Why You'll Never Hear About Herbal Remedies For Insomnia From Your Doctor

With due respect to doctors, they don't know much about herbal remedies for insomnia because they haven't been trained in them. Doctors are pursued daily by representatives from the big drug companies who provide them with incentives such as free samples. It's not in a doctor's best interests to suggest natural remedies

It's not only doctors either, a lot of people believe herbs for insomnia to be a watered down solution compared to chemical sleep medication. This is because the benefits of insomnia herbs are not widely advertised, unlike the latest drug release. Why? Because there's just no money in it.

This is rather unfortunate because there are many who could benefit with more and better information about herbal remedies for insomnia, but they're not being informed. For instance when I ask people with sleep disorders if they would consider trying herbs for insomnia they'll say thing like:

"I'd better wait 'till I'm on vacation before trying them." "Er, can you buy them at the drug store?" "That's for elderly people, isn't it? Like aunts and that?" "Don't you have to take them for ages before they work?" "Aren't those herbs toxic?"

The truth is if you are having trouble sleeping, herbal remedies for insomnia are as effective as chemical sleeping pills. If fact they are so much better because you won't become "hooked" on them. Most herbs for insomnia are safe to take over the longer term without you having to worry about becoming addicted. The possible exception here is valerian which can have withdrawal effects.

Here are some safer herbs for insomnia you may not have come across before. However they have been proven to be very effective.

Nux Vomica - this is a wonderful herb for those type A personalities who tend to wake up in the middle of the night, planning all those things they have to do! Nux Vomica can really help such people to take a deep breath and relax.

Scutellaria laterifolia - A herbal nerve tonic for a fatigued nervous system, Scutellaria laterifolia is also a gentle sedative. It has beneficial effect on stress, nervous exhaustion, sleeplessness and anxiety.

Passiflora incarnata - If you have a tendency to worry, Passiflora incarnata, commonly known as Passionflower, is recommended as a soothing antidote to insomnia.

Coffea - is a homeopathic medication and targets sleeplessness due to an over-active mind. If you're agitated or physically restless, Coffea is the answer.

Herbal remedies for insomnia are safe, non addictive and can have an almost immediate effect when blended together in their recommended amounts.

However remember herbs are potent substances so either seek the advice of a professional herbalist or naturopath, or obtain your herbs already blended from a reliable source.


Autor: Wendy Owen

To discover more about obtaining and using herbal remedies for insomnia, visit Natural Sleep Medications Wendy Owen (Dip. Holistic Health Therapy) is a sleep researcher and writer with a passion for herbal and homeopathic remedies.

Added: August 29, 2009
Source: http://articlerich.com/Article/Why-You-ll-Never-Hear-A~

How to Cure Insomnia

In order to be at our best we generally need between seven and eight hours of good sleep each night.

But with the modern day stressful life the numbers of people with sleep problems are getting worse. Over one third of the population regularly has problems sleeping and one in ten have chronic insomnia. This is where there are problems falling asleep, waking in the middle of the night or waking too early. Where you consistently have problems functioning the next day.

There are actually a number of reasons leading to sleep problems. The most common causes are stress, worry, and depression. In addition medical problems could be the cause, or pain, some medications have an effect on your sleep, over use of alcohol or caffeine.

To resolve the problem it's important therefore to find the specific cause. It makes sense to discus your sleep issue with your family physician to get any medical problems treated first. Your physician can also prescribe medications that will help anxiety and depression.

If you feel that your sleep problems are caused by stress, worry or even depression then it makes sense to talk to a psychologist or counselor. There are some good programs that have been proved to decrease levels of stress, anxiety and depression. This in turn will improve your quality of sleep.

A psychologist can give you techniques to help you relax and ease the stress away. Psychologists generally have a range of other behavioral strategies to help reduce your sleeping problems. About 75% of people with insomnia report significantly improved sleep after completing this type of psychological treatment.

