ancient times to treat insomnia.

Hope these remedies will help you overcome from sleep disorders. Sleeping right is a key to a happy & successful life. Have a sleep like a baby. Thank!!

Sleep like a baby