Homeopathic Sleep Aids – Natural Sleep Aids
Homeopathic sleep aids can be very effective, and you may just find that these all natural sleep aids will be just the thing to help you sleep better at night. If you’re serious about dealing with sleep problems, you will find that natural sleep aid remedies and herbal sleep aids can be the most effective sleep aids around — even more effective than even medications!
A natural sleep aid may take longer to work, but an all natural sleep aid will be less likely to cause side effects or dependencies. An herbal sleep aid may be the best sleep aid for you, as a homeopathic sleep aid will be all natural and guaranteed to improve your health as well as your sleeping habits!
Passion Flower and Sleep
Passion flower is one of the many homeopathic sleep aids that you can take to help you sleep better at night, and you may find that it will be one of the best sleeping aids for you to use. Studies have shown that passion flower can help to improve sleep quality significantly, especially when consumed as a tea.
Not only does the warm tea help those taking it to feel comfortable and relaxed, but you will find that the passion flower will have a soothing, relaxing effect on your body. You will find that passion flower tea is very easy to find, and it can be an effective treatment for sleep issues.
Lavender and Sleep
Lavender is one of the most delicious smelling flowers around, which is why it is used in so many different products. You will find that many perfumes are made using lavender, and the herb is found in aromatherapy and beauty products from around the world. However, it isn’t a flower that only smells beautiful, but it can be very useful for helping to promote good sleep.
The herb has been used since the 17th century by apothecaries, and it has been proven to be an effective treatment for all kinds of problems. The scent of lavender has been revealed by studies to be effective at dealing with sleeping problems, with insomnia being one of the many problems corrected by the beautiful smell of the plant.
The flower helps to increase the amount of slow wave sleep you get, which is the kind of sleep that involves your muscles relaxing and your heart rate slowing. You will find that it can be burned as an oil or sprinkled on your pillow, and the scent will promote healthy sleep patterns.
Chamomile and Sleep
Chamomile tea is one of the things that mothers give their kids for pretty much any health problem that they have, and you will find that this particular treatment has been used for centuries. The tea is a very soothing one, and it has been used as a stomach pain treatment and an irritation soothing remedy for a long time. It is one of the most common teas around, and it will be one of the most effective at dealing with sleep problems as well as many other ailments.
Chamomile is known to help soothe your body, which is why it is applied to skin issues and burns. You can drink a warm chamomile tea about 45 minutes before going to bed, and it will help to calm your stomach and relax your muscles. The warmth of the tea will combine with the soothing agent inside the flower to help you feel relaxed and drowsy, and it can be used as a remedy to help you deal with insomnia. It’s one of the best homeopathic sleep aids around, and it will be very effective!
Valerian Root and Sleep
Valerian root is another herb that has been used in homeopathic sleep aids and folk remedies for centuries, though science has yet to uncover just how it will affect your sleep. Many experts believe that it will affect your levels of GABA, which is one of the chemicals that your body needs to be able to sleep. Regardless of the fact that doctors don’t know why it works, every doctor will tell you that it really does work as an effective treatment for sleep problems.
Taking Valerian root needs to be done properly, and you should check with your doctor before taking it. Most insomniacs are recommended to take under 900 mg of the root daily, though no less than 400 mg is recommended in order to be effective. You shouldn’t take the root for more than 4 consecutive weeks, as that could have a harmful effect on your body.
Experts recommend taking the root about 30 minutes before sleeping, as that will give it time to take effect. However, if you’re taking other medications, it’s best to avoid taking Valerian root thanks to the potential negative interactions between the herb and the drugs.
Skullcap and Sleep
Skullcap is a herbal remedy that has been used to help deal with rabies in dogs, which is why it is a surprise to many that it is also used as a treatment for sleeping problems. The interesting thing about skullcap is that is only found in Europe, Asia, and some parts of North America. The shape of the plant is very unique, but you will find that the effects of the plant are what make it such an effective remedy to help you deal with sleep problems.
The herb is used to help relax the tension in muscles, which is one of the main symptoms of rabies. It will help to bleed away nervous tension and relax your muscles, and this makes it very effective at relaxing you and calming you down. It can help you to sleep better at night thanks to this, but it won’t act as a sedative like other homeopathic sleep aids will. It will help to reduce your blood pressure as well, and you will find that it may just be one of the best herbal sleep aids that you can find to deal with your insomnia.