Family physicians regularly prescribe hypnotic medications that help people to sleep. These do help individuals who are going through a particularly stressful period. However these medications should only be used for a short period as they are become addictive. They can make your simple sleep problem a lot more difficult to resolve. They also become less effective if you use them over longer periods of time.

In addition some of these medicines will cause feelings of drowsiness and lead to difficulties in concentrating the next day. Over the counter sleep supplements are not always reliable solutions and are often just a waste of money as they simply don't work.

Sleep Medicines can help you catch up on some good sleep but don't by themselves fix the issue. They would need to be used alongside some other treatment or program that will resolve the actual cause. Where the underlying problem is successfully treated then the sleep problems will disappear too.

In summary, sleeping medication can be helpful only as a short term 'fix' but don't actually solve any underlying problem, whereas psychological treatments are effective in the long-term but may take a while to work.


Autor: Matthew Bettison

To find out more about Sleep Problems and Insomnia, the problems it can cause and how to overcome it then visit >= http://www.BestInsomniaRemedies.com

Added: August 27, 2009
Source: http://articlerich.com/Article/How-to-Cure-Insomnia/54~

Insomnia - Easy Ways To Cure Insomnia Without Medication

In today's fast paced society a lot of people suffer from insomnia, the inability to get enough adequate sleep. Fortunately, insomnia is not something you have to live with for the rest of your life. But curing insomnia can be a challenge which may require some life style changes.

There are many possible causes for insomnia. You should always try to figure out the cause, so you can fix the cause rather than the symptom, in this case insomnia. If your insomnia is caused by your life style, your best solution is to change your life style.

Things you should try avoid in order to cure insomnia are:

Don't use sleeping pills or other medication to fall asleep. They are no long term solution and many of them have negative side effects. Note, never stop taking your medication without consulting your doctor first.

Don't drink coffee, or anything else containing caffeine, or alcohol in the evening. The former will make it more difficult to fall asleep while the latter will prevent you from getting the quality sleep you need.

No heavy meals in the evening. If your body is busy digesting food, you will not get the deep sleep needed to feel refreshed.

Don't let the clock decide when you go to bed. If you are not tired, do not go to bed. Read a book or listen to some peaceful music until you are feeling sleepy.

Don't worry about what may happen tomorrow. Decide to worry about the future tomorrow. And you can't change the past, so don't be upset about what happened during the day.

Don't sleep during the day. If you sleep during the day, you will have trouble falling asleep in the evening. If you feel tired during the day, go for a walk and get some fresh air.

Things you should do to cure your insomnia are:

Exercise, if possible on a daily basis. It can be as simple as a 30 minute brisk walk. Also, avoid heavy exercises late in the evening. Your body needs time to cool down afterwards.

Make sure that you have a good sleeping environment. Your bedroom should have a comfortable bed and be cool, dark and quit.

Create your own bedtime procedure. You need to cool down and start relaxing before going to bed, you may want to try a simple relaxation exercise. By doing the same procedure every evening you program your brain to start cooling down.

Listen to special audio CDs that will tell your brain to slow down. You can re-program your brain and teach it to prepare for sleep.


Autor: Reijo Metso

For more information about how to overcome insomnia without using medication, go to http://www.InsomniaClinic.info

Added: August 24, 2009
Source: http://articlerich.com/Article/Insomnia---Easy-Ways-To~

Easy Ways to Cure Insomnia Naturally

Insomnia is a sleep disorder that is characterized by having difficulty falling asleep as well as difficulty staying asleep. Insomnia is a common problem, for some people it means experiencing an occasional sleepless night every now and then. Others have trouble getting enough adequate sleep almost every night.

The best solution to cure insomnia is to find the root cause and remove it. Of course, the problem is not always that easy. But if your insomnia is caused by your lifestyle, the best long-term solution is to change your lifestyle. In most cases, it is better to do one small change at a time, rather than trying to change everything at once. The latter approach is too ambitious for most people. Without fast results it is easy to get discouraged and give up. A healthier lifestyle has many more benefits than just improving your sleep.

