Herbs to Treat Insomnia, a Widespread Sleeping Disorder

There are several herbs to treat the sleeping disorder of insomnia. Insomnia is spreading like an epidemic all across the globe due to unhealthy and stressful lifestyle. Our Mother Nature has endowed us with several herbs that can be of great help in treating insomnia. 

Remedies for treating insomnia are innumerable but relying on the power of herbs is the best method, as it is natural and safe. In this article, we will enlist the important herbs that are known to effectively cure the sleeping disorder. If you wonder where to get these herbs from, then there is nothing to worry as these herb-based medicines can be obtained from any of the Ayurvedic medicine stores.

Herbs That Help Boost Sleep

Valerian:  This medicinal herb is predominantly found in the areas native to Asia. The extracts of this herb are clinically tested and it has been proved that this herb helps prevent sleeping disorder by promoting sleep. 

Kava kava: This herb is mainly grown in areas nearby the South eastern Islands. The inhabitants of these areas have used this herb for treating anxiety related sleeping disorders.

Camomile: camomile has some active ingredients that help to cool the mind and promote sleep. People usually consume camomile in the form of tea. In this herb, it gets easily absorbed in the body.

Lemon Balm: lemon balm when taken in higher quantity helps to boost sleep. Apart from that, it helps to improve memory and enhance concentration. This medicinal herb not just helps you overcome the sleeping disorder of insomnia but also helps to protect the various nerve cells from any kind of damage such as oxidative damage.

Skullcap: The benefit of skullcap herb has been known since ages. It makes excellent mild relaxant. It is known to relax the body and mind gently. It is due to this fact that skullcap is used to cure severe headaches, stress and anxiety. It is a blue coloured flower that is almost like mint.

PassionFlower: This herb is quite effective in alleviating tension and stress. It helps to keep your mind calm and relaxed.

So, these are a few herbs that have been known to treat various forms of sleeping disorders mainly insomnia.

What Is Insomnia? – Part 1

Insomnia is an inability to get to sleep and/or stay asleep during the night hours, and it’s sometimes mistakenly called a sleeping disorder when in fact, it’s a symptom of a sleeping disorder. Women and older adults are the typical victims of insomnia although millions of people across the country suffer from it for various reasons. As a result, each case is different and there are thus different kinds of insomnia brought on by individual sleep disorders, stresses, illnesses, or environmental problems. Insomnia can be long-term, short-term, minor or severe, occasional or constant. Yet more than 1/3 of the American population is affected by some sort of insomnia and 10% suffer from a chronic form.

What qualifies short term insomnia as a temporary problem is that it lasts for a few days rather than weeks as in chronic insomnia. But neither form of insomnia is less important than the other – even if it only lasts for a day or two. The problem is always the same: not enough sleep.

Types OF INSOMNIA

Alcohol-Dependent Insomnia – a sleeping disorder induced by the over-consumption of alcohol.

Altitude Insomnia – an inability to sleep because of problems experienced in high altitudes. Examples include fatigue, headache, loss of appetite, etc.

Childhood Insomnia (Limit-Setting Sleep Disorder) – a problem with falling asleep in accordance with discipline problems

Environmental Insomnia – the difficulty to sleep based on environmental factors (noise, smells, air flow, etc.)

Food Allergy Insomnia – the result of an allergic reaction

Idiopathic Insomnia – a physiological problem that prevents full sleep; usually a lifelong problem.

Periodic Insomnia – an inability to sleep that occurs in 1-2 hour intervals

Psychophysiological Insomnia – a sleeping disorder that’s brought on by stress or other psychological problems.

Sleep Onset Insomnia (Delayed Sleep Phase Syndrome) – a problem that delays the occurrence of the major phase of sleep.

Toxin-Induced Sleep Disorder – a sleeping problem brought on by poising

Transient Insomnia (Adjustment Sleep Disorder) – a temporary problem initiated by stress and emotional troubles

THE IMPORTANCE OF SLEEP

Sleep is often taken for granted by those who get enough of it. But it’s also one of the most important contributors to body health, function, and sound mind. People need to sleep because it gives the body the opportunity to repair itself without having to be bothered with the stresses of performing daily activities. Eight hours of sleep is sufficient for the adult, but any less than that puts the body into stress – stress that over a short period of time can weaken the immunity system and thus bring about more serious health problems.

