Natural Treatments for Insomnia - Proven Effective Methods
April 30, 2008 2:13 am HealthNatural treatments for insomnia are great alternatives for expensive conventional treatments for sleep disturbance. The ingredients of these natural treatments are so ordinary that you didn’t even know they were used for treating insomnia. Some of your de-stressing techniques can even be used to help you with insomnia.
Valerian is perhaps one of the most popular and safe natural treatments for insomnia. Used long ago, it has been thoroughly studied and research shows Valerian works by altering your GABA neurotransmitters. This will help calm you and help lull you to sleep. This is available over-the-counter in countries like Italy, France, Germany, Belgium, and Switzerland. It is proclaimed to be effective but it has a lag period of up to two to three weeks.
Another option for natural treatments for insomnia is to alter your body melatonin level. Melatonin occurs naturally in the body. It is produced by the body’s pineal gland and is released initially as serotonin. At night, it is converted to melatonin when the body senses that it is no longer exposed to light. Taken as a supplement, it is taken best thirty minutes before going to bed.
Kava, an anti-anxiety herb was also proclaimed to treat insomnia. However, there are an increased number of reports regarding the herb’s adverse effects on the body. Kava is more effective when it is used to treat insomnia caused by too much anxiety or stress.
Relaxation techniques, one of the natural treatments for insomnia, are relatively effective in treating insomnia whatever the cause. Such techniques include visualization, relaxation response, mindfulness, Yoga, and progressive muscle relaxation. All these techniques are done to help relax your tense muscle and soothe your stressed brain to lull you into a peaceful sleep.
The natural treatments mentioned can be further enhanced to increase its effectiveness in improving your sleeping pattern. These enhancements call for a change of lifestyle and change of diet. Just before going to bed, try avoiding food and drinks that contain caffeine which are known to be stimulators and will keep you wide awake. The advisable foods that enhance sleep are those containing Tryptophan such as milk and those rich in magnesium such as legumes and vegetables.
Other natural treatments for insomnia include aromatherapy, light, music, acupuncture and Chinese traditional medicines. All of these natural treatments are alternatives to treating insomnia. They all function to help soothe your muscles and brain and create an environment conducive for sleep.
My health blog will give you insights on the natural treatments for insomnia. So if you still haven’t found the right natural treatment, visiting my health blog could be one of the answers.