Some of the most reliable ways to cure insomnia naturally are:

Be physically active during the day. Not only can exercises make you sleep better but you get other health benefits as well. Just a daily 30 minute brisk walk is a good beginning for most people. Just make sure that you avoid heavy exercises in the evening, your body needs time to cool down.

Create your own bedtime routine, so your brain knows it is time to cool down and go to bed. This should include something relaxing, such as listening to calm soothing music, so you start to cool down.

If you are feeling stressed or anxious, include meditation or anti-stress exercises in your day. Far too many worry about what may happen tomorrow. Decide to relax now and worry about things tomorrow, if they happen. It is far too common to worry about things that never happen.

Try hypnotherapy treatment by a professional hypnotist. Some chronic insomniacs have been cured by hypnosis. Unfortunately, this can become an expensive cure. It is cheaper to buy self-hypnosis CDs and do it yourself. But most of them seem to have limited effect compared to seeking help from a professional hypnotist.

Use special audio CDs to teach your brain to slow down before bedtime. You can re-program your brain to automatically prepare for sleep. This will create new neural pathways in your brain, permanently changing your ability to sleep. Once your brain has been re-programmed you do not need to listen to the CD anymore.


Autor: Reijo Metso

If you want to know more about how to cure insomnia without using medication, go to http://www.InsomniaClinic.info

Added: August 22, 2009
Source: http://articlerich.com/Article/Easy-Ways-to-Cure-Insom~

Amazing Sleeping Remedies That Can Cure Insomnia

Sleeping soundly at night isn't as easy as some people think it is. In fact, too many people take "good" sleep for granted -- they believe they're entitled to it, even without using natural sleeping remedies. If they only knew how bad all of us insomniacs have it each night, maybe they would appreciate sleep-filled nights a bit more.

If you're one of those sleepless zombies roaming around from place to place, then listen up. Directly below is a collection of natural sleeping remedies that you can use to alleviate your insomnia troubles and get the deep rest you so truly deserve. Using 1 of these remedies is good, but using them all is even better!

Natural Sleeping Remedies...

- Herbal Bath: A warm bath filled with a few bath salts and several drops of insomnia herbal oil can really heighten relaxation and relieve stress. Soak in the warm bath for 15 minutes, then head off to bed.

- Herbal Tea: This is a long known natural sleeping remedy. Simply pour a cup of hot tea (chamoile, valerian, or passionflower) and drink it down slowly before bed. Most insomnia herbal teas have strong sleep inducing effects; so even if you're not all that tired, you will be when you're finished drinking.

- Herbal Aroma: There are many herbal aromas -- like those of lavendar, valerian, and others -- that have been scientifically proven to induce sleepiness. How can you use this fact to your advantage? Simple, light an herbal candle/incense and keep it near you while you sleep -- take precautions to avoid waking up to a fiery inferno! Another great way to use herbal aromas to sleep better is to sprinkle some droplets of herbal oil onto a cloth or handkerchief and then place it under your pillow.

- Massage: In terms of natural sleeping remedies, there isn't a whole lot to say here. This particular remedy helps with relaxation and relieving stress; both of which will help you to sleep better.

- Sound Therapy: Of all the natural sleeping remedies out there, sound therapy (aka sleeptracks) is the best, hands down. Why? Because it's so easy and it's so very effective. All you have to do is put in the sleeptrack (CD/tape/mp3/etc.) and then get into bed. The sound waves will make their way into your body and then they'll head for your brain. Once there, they will caress and massage it until you are fast asleep. It truly is the lazy way to cure insomnia.

As you can see, there are plenty of ways in which you can cure insomnia fast and effectively. Just choose one of the above natural sleeping remedies and start enjoying more peaceful sleep.

Autor: Sean T Saunders

Would you like to just skip over all of these rather useless natural insomnia remedies and be pointed in the direction of a guaranteed cure for insomnia? If so, try visiting http://www.SleepTracks.org the one and only website that can guarantee an insomnia cure for you.