One major problem with insomnia is that many people suffer from it, yet do not know or acknowledge that they have it. The pace at which today’s society runs is faster and more stressful than ever and can cause a multitude of health problems. Yet insomnia – a tell-tale sign that something is wrong – is one the last things that people suspect or care to admit.

Insomnia Treatment and Causes: to Sleep or not to Sleep

What Type of Sleep Order Do You Have

Today there are a number of different types of sleeping disorders that have been identified. These affect millions of people around the world. Sleeping disorders are considered to be any disorder that happens and is observable in the sleep patterns of a person or animal. There are several ommon types of sleeping disorders. These include hypopnea syndrome, bruxism, jet lag, parasomnias, delayed sleep phase syndrome, insomnia, narcolepsy, night terrors, restless legs syndrome, periodic limb movement disorder, rapid eye movement behavior disorder, shift work sleep disorder, sleep apnea, sleep paralysis, sleepwalking, snoring as well as many other numerous sleeping problems.

It may surprise you to learn that one of the most common types of sleeping disorders is that of sleepwalking. Sleepwalking is a sleeping disorder in which the person undertakes activities while in a sleeplike state or still asleep. This type of sleeping disorder can affect people of all ages, and includes such activities as eating, dressing, and even driving cars have all been reported of occurring while a person was in a sleepwalking state.

Another type of sleeping disorders thais quite common is that of parasomnias. Parasomnias include any type of sleep disorder such as night terrors, rhythmic movement disorder, restless leg syndrome, sleep sex, teeth grinding, REM behavior disorder, and somniloquy. Stress or depression are often associated with these types of sleeping disorders. Those that are included in the parasomnia category are considered as being acute, undesirable, and episodic physical phenomena that are exaggerated by sleep or occur during sleep.

Sleep apnea is another sleeping disorder. It is characterized by brief interruptions of breathing during sleep. Usually there are two basic forms of sleep apnea. One is central and the other is obstructive. The central form of sleep apnea occurs when breathing is interrupted by the lack of effort. The obstructive form of sleep apnea occurs when there is an actual physical blockage to the airflow.

Because of our fast paced world jet lag is an incredibly frequent and commonly reported sleeping disorder that is a condition that is a basic consequence of alterations to the circadian rhythm. In other words, when traveling across a number of time zones, the human body immediately gets out of sync with the destination time. This causes one to experience daytime and nighttime contrary to the rhythms that one has grown accustomed to. When this happens you might feel like having breakfast immediately upon arriving in Rome at midnight. Jet lag occurs most often for those people who spend a lot of time traveling, especially in airplanes or jet planes.

What Causes Insomnia and Who Suffers From It?

It is commonplace for several people to suffer at least an occasional night of almost non-existent sleep. The causes of insomnia differ from person to person. What made a student insomniac varies from what caused a shift worker or a traveler or an employee to acquire such sleeping disorder.

Insomnia, which is the inability to sleep satisfactorily or to have any sleep at all, is one of the most common sleep disorders. It is characterized by restlessness, sleep interruptions, decreased sleeping time than the usual, or sometimes complete wakefulness.

Aside from the annoyance that insomnia can cause to its sufferers, this sleep disorder causes those afflicted to lose enthusiasm and energy, acquire memory and concentration problems, feel lethargic, frustrated, and of course sleepy. Worse cases that may be induced by insomnia is one’s being prone to accidents, reduced work productivity and the aggravation of psychological and medical conditions.

So what exactly are the culprits that make insomnia one menacing sleeping problem?

1. Emotional Distress

More particularly when it is from internalized anxiety or anger, emotional problems can easily trigger this sleep disorder.

2. Substance Abuse

Drinking too much coffee, colas or other “energy-upper drinks” is known to cause insomnia. Caffeine from these drinks is the main reason. Chain smokers can also be easy victims of insomnia because of the nicotine that cigarettes contain. Herbal remedies, alcohol and other medications can also make one prone to becoming an insomniac. Some may think that alcohol, when consumed, can make one feel drowsy. But little did they know that in the long run, when the alcohol gets metabolized, sudden wakefulness will follow.

3. Biological Clock Disturbance.

Also known as circadian rhythm, one’s body clock, when altered, can damage the amount of sleep one can peacefully enjoy. This body clock disturbance can be caused by an irregular slumber schedule because of too much siesta or partying too late at night. It can also be jetlag or body clock disturbance due to traveling by plane to some place where there is a different time zone. Other causes may be the grave yard schedules of workers and cramming review season for students induced by exams.

