Herbal Sleep Aids Revealed
 
 
Sleeping problems can affect our daily lives. If you are not getting enough sleep you can suffer from depression, daytime crabbiness, lack of concentration, excessive illnesses, and possible accidents you experience during the day.

You could try going to bed earlier, but this doesn’t work for everyone and you may need help getting you off to sleep.  Prescription medications can causes problem with dependency and/or addiction.  You could also start falling asleep during the daytime, find you have a  problem keeping your balance, difficulty remembering things and problems focusing while on these medications.  You don’t get a good night’s sleep on prescription medication and you will not feel rested and alert on the prescribed medications from your doctor. 

Fortunately, there are alternatives and many of them are natural medications recommended for sleep problems that you can buy yourself.  If you  need sleep aids but you also want your body’s natural sleeping habits to kick in, you can try these sleep remedies that are natural and usually herbal in origin. 

Chamomile
This has been around for many years as a natural sleep aid. It is usually drunk as a tea and people that drinkit find that Chamomile is good for stomach irritation and also helps you feel rested and peaceful.  It is mild enough so it can be used on a regular basis but it is also good for short term use as well. If you are allergic to daisies you cannot take it .  It is not known exactly why it works but it is thought to contain apigenin, one of the flavonoids that promotes sleep. 
 
Valerian
Valerian root is dug up from the earth and used as an herbal supplement to promote sleep and relaxation.It has a strong smell that can be covered up by producing as caplets.  It is useful for people that have the occasional sleep problem. Valerian root also used to calm nerves and for anxiousness and allows people get to sleep better at night. You must be aware that very high doses can result in nausea, dizziness and headaches.
 
Melatonin
This is a hormone of the brain that affects the sleeping/waking cycle. Melatonin corrects circadian-rhythm disturbances that can and often does lead to severe and persistent insomnia in individuals who are totally blind, those who cannot perceive light,often report difficulty falling asleep and staying asleep It also helps people who are suffering from jet lag.  It works in places where there is an extended daylight time period. Melatonin works to give you the kind of sleep you need, especially if you are trying to come off of other, more addictive sleep aids.
 
SAMe
SAMe stands for S adenosyl methionine and is a derivative of a normal human amino acid.  It can be used as an antidepressant and does not have the side affects of other anti depressant medications (headaches, sleeplessness, and sexual dysfunction.),is also used in the management of chronic fatigue syndrome.  It helps get you to a normal sleep pattern after taking it for several weeks.  .
 
Tryptophan
 Adding tryptophan to your diet should help you become more relaxed and sleep better. Using foods that contain more carbohydrates is a good way to increase your tryptophan absorption and also help in the production of serotonin. Serotonin helps to relax the body and combat sleeplessness There are a wide range of foods that are good sources of tryptophan, turkey being the best well known source. Other foods that are high in tryptophan include: chicken, beef, brown rice, nuts, fish, milk, eggs, cheese, fruit, and vegetables..You can get tryptophan as a supplement.
Picking a supplement
With the large numbers of natural and herbal medications for sleep out there, it can be hard to choose which one.Talk to a naturopathic doctor, herbalist or dietician about which is the best herbal choice for you. 

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Difficulty sleeping can affect many aspects of life. People who don’t get the recommended amount of sleep for their age groups can have a myriad of negative affects.

Daytime crankiness, difficulty concentrating, frequent illness, depression, and accidents are all common problems associated with poor sleep habits.

For some people, getting more sleep is not as easy as going to bed earlier. If you suffer from insomnia, you know how wearisome it can be to lie in bed, unable to sleep.

Doctors can prescribe medication to help, but these medications have undesirable side effects. Stomach problems, dizziness, daytime drowsiness,

difficulty awakening, accidents, and poor coordination are all common.

Not only do prescription sleep medications have negative side effects, they also don’t cause healthy sleep. They cause sedation or unconsiousness–not the restful, healing sleep, that non prescription sleep aids can give you, and you need.

But you don’t have to choose between sleep deprivation and unwanted medication–nature has provided us with many natural remedies, and some of thebest sleep aids for sleeplessness.

Whether you want a little help falling asleep occasionally or a long-term supplement that will help restore your body’s natural sleep rhythms, you should be able to find an herbal sleep aid that will work for you.

Chamomile

Chamomile is one of nature’s oldest and gentlest herbal sleep aids. It is most often drunk as a tea, which has a mild and pleasant taste. In addition to promoting calm and restfulness, chamomile is also used in cases of stomach irritation.

 The benefits of chamomile works  when taken occasionally, and is mild enough that it can be used daily for extended periods of time. It doesn’t cause dependency, and has no side effects. It may, though, be an allergen for people who are allergic to daisies.

Experts are not sure how chamomile works to induce sleep. US Pharmacist reports that apigenin, a flavonoid in chamomile, may help to promote sleep, but that other components are probably also involved.

 Valerian

Valerian is a root that has long been used as an herbal sleep aid. It has a characteristic smell, like old socks, which comes from isovaleric acid. Valerian can be used to help occasional sleeplessness, but is also particularly helpful taken long-term.