Added: August 19, 2009
Source: http://articlerich.com/Article/Amazing-Sleeping-Remedi~

The Elite Insomnia Hormone: Melatonin

Insomnia is commonly linked with a natural hormone produced by the body. This hormone is known as melatonin, and it makes the body feel physically tired and 'encourages' the sleep cycle. It is produced by the pineal gland in the brain. This insomnia hormone is also made synthetically and is used as an effective treatment for insomnia.

Melatonin: The Top Insomnia Hormone

Melatonin works in a series of ways to reduce the effects of insomnia. It has been proven to decrease body temperature, suppress stimulating hormones produced by the body, and promote relaxation. This soothing affect is the major attraction to the hormone.

The body responds to darkness or bedtime by producing melatonin to make us tired and go to sleep. However, there is another cycle at work here: the body needs sleep for it to function properly.

The Major Issue With Insomnia

If your body is producing an insufficient amount of melatonin and suffering from insomnia as a result, the body is at risk for much more serious problems. Sleep is necessary to rejuvenate the body and mind. Without enough sleep, it is far too difficult to stay alert and focused throughout the day. Lack of sleep also slows reaction time, which is a typical justification for car and machinery accidents.

When a person is suffering from insomnia, their body's immune system is also weakened. High-quality sleep is vital in building a strong immune system. This causes many insomniacs to be sick more often than most, too.

How Can Melatonin Help?

Melatonin is produced less as we age. That is the main reason insomnia is common in adults than in children. This steady reduction of melatonin can be supplemented by a person taking the insomnia hormone in pill form. By increasing the body"s levels of melatonin, a person can then overcome the insomnia because the body is responding naturally again to the cues form the hormone to induce sleep.

Melatonin is not a cure-all for insomnia, though. In some insomnia patients, Melatonin is not the cause of their sleeplessness. In this case, then melatonin supplements might not help at all.

The insomnia hormone Melatonin is essential to a person's sleep cycles. A person with low melatonin production will not only have problems sleeping, but can also get sick more often, can have more accidents, and usually has problems functioning during the day. This is why it is very important to keep melatonin levels constant. The medical community has worked very hard to create herbal synthetic Melatonin insomnia hormone supplements for this reason, and they very well could be the answer you've been looking for!

Autor: Benjamin Edwards

Wondering where to get a Melatonin supplement that's totally safe? Check out Melatrol: a doctor-recommended herbal insomnia remedy. Sign up for your free 14-part insomnia eCourse at http://TiredOfInsomnia.com!

Added: August 15, 2009
Source: http://articlerich.com/Article/The-Elite-Insomnia-Horm~

Conventional Medical Treatment for Insomnia

Description

Insomnia is an extremely frustrating condition, during which normal sleep patterns are consistently interrupted-either when falling asleep, in the middle of the night, or very early in the morning. One, two, or three consecutive sleep deprived nights can make you less alert, easily confused, and unusuaUllifatigued. Four or more terfere with motor skills, physical coordination, and problem-solving abilities. It also can make you moody, prone to depression, and susceptible to infectious illnesses, such as the common cold and flu. In some people, prolonged sleeplessness can even cause hallucinations, psychosis, and delusions.

Insomnia is a very personalized condition; it can be caused by a multitude of factors, including job stress, money concerns, depression, alcohol or drug use, hyperthyroidism, sleep apnea, jet lag, caffeine, sleep deprivation due to having a newborn infant, and trying to sleep in a noisy environment.

Signs and Symptoms

Difficulty falling asleep

Inability to fall asleep after waking up in the middle of the night

Waking up earlier than usual

Anxiety over whether or not you will be able to fall-and remain-asleep

Daytime sleepiness

Conventional Medical Treatment

If you have not had a good night's sleep for four or more days in a row, visit your physician, who will examine you to ensure that a physical ailment, such as hyperthyroidism or sleep apnea, is not the cause of your insomnia. Insomnia is also a symptom of depression, which your doctor also may explore. If a medical or psychological cause of your insomnia is determined, it must be addressed in order for your usual sleep patterns to resume.

