Insomnia is a sleeping disorder characterized by persistent difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep despite the opportunity. It is typically followed by functional impairment while awake. Insomniacs have been known to complain about being unable to close their eyes or "rest their mind" for more than a few minutes at a time. Both organic and non-organic insomnia constitute a sleep disorder.

According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, approximately 60 million Americans suffer from insomnia each year. Insomnia tends to increase with age and affects about 40 percent of women and 30 percent of men.

Friday, December 11, 2009

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: December 11, 2009
Source: http://articlerich.com/Article/Why-You-ll-Never-Hear-A~

Wednesday, December 9, 2009

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: December 9, 2009
Source: http://articlerich.com/Article/How-to-Cure-Insomnia/54~

Saturday, December 5, 2009

More People Using Natural Sleep Aids

With more people every year turning to natural or alternative treatments, the use of natural sleep aids is on the rise. It"s not surprising since alternative and holistic health practices are quickly becoming part of the mainstream. In fact, more people are using natural remedies every year, and the percentage has been rising steadily over the last three decades.
Insomnia is one of the most common complaints doctors hear from their patients, but many are hesitant to prescribe sleeping pills due to the potential side effects and other complications of their use. This is in sharp contrast to the manner in which sleeping aids are pushed by manufacturers. You can"t get through an evening of television programming without seeing an advertisement for at least one prescription or over the counter sleep medication.
Natural Sleeping Aids are Part of the Holistic Health Movement
Holistic healthcare focuses not only on the symptoms, but the root of our medical problems, which is why it"s extremely popular with young families who are savvy about their health. Rather than simply temporarily masking a symptom (insomnia) with another symptom (drugged sleep), natural sleeping aids focus on why you can"t sleep. A natural sleep aid will help you relax if you are tense or to help alleviate anxiety if you are overly stressed. Both tension and stress are common causes of insomnia in adults.
People prefer natural remedies for their lack of side effects as well. While many sleeping pills contain ingredients that can cause allergic or adverse reactions, natural sleeping aids seldom if ever cause a problem. They are derived from natural plant extracts or are chemicals (such as melatonin) that our own bodies naturally produce. For the same reasons, you won"t become addicted to a natural sleeping aid. You can use one as long as necessary, and when you no longer need it, you will sleep fine without help and with no unexpected side effects.
Natural Sleeping Aids are Gentler
The most common ingredients in natural sleep aids include Valerian and Lemon Balm, two plant derived ingredients that are gentle to your stomach and central nervous system. You can use them to help you relax, unwind and prepare your mind for sleep without waking up with the groggy, unfocused hangover that many people experience from prescription sleep aids, which often contain narcotics or other harsh drugs.
It"s also nice to know you can keep a natural sleep aid on hand for whenever you may need it. Most of us don"t have insomnia on a regular basis, so we don"t see our doctors about the problem. If you occasionally experience insomnia, however, you don"t want to be lying awake all night, staring at the ceiling because you didn"t know you would need a sleep aid on that particular night. You can purchase natural sleep aids from any most major pharmacies, online or from a health food store. This way, any time you have trouble falling asleep, you have a gentle, effective way to alleviate the problem without waiting for a doctor"s appointment.
Consider a Combination Approach
You can safely combine more than one natural sleep aid for maximum effect if you know what amounts to take of each one. In fact, there are currently several versions on the market that have been developed by holistic health practitioners and doctors that have already done this for you. The most effective ones usually contain a blend of Melatonin, Valerian and Lemon Balm. This unique combination relieves anxiety, induces relaxation and helps to reset your own internal biological clock - all of which contribute to falling asleep faster and at the proper time.
If you would like to get rid of insomnia without pumping yourself full of potentially addictive or harsh prescriptions, look for all natural ingredients in the sleep aid you choose. By using a natural sleep aid, you protect both your body and your sleep.

Autor: Christopher Alex

About the Author:
The author of this article knows the importance of natural sleep aids. He also knows all about natural sleep remedies and has provided valuable advice to many people worldwide. He has also written many articles related to natural sleep aid which are handy guides for millions of people in this planet.


Added: December 5, 2009
Source: http://articlerich.com/Article/More-People-Using-Natur~

Thursday, December 3, 2009

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: December 3, 2009
Source: http://articlerich.com/Article/Insomnia---Easy-Ways-To~

Tuesday, December 1, 2009

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: December 2, 2009
Source: http://articlerich.com/Article/Easy-Ways-to-Cure-Insom~

 
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