4. Environmental Factors

Extreme temperatures can disrupt one’s sleeping patterns. Noise and bright lights can have the same effect too. Homesickness or when one is forced to sleep in an unfamiliar place is also one reason behind getting into the habit of not having enough sleep.

5. Health Problems

Health disorders such as diabetes, heart failure, hyperthyroidism, ulcers, and Parkinson’s disease can also induce insomnia. Asthma may also be one health problem that makes one prone to insomnia because of an asthmatic’s shortness of breath. Frequent urination, heartburn, and chronic pain from leg cramps, tooth ache and arthritis can also cause insomnia.

Psychiatric conditions such as schizophrenia and depression are also possible culprits for insomnia. Snoring with prolonged pauses in breathing while at sleep, also known as sleep apnea can also cause insomnia. Periodic arm and leg movements during sleep causing the muscles to twitch excessively is one underlying cause of this sleep disorder. Another cause is narcolepsy or one’s lack of control on whether to stay awake or to fall asleep, is another cause of this sleep disorder.

6. Pre-bedtime Activities

Engaging to vigorous activities such as exercise just right before bedtime can deprive one of a good night’s sleep. Consuming large meals when one is just about to sleep can also make one experience this sleeping disorder. This is because when metabolism is at its most active thus the body prompts one to stay awake.

Who are Prone to Insomnia?

Reports have it that 90% of people can acquire transient insomnia at some point in their lives. While an estimate of 30% suffers from its chronic form.

a. Women are said to be more at risk in acquiring insomnia because of the following reasons:

- Pre-menstrual syndrome with symptoms of irritability, depression and anxiety, and bloating due to menstruation disturbs a woman’s sleeping pattern.
- Menopause can also change a woman’s sleeping pattern.
- Pregnancy makes sleeplessness one common thing to happen.

b. Elderly people are also prone to getting insomnia because ageing alters one’s sleeping patterns.

c. Depressed people have lighter slumbers compared to those who don’t feel this psychological condition.

d. Students or younger ones who are conscious with their grades (because of cramming) can easily become insomniacs too.

With that vast information on what causes insomnia and who are at risk with this sleeping disorder, one can easily ward off this annoying condition.

Natural Sleep Aid Tips Free simple better sleeping Home Remedies, herbal recipes, natural insomnia cures & free ebooks from Helene Malmsio at http://sleep-aid-tips.com

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Some Effective Ways to Cure Insomnia

There are various ways to cure insomnia You just have to be aware of the nature of this sleeping disorder. Having insomnia or not getting enough quality sleep for a long period of time, may make you always feel tired and may cause you to have health problems. Stress, depression or change in your routines may be just some of the reasons why you are suffering from this disorder. Insomnia can be occasional, a temporary occurrence or chronic. But whatever your condition is, you definitely need to get adequate sleep. That’s why you have to consider ways to cure insomnia.

Most adults are required to have 7 to 8 hours sleep a night. As we all get older, we tend to need a lesser amount of sleep. The elderly who are over 70’s may only need to have 5 hours a night, which may be a shallow sleep. Most of these people think that since they don’t get the required 7-8 hours of sleep, they are suffering from insomnia when in fact, even if they only get 5 hours but they feel refreshed when they wake up, they are actually getting enough sleep.

Most insomniacs try over-the-counter medications that contain diphenhydramine. Most people are not aware that there are natural ways to cure insomnia If you have emotional problems that cause trouble in sleeping it may be best to consult a behavioral therapist or a psychologist. This may benefit you more than taking in medications that may tend to get you addicted in the end.

Altering your sleeping environment may also help in curing your insomnia By doing this, you can have an undisturbed sleep in a peaceful place. You may also have a comfortable bed and turn off all the lights. If you are easily disturbed with sounds, a padded sound-proof room may benefit you a lot in getting rid of those unwanted noises outside. Avoid taking a nap in the afternoon. Use relaxation techniques that can help you unwind. Avoid stimulants like beverages like tea and coffee that contain caffeine. Avoid medications that have ephedra and pseudoephedrine that are dieting and cold pills. Do not smoke and drink alcohol just before bedtime. Also do not eat rich food and avoid exercising before trying to get to sleep in the night.