Often, there is no underlying medical factor behind a person's sleep difficulties. Instead, the problem may be rooted in poor "sleep hygiene." Sleep hygiene means following a fixed routine of activities that the body associates with sleep on set, including adhering to set sleep and waking times (even on weekends), avoiding stimulating activities (such as exercising, watching an emotional movie, or reading an upsetting book) within three hours of bedtime, avoiding all stimulants (such as caffeine) within six hours of retiring, creating a noise-free environment for sleep, and ensuring that the bedroom is a comfortable temperature. Other sleep hygiene measures include eliminating daytime naps and setting aside time during the day to attend to (or simply keep a journal of) the worries that keep you awake at night.

Autor: Brain

Read out for Home remedies. Check out green tea and body mass index calculator

Added: August 14, 2009
Source: http://articlerich.com/Article/Conventional-Medical-Tr~

All about Insomnia Symptoms, Tips, Relief and Treatment

Insomnia is a common sleep disorder among all ages, especially among senior citizens. The patient should remember or write down all the insomnia symptoms he/she experiences and discuss with the physician to help in making a correct diagnosis. The most typical of all insomnia symptoms is difficulty in sleeping. Encounters with anxiety and/or depression are two main symptoms associated with insomnia. Insomnia symptoms include poor concentration and short memory. Insomniac people usually awake prematurely during sleep and have trouble falling asleep again. Insomniacs feel irritability without any obvious cause. It is especially experienced during the day. People suffering from insomnia frequently experience decreased alertness and mental sluggishness.

Insomnia symptoms may last for a little or longer time, depending on the type of insomnia. In case of Transient Insomnia, the symptoms last for a few nights. In Short-Term Insomnia, the symptoms stay for two to three weeks. If they last more than three weeks, the patient is suffering from Chronic Insomnia. Health experts also sometimes distinguish between primary and secondary insomnia. Primary insomnia is characterized by symptoms of difficulty in falling asleep, waking several times during sleep, and fatigue. These symptoms last for a month and has unknown cause. In secondary insomnia, there is a known underlying medical condition. Depression is major cause of secondary insomnia.

To diagnose the condition of sleeplessness as insomnia, the physician makes sure that the symptoms are not being caused by other sleep disorders or other disease or side effects of any medication. Along with the symptoms of insomnia, other disorders may be detected in the same patient; these include mania, depression, phobias, or obsessive-compulsive disorder.

Help for Insomnia

It is often possible to fight insomnia with simple home remedies; however, when the insomnia crosses two weeks and you start feeling groggy, disoriented, acutely irritated and totally lost, it is time you go for professional insomnia help.

The treatments available for insomnia are varied and very efficient. Reaching at the right diagnosis is quite problematic, which involves a battery of tests and long-drawn assessment studies. This is why people usually avoid asking for professional insomnia help unless it becomes too much to bear otherwise. Most of the times, the homemade cures will dramatically improve your condition; however, in case you still experience this problem, it could be an indication of some serious health problem which would necessitate a doctor's opinion. You should always keep in mind that prevention is better than cure. A timely medical intervention may save your life.

Tips for Insomnia

Insomnia tips no 1 - Do not sleep or even take a cat nap (those 10-20 minutes forty winks), if you are prone to insomnia attacks. Maintain strict timings both for sleep and for your meals.

Insomnia tips no 2 - Eat your dinner at least four hours ahead of your bed time. For example, if you normally retire at 10:30 pm, have your dinner at 6:30 - 7:00 pm latest. Often insomnia is aggravated by digestive problems, and hence, it is best to avoid the problem altogether.

Insomnia tips no 3 - Avoid any drink that influences sleep, such as coffee in any form, alcohol, and even tea (unless it is medicated). In case you must have your regular cup of coffee, at least ensure that you take it before a minimum of four hours from your bedtime.