Hops and Sleep
Hops are the delicious herbs used in beer, but did you know that they can act as a sedative? There is a reason that you feel sleepy when you drink beer, and this is because hops work to calm you down, slow your heart rate, and can work as a sleep inducing hypnotic. You will find that it has been approved as a sleep treatment by the German government, and it will be a great solution to help you deal with your sleep problems as well.
People that take hops will often take them together with Valerian root, which makes them even more effective. You can make the hops into a tea to help you relax, as the warmth of the tea will combine with the sedative effect to help you calm down.
You will find that these homeopathic sleep aids can be very effective at helping you to get a good night’s sleep, and they may be the cure that you need for your insomnia. It’s important that you get a good sleep pattern, wind down at night, and avoid anything too active in the evening, but these herbs can be the cure that helps you to finally get a good night of sleep.
Homeopathic Remedies
Learn about what natural remedies for insomnia. Lying in bed all night long, unable to fall asleep, can be very distressing. One in three adults suffers from insomnia and women are more likely to experience it.
A lack of sleep will adversely affect your physical and emotional health and will leave you feeling tired, irritable, with a decrease in your ability to concentrate and make rational decisions. You will become more accident-prone and your immune system will be less effective in fighting off infections.
The most common cause of insomnia is stress, anxiety, linked with physical and/or psychiatric disorders like pain, illness, orthopnea (inability to breathe on lying flat) and depression.
Environmental and lifestyle factors may also cause insomnia such as too much light or noise, an uncomfortable bed, drinking too much coffee or alcohol or eating late, jet lag after a long flight, shift work or withdrawal symptoms (from anti-depressants). Some post-menopausal women also experience sleep problems.
Other than seeing your GP and getting him to prescribe drugs to help you sleep but a proper diet and changes in your lifestyle should be tried. Changes in your lifestyle, diet and eating habits can work miracles on your sleeping problems, especially if stress is the main cause. When you are under stress, the cortisol and adrenaline (hormone) produced in the body increase and stimulate the fight or flight action, thus keeping you alert and unable to fall asleep.
A number of relaxation techniques such as meditation, visualisation, autogenic training and gentle exercises such as yoga can be tried to help decrease stress and thus decrease the build up of these stress hormones.
Physical exercise raises your core body temperature and increases your adrenaline levels. Exercise should take place in the afternoon or early evening since hormone levels lowers after five or six hours, thus promoting a deep sleep. Exercises right before you go to bed will prevent you from sleeping soundly.
The food we eat may also affect how well we sleep. Protein-rich foods like milk, tuna, nuts, wholemeal bread, dates and potatoes are rich in an amino acid tryptophan (chemical messenger in the body), which on reaching to the brain approximately an hour later it releases serotonin (hormone) that helps you relax.
Large meals should be avoided at least four hours prior to going to bed and avoid caffeine and nicotine. Drinking alcohol before bed may also lead to problems since once the alcohol is metabolises it disrupts the restorative levels of sleep.
Calcium, magnesium and zinc as well as vitamins B6, B3 and C supplements can help calm the nervous system and so help treat insomnia. The actual set-up of your room may also affect your sleeping habits. Avoid bright colours and different patterns in the room and radios and alarm clocks should be kept at least three feet away.
Soft calming pastel colours are the best and there should not be a drastic difference in the patterns of your bedspread, curtains and carpets. Place your bed near a wall and it is best if you can see your bedroom door (directly or through a mirror). Your room should also be tidy before going to sleep.
Use dim lighting (or candles), have adequate ventilation and the room should be at a comfortable temperature. The most important aspect of your room, regarding a good night’s sleep is your bed. A good-quality mattress and pillow are essential. It is recommended to replace your bed every ten years.
Establishing a routine before bedtime is a good way to program your mind ‘that it is time to sleep’. Several ways to’ let go’ and relax before bed is not going to sleep right after work or watching TV in bed. Getting a massage with calming essential oils will increase the effect, taking a warm bath, having sex, drinking a warm cup of herbal tea or taking an herbal supplement. Go to bed and wake up at the same time every day and try reading or listen to soft music before going to bed.
Finally, try burning camomile or frankincense in an oil burner for about an hour before bed. Homotherapy and acupuncture, which promotes the release of more endorphin (the body natural mood-lifting hormones) and balances your energy levels, may also help treat insomnia.