Sleep deprivation has also been tied to obesity and to fibromyalgia. Teens who sleep less tend to overweight, especially if they are deprived of rapid eye movement (REM) sleep that is associated with dreaming. Fear of our subconscious, or "shadow" selves, may also create sleep disturbances as we try to avoid both darkness and our dreams. New discoveries in the science of sleep provide alternatives to these drugs from the world of nutrition, herbal medicine, homeopathy, hydrotherapy and accupuncture.
Sleep Statistics
The National Sleep Foundation claims that 76% of Americans to have sleep difficulties. This ranges from trouble falling asleep to staying asleep to difficulty waking. One in five American are taking sleep medications or sleeping pills. Over 42 million prescriptions were written last year alone. Some of these sleeping pills have been shown to cause cancer in animals. They may also shorten your lifespan, as recent studies have shown a 25% increase in mortality among those taking sleeping pills nightly.
Herbs to Promote Sleep
The most common herb to treat sleeplessness is valerian, whose Latin name is Valeriana. It is used to calm restlessness and nervousness.Valerian is a twig, and is easily found in tea or raw form. A simple glass of valerian tea before bedtime can help induce sleep. Valerian was even used in ancient Greece. Peppermint is another calming nerve herb, that is frequently mixed with valerian for flavor.Passionflower or Passiflora tea can aid with sleeplessness, but may be more difficult to locate.Chamomilla is also sleep inducing and is readily available in tea form.In addition to teas, herbal compresses can be placed over the face, or under the pillow.Lavender is frequently used in this manner. Simply place lavender flowers into a small cotton bag and place under your pillow to induce natural sleep, and dreams.Lemon balm is another herb known to calm the nervous system and induce sleep.
The most common herb to treat sleeplessness is valerian, whose Latin name is Valeriana. It is used to calm restlessness and nervousness.Valerian is a twig, and is easily found in tea or raw form. A simple glass of valerian tea before bedtime can help induce sleep. Valerian was even used in ancient Greece. Peppermint is another calming nerve herb, that is frequently mixed with valerian for flavor.Passionflower or Passiflora tea can aid with sleeplessness, but may be more difficult to locate.Chamomilla is also sleep inducing and is readily available in tea form.In addition to teas, herbal compresses can be placed over the face, or under the pillow.Lavender is frequently used in this manner. Simply place lavender flowers into a small cotton bag and place under your pillow to induce natural sleep, and dreams.Lemon balm is another herb known to calm the nervous system and induce sleep.
What Else Can Help Induce Sleep?
Meditation or prayer and other quieting activities before bed can also relax the body into sleep.Nutritional supplements that may help increase sleep are calcium, (as in warm milk) theanine, l-glutamine, and GABA.If you have trouble with frequent rising at night, or a small bladder, do not drink tea too close to bedtime, but rather a few hours before. You will have the same medicinal effects from the herbs, but avoid the discomfort of a full bladder. The famous warm milk at bedtime of grandmother's day was popular for a reason. The calcium is nature's tranquilizer, and a glass of warm milk speeds the calcium to your nerves and helps induce sleep. The warm milk draws blood to your stomach, away from your brain, which also helps you sleep.
Hydotherapy for Sleep
If nothing else works, try an old fashioned hydrotherapy treatment used for generations to treat sleeplessness. Soak your feet in the cold water for 15-30 minutes before bedtime. Then climb into bed. This will draw the blood to your feet, and help induce sleep.
source:- Helium
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