Having a snack that is high in carbohydrates like a lettuce sandwich may help you sleep easily. This snack may help you produce more serotonin, which is a hormone known to help you control sleep as well as reduce anxiety. It may also help if you take a hot bath with 2 cups of Epsom salts in it, a few minutes before going to bed. Exercising, if done earlier in the day, may help you go to sleep at night. You may also try putting drops of lavender essential oil near where you sleep or on your pillow because this oil has sedative properties. Some people also have themselves treated with acupuncture as this can help them with their insomnia.

These are just some of the natural ways to cure insomnia It is of course very important for an insomniac to understand what causes his sleeping problems. If you are faced with a personal or professional problem, which may be the reason why you cannot sleep at night, it is best to do something about it, rather than take in medications that don’t guarantee you a quality sleep every night.

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What Is Sleepwalking – Part 1

SLEEPWALKING DEFINED

Sleepwalking is a sleeping disorder characterized by behavior usually performed in a wakeful state. Examples of wakeful behavior are sitting up, walking, and sometimes even talking to others. Also known as noctambulism or somnambulism, sleepwalking is listed in the DSM-IV-TR and identified as a disorder by the American Psychiatric Association. Although incidents of sleepwalking are used by professionals to determine a mental disorder, it is not classified or identified as an emotional problem. It is instead defined as a brain disorder.

During an episode, the sleepwalker behaves according to whatever he or she is dreaming about. Eyes may be open, but they do not acknowledge events, people, or objects around them. This phenomenon typically begins as a sleepwalker experiences stage four sleep (slow-wave sleep). Yet upon waking, they may remember a little of the event, or none at all with the entire episode lasting for only a few minutes or more. Despite myths and warnings, there is no harm in waking a sleepwalker. Awakened sleepwalkers will appear a little disoriented and confused about where they are, how they got there, and why – but they can return to bed easily with little to no fuss.

SLEEPWALKING STATISTICS

Sleepwalking rarely occurs in individuals who don’t already suffer from some other psychiatric disorder or problem. But when it does occur, it occurs in more males than females, and only in 1 – 5% of children. By the time sleepwalking children reach the teen years, sleepwalking usually stops on it own without medication, diet change, or behavior modification. Chances are that there is a history of sleepwalking somewhere in the family of frequent and persistent sleepwalkers, and the number of sleepwalking adults is less than the number of sleepwalking children.

WHAT CAUSES SLEEPWALKING

Anything that affects the nervous system can be blamed for sleepwalking, and that includes consumption anti-depressants or sleeping pills, a severe illness, and the experience of extreme emotional stress such as a death or a frightening event. Hormones may contribute to sleepwalking episodes as well so events that cause drastic hormonal changes (adolescence, menstruation, pregnancy, menopause, etc.) could play a role in triggering sleepwalking episodes too. There are no known foods that trigger sleepwalking.

HOW TO CURE SLEEPWAKING

Unless sleepwalking is a regular occurrence and it places its victims in danger, there’s no need to seek medical attention. When sleepwalking happens repeatedly or puts the sleepwalker in harm, a physician may prescribe benzodiazepines to keep the patient in bed. Benzodiazepines are lipophilic amines and they’re used as tranquilizers, sedatives, hypnotics, or musclerelaxants. Some well known brands are Ativan, Halcion, Libritabs, Librium, ProSom, Restoril, Valium, Versed, or Xanax,

SLEEPWALKING DANGERS

The physical dangers of sleepwalking are pretty obvious, however besides risking bodily harm or even death, sleepwalking individuals actually lose a lot of sleep since a portion of their sleeping time is spent in activity. As a result, they may experience fatigue during the daytime and will more than likely experience insomnia during the nights that they slept during the day.

How to tell if you have a sleep disorder – Part 1

The easiest way to tell if you have a sleeping disorder is by lack of a good night sleep. Not just one or two nights, but on an ongoing basis. Remember, even insomnia is classified as a sleeping disorder, even if it is brought on by environmental or organic factors. Especially if the insomnia is more than just a few nights. We all experience it more than a few times in our lifetimes. A lack of a good night’s sleep on an ongoing basis is a strong indicator of a sleeping disorders that can be insomnia or other.

Sleeping disorders such as sleep apnea and chronic obstructive apnea can cause the sufferer to wake up from several times to several hundred times a night, as there is a disruption of signals from the brain to the muscles that control breathing, or a blockage of the windpipe. This can cause the body to arouse itself from a deep sleep many times during the night, causing the body to have to go back into a deep-sleep cycle many times-not allowing the body to sleep properly.

