Wooing Sleep
For a variety of reasons, some of us find sleep elusive and if left unchecked, a disrupted sleep pattern can impact hugely on our ability to function throughout the day. Liz Chandler from Natures Corner looks at some natural alternatives to aid relaxation and restful sleep.
At some time in our lives we will all experience a sleep problem. The British Sleep Foundation estimates that 5 million Britons have their quality of life impaired by sleep disorders. Insomnia can take the form of waking up in the middle of the night and having trouble getting back to sleep, or finding difficulty in falling asleep in the first place. Contributing factors may be one or more of the following:
- Stress
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Grief
- Caffeine
- Alcohol
- Chronic Pain
- Shift Work
- Restless Legs
- Environmental Change
There are a number of helpful remedies to consider. The herb valerian root has been used safely for centuries for insomnia and makes getting to sleep easier and increases deep sleep, without causing a morning 'hangover'. Another natural remedy is 5HTP that naturally increases a neurotransmitter called serotonin which plays an important role in sleep patterns by reducing anxiety. Snacking on high carbohydrates, such as wholegrain crackers, may help you drift off, as carbohydrates can significantly increase levels of serotonin. Chromium helps maintain healthy blood sugar balance, and for those who habitually wake in the early hours of the morning, a dip in blood sugar levels can be a factor. Rhodiola and ashwaganda may be useful if stress and anxiety are the root cause and are both termed 'adaptogens'. This makes both herbs useful in helping shift workers cope with their unusual sleep patterns. If restless legs are a problem, then magnesium acts as a muscle relaxant and with daily intake or application to the skin, will stop the fidgets. A hot bath with lavender oils and Epsom salts (magnesium sulphate) will also aid relaxation.
Our diet can also have a profound influence on whether we get a good night's sleep or not. Try to avoid caffeine, chocolate and alcohol just before bedtime, as although these all give us a sense of pleasure, they are actually stimulants. Foods that are high in tryptophan, which assists serotonin levels may help and these include turkey, tuna, bananas, figs, dates and yogurt. As a final tip, why not turn the clock around, so you cannot see the time, to avoid worrying unnecessarily about the 5 minutes or 5 hours you have left before it's time to get up?
All these natural remedies can be found at Natures Corner. For any natural health questions tel. 01635 33007 or email info@naturescorner.co.uk