Insomnia tips no 4 - Introduce daily exercise in your routine. In case you are not too fond of physical exercise, you can simply take a walk for about 30 minutes daily; try to gradually increase it to one hour or so for best results.

Insomnia tips no 5 - If you find that you cannot sleep, do not fight it. Sleep usually comes after your body relaxes completely. The best thing to do is get up from the bed and do something that you enjoy (reading, listing to music, writing letters to dear ones, etc) aiming to relax your mind and body.

Treatment for Insomnia

Majority of people suffering from sleep disorders turn to pills and medications. This proves to be working at first, but gradually some problems arise that need serious consideration before one starts with a particular kind of sleeping pills or medication. These days, both over the counter medications and prescriptions pills are used for insomnia treatment.

Over the counter medications for insomnia are usually ineffective in log term insomnia treatment. First of all, they do not ensure the quality of sleep enjoyed by healthy people. They give about 5 % duration of deep sleep while in healthy sleep this duration is 10 % to 25 %. Secondly, over the counter drugs for insomnia mostly work by the action of antihistamines (anti-allergic chemicals) present in them. These include chemicals like diphenhydramine citrate, diphenhydramine hydrochloride, and doxylamine succinate. While antihistamines do cast a sedating effect, they are not to be used by people with prostate problems, angina, heart problems, and urinary problems. Antihistamines can add to the intensity of these conditions. Finally, over the counter drugs have a number of side effects like: drowsiness and dizziness (that may remain for twenty four hours), memory lapses, dry mouth, constipation, blurred vision, and urinary retention.

Various types of medications, collectively called hyptonics, are prescribed for insomnia treatment. Hypnotics generally fall in three categories: benzodiazepines, non-benzodiazepines, and antidepressants. Most of the health experts agree on using insomnia medications for a short period only. In all cases of using over the counter drugs or prescribed medications, it is important that the patient educate him/herself well on the possible side effects.

Autor: Cindy Heller

Cindy Heller is a professional writer. Visit pet insurance plan to learn more about pet health insurance marketing plan and florida pet health insurance.

Added: August 10, 2009
Source: http://articlerich.com/Article/All-about-Insomnia-Symp~

Chinese Medicine and Insomnia

Chinese medicine has been in constant practice for over 5,000 years. It has withstood the test of time. Western medical practitioners have only recently been even remotely interested in the concepts of Chinese medicine, but they are beginning to recognize it now as viable medicine.

According to Chinese medicine, insomnia is caused by an imbalance of yin and yang that stems from the liver, spleen, kidneys, lungs, or heart. All of these organs are dependent upon one another, so all of them are suspected of causing the problem of insomnia. The organ that Chinese medicine concentrates on first is the liver. The liver, they say, filters all of the blood in our bodies between the hours of 1 AM and 3 AM. A weak liver many times is listed as the cause for insomnia.

Chinese medicine recommends taking Chinese Bitters in the morning and Coptis or Curcuma at night for people who have insomnia. They say that these natural herbs are helpful in improving the quality as well as the quantity of sleep for most people.

Depression brought on by stress destroys the balance of yin and yang and disrupts Qi. Stress causes the liver to weaken. Also those who have a damaged gall bladder or who have had their gall bladder remove are in danger of weakening their liver. Chinese Bitters and Coptis or Curcuma can help with these conditions as well.

Restoring Qi and the balance of yin and yang are essential for a good night's sleep. All of the organs must be in harmony, and the liver must be functioning at its top form because it must work harder at night. By taking the herbs Chinese Bitters and Coptis or Curcuma, you can restore the balance of yin and yang and cause your liver to function as it should.

Autor: Jeff Austin

For more important information on getting a good night's sleep be sure to visit www.sleep-good.com where you will find advice and tips on insomnia restless leg, sleep apnea, snoring, and more

Added: August 2, 2009
Source: http://articlerich.com/Article/Chinese-Medicine-and-In~