Many studies have shown valerian root to be an extremely safe and effective way to promote sleep. Patients who take valerian report that they feel less anxious and nervous, and have better rest at night.

Clearly, there are many benefits of valerian, and it causes none of the negative effects on concentration and alertness that prescription medications, thereby making it an excellent choice for people who suffer from chronic insomnia. Very high doses may cause certain side effects such as nausea, headaches, and dizziness.

 Melatonin

Melatonin is a hormone that the body produces at night. It is sometimes called the "sleep hormone" because it is so important to healthy sleep. People who are blind, who suffer from jet lag, or who live in places with extended sunlight hours may have trouble sleeping because their bodies do not produce enough melatonin.

Patients looking for a short-term sleep solution may be helped by taking melatonin supplements, as will persons whose natural wake/sleep cycles have been disturbed. Melatonin is also helpful to people who are trying to wean themselves off of sleep medications.

SAMe

SAMe (S-adenosyl-methionine) is an amino acid derivative, and is found normally in the body. It is typically used as an antidepressant, but is also commonly used to treat chronic fatigue syndrome or as an herbal sleep aid. Its actions in the body help to promote healthy sleep cycles, especially when taken daily for several weeks.

Mario Kyriazis, M.D, author of The Anti-Aging Plan (Element, 2000) explains that SAMe helps to promote sleep by increasing serotonin, a nerotransmitter important to sleep and mood. SAMe also works with the hormone melatonin to harmonize the body’s natural day/night rhythms. SAMe is extremely safe, with no known serious side effects. Minor possible side effects in high dosages may include nausea and gastrointestinal discomfort.

Tryptophan

Tryptophan is an amino acid that is a precursor to seratonin. Low seratonin levels can cause irritability, anxiety, and sleeplessness, so adding more tryptophan to your diet can help you relax and will promote healthier sleep patterns.

Many foods naturally contain tryptophan. Increasing the amount of turkey, cottage cheese, peanuts, soy, brown rice, or milk in your diet will help your body to manufacture seratonin. Tryptophan supplements are also available.

Choosing your supplement

With all of the natural and herbal sleep aids available, it can seem tough to choose one. The choices don’t have to be overwhelming, though.

Some supplements are meant to be used only occasionally, while others work better when used long-term. Many supplements have additional benefits, so it’s often easy to pick one supplement to meet several needs. Naturopathic physicians, dieticians, and herbalists can help you choose the best herbal sleep aid for you.

References:

Cauffield, Jacintha S., Pharm.D., BCPS. "Supplements Used to Treat Sleep Disorders." http://www.uspharmacist.com/oldformat.asp?url=newlook/files/Comp/sleep.htm&pub_id=8&article_id=729

Kyriazis, Marios, M.D. "Depression and SAMe." http://www.smart-drugs.com/depression-SAMe.htm.

Author: Dan Ho

Dan Ho is chief editor of Nutritional Supplement Info Spotlight, which offers unconventional and unique solutions for common health issues. Claim your FREE subscription to his newsletter now at his Nutritional Supplement and Herbal Supplement Guide Site

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dan_Ho

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Chances are that other than what your doctor learned at medical school, the only help you can expect to receive is a prescription for sleep aids. Why is this? Well, did you know that in a recent survey only 1 out of 10 doctors rated their sleep knowledge as good?

What’s more there is a common belief among doctors and patients that treatments are not effective or cause more problems. A cure is needed for this growing epidemic. Insomnia affects a large proportion of the population and yet there seems little being done.

  Try a more natural way to help you sleep

For more than 40% of sleep sufferers, over the counter sleeping aids are relied upon. But how effective are they? And are they really good for you in the long run? Most of these over the counter sleeping pills are for short term sleep troubles. So for the long term insomnia sufferer it’s not a viable option.

In the short term taking over the counter sleeping pills can cause drowsiness and grogginess. In the long term, an insomnia sufferer will develop a tolerance to excessive use.

A natural and safer way should be sought when dealing with insomnia. Another important factor that is crippling the population’s ability to sleep is the lack of sleep education. 95% of sleep sufferers fail to seek help or professional advice before it becomes a serious problem.

That might seem strange, but insomnia sufferers tend to live with it and tend not to address their problem before it’s too late. Unfortunately most sufferers don’t realize the seriousness of insomnia until it develops into a long term illness.

 Let nature help  you beat insomnia

Sleep is far more complex than people are led to believe. Our ability to naturally fall asleep has developed over thousands of years, it’s been ingrained into our DNA. It’s our conscious mind that has hindered and counteracted our ability to sleep. However, even if you have suffered from insomnia for years there is hope and it can be overcome.

So what are the options? To take sleep aids? Sometimes that may seem the only option, but it’s not. There are other alternative ways to cure your insomnia such as reflexology, aromatherapy, acupuncture and more.

Author: Phil Tsang

Natural Sleep Aids can help eliminate insomnia. Find out more at the Sleep disorders – Insomnia site now.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Phil_Tsang

Technorati Tags: insomnia, lack of sleep, natural way, over the counter, prescription for sleep, sleeping aids

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