Night terrors can also cause tiredness. But they can also generate a myriad of other symptoms, such as rapid heart rate, sweating, increased breathing, extremely strange illusory experiences that are not dreams. They can be extremely vivid, three dimensional images of beings and other things, or just terrifying feelings of vague images or just a sense of something. Some night terror victims may also experience the “old hag” syndrome-common in night terror victims-of an old woman pressing down on their chest. Night terror victims may also experience small, non-life threatening seizures as the brain is misfiring signals.

Narcolepsy may cause an individual to drop off into unconsciousness, even during daytime. Effectively a sufferer will know he/she is a victim of this sleeping disorder by a loss of time over a constant basis without logical explanation (or somebody else close to them notices it).

You can tell if you have Bruxism by an unexplained (and sometimes dramatic) wearing down of teeth.

Sleepwalking causes – Part 9

Sleepwalking is a disorder during which a sleeping person may leave their bed and move around, even going through other physical actions such as eating. Although it is a harmless disorder, people can come to physical harm as a result of sleeping, for example by walking into a sharp object or trying to walk out of a window. What is known about this sleeping disorder is that it occurs during the third and fourth stages of the sleep cycle.

Medical experts are divided about the causes of sleepwalking, particularly in the case of children, where it is difficult to accurately assess the root cause of the problem. However many such experts agree that it may be brought about as a result of anxiety, extreme tiredness or as just another expression of stress and worry.

However, the opinion with regard to adults is different, where the disorder is less prevalent, although it is still estimated that around 10% suffer bouts of sleepwalking.

In adults it is generally considered that there may be a number of root causes of sleepwalking. For example: -

1) It can be linked to some kind of psychological condition, in other words a disturbance of the mind, which could also result from something stressful that has happened in a person’s life.

2) The condition in adults can be triggered as a side effect of drug or alcohol use and abuse. Excessive drinking for long periods of time can create a psychological and physical environment within the person that can trigger sleepwalking episodes.

3) Medical conditions such as certain seizures types can also cause the disorder.

4). Old age is a contributory factor. This is because the elderly are more likely to suffer from brain disorders that can create sleepwalking episodes.

Whilst it general sleepwalking is not a life threatening disorder, it is always wise to seek medical advice if one has the symptoms.

Understand Insomnia and Learn to Conquer it

Many people have heard of insomnia and may even know someone that suffers from the condition, but few know what insomnia really is.  Insomnia is more than just having trouble getting to sleep and can become a serious health issue if not treated properly.  The condition can greatly affect many aspects of a person’s life and can even result in hospitalization if left unchecked.

Insomnia is classified as a sleeping disorder where people have difficulty going to sleep and staying asleep for an extended period of time under normal, non-disruptive conditions.  These people constantly complain of feeling tired, but are unable to go to sleep to get the rest that they need.  Insomnia can have both internal and external causes and can be treated by using any of a number of different treatment methods.

Sometimes people that suffer from insomnia complain of having a “racing mind” or an inability to relax enough to drift peacefully off to sleep.  In many cases, this is due to some change in the person’s lifestyle such as getting a new job or having a child to care for.  Although the situation will remain the same, the person can find relaxation and relief from insomnia as they begin to grow accustomed to their new role and worry less about things relating to their new role.

Experts have estimated that nearly 70 million people across the nation suffer from insomnia each year.  The condition is slightly more likely to affect women than men, but people of all age groups can have the condition.  The reasons for the development of insomnia can vary from person to person, but the devastating effects of the condition remain the same from case to case.

Some of the common causes of insomnia include a change in lifestyle, a change in the hormonal balance of the body, mental conditions such as depression or anxiety disorders, and increased external stress.  Some medications have been linked to the development of insomnia, such as stimulants and amphetamines, but the condition can disappear once the person has stopped taking the medications.  Insomnia can also occur as a result of frequent night time disruptions, such as the crying of a baby, nightmares that wake the person, and needing to relieve oneself in the middle of the night.

To treat insomnia effectively, the underlying cause of the insomnia must be discovered and remedied or the treatment will have no effect on the patient.  If the insomnia is caused by a medication that the person has been taking, their doctor may prescribe them a different type of medication that will still treat their condition but will not have the same effects on their body.  If the cause of the insomnia is stress or anxiety, then the person may need to be prescribed a mediation to help them relax, such as an anti-depressant or a sedative.

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