Deal with Insomnia Naturally to Get a Good Night Sleep

Thursday, August 26, 2010 by: Todd Mumford
Tags: insomnia, sleep, health news

(NewsTarget) We have all heard the press reports during this past year alleging that Michael Jackson died after being treated with a whole cocktail of drugs for insomnia. Could it be that you are so desperate to fall asleep that you keep asking for more and more drugs so that when you actually fall asleep, you never wake up again? Insomniacs would find it so much healthier to go the natural route when they are looking for help with their sleeping disorder. Insomnia is very common with 1 out of every 5 people in the US suffering from this condition. It is time to move away from sleeping pills which have become the most prescribed medication in the world.

We need to have sufficient and good quality sleep at night or else we cannot function fully during the day. Insomnia can cause us to feel tired, lethargic and irritable, lack energy or have difficulty concentrating. Our memories, reaction times and general alertness can all be impaired as well as our productivity at work or our patience with those around us. Our immune system can be affected, lowering our resistance to disease and infections.

Lifestyle factors as well as medical conditions can cause insomnia. In most cases, if you can get to the root of what is causing the insomnia, the battle is won. But there are certain tips you can follow, without resorting to dangerous sleeping pills, to help you sleep better:

- Try not to nap during the day.
- Establish a regular time each day for going to bed and for getting up. Try to stick to those times
- Avoid obvious stimulants before bedtime such as caffeine, nicotine and alcohol.
- Have a light snack close to bedtime rather than a full meal.
- Magnesium is a natural sleep-inducing element and is found in legumes, dark leafy vegetables, raw almonds and whole grains.
- Raw honey is a good wholesome and natural food for promoting sleep. Take 2 teaspoons in a large cup of water or add to a cup of Chamomile tea.
- Drink plenty of fluids but avoid too much just before bedtime.
- Exercise regularly but not within 3 hours of bedtime.
- Make sure you are relaxed when it is time to go to sleep.
- Ensure you have a comfortable bed, in a comfortable room with the minimum of light, noise and extremes of temperature. The room should be well ventilated.
- Turn that clock away from you so that you are not tempted to keep checking the time.
- If you cannot fall asleep within a reasonable time of going to bed, then read quietly until you feel tired.
- If you are distracted or kept awake by a sleeping partner, arrange for some nights in separate rooms while you are getting into the sleep habit.
- Use a natural treatment for insomnia made from pure essential oils.

Most insomnia is fairly short lived:

Transient insomnia, which usually only lasts a few nights, often happens when you have to travel or you move to somewhere new.

Short-term insomnia, which usually continues for 2-3 weeks, can be caused by worry or stress.

It is chronic insomnia which can be a real cause for concern and this is when you suffer from disturbed sleep for at least 3 nights per week for a month or more. This is the form of insomnia where you really need to find out what the underlying causes and problems are.

The restless leg syndrome can also cause insomnia.

Sources:

http://www.sleep-deprivation.com/articles/ca...

http://helpguide.org/life/sleep_disorders.ht...

http://www.sleepassociation.org/

About the author

Todd Mumford is staff writer for Amoils.com - a provider of 100% natural treatments for a variety of conditions - and writes on a wide range of alternative and natural health topics.