4 Natural Remedies for Insomnia

You can manage sleep in a healthy, positive way by using natural remedies.  This isn’t news for most of us. We eat right, exercise regularly and establish a bedtime routine. Even if we take great care of our bodies, there are times in our lives when the stress just piles on, leading us to lose sleep. Rather than resort to prescription medicine right away, read about these 4 natural remedies for insomnia you may not have tried. Drink tea The Farmer’s Almanac, first printed in 1792, is still a valuable source of information. They recommend drinking bitter valerian tea or eating a raw onion before bed. The latter will make you seriously unpopular with whomever you share your bed, but there might be something in the tea.  Extensive studies haven’t been done on valerian tea and its effects on humans, but in animal studies chamomile has helped rats fall asleep.  Try chamomile tea from Leaf and Kettle. Breathe the roses Lavender essential oils, when diffused, rubbed on the soles of the feet, or used in a spray, have a deeply calming effect. Not only are they used to cause sleepiness, but also to treat anxiety and depression. Try Serenity Oil from Doterra, which contains a blend of lavender, chamomile and other oils. Natural Sleep Aids Ever get sleepy after eating all that Thanksgiving turkey? Most of that drowsiness is likely due to L-tryptophan, a natural amino acid responsible for increasing serotonin and inducing sleepiness in patients where genetically low serotonin levels are responsible for insomnia. These patients also described their insomnia as difficulty falling asleep or having 1-2 clear nighttime awakenings. You must be sure to consult with your physician before taking this, as it does interfere with some prescription drugs. Melatonin is also believed to possibly reset the body’s circadian rhythms to normal, but at this point this effect is in theory only. More studies are needed to prove this, as evidence at this point is anecdotal. You can try every night before bed and see if it works for you, however, be aware that, unlike L-tryptophan, melatonin is not regulated by the FDA, so the dosage on the package may not be exact. Acupressure Of course massage helps us relax, but not all of us have time or the resources to visit the spa for an hour a day. If you’re stuck in traffic or at work and feel your blood pressure begin to rise, try these quick and easy self-administered acupressure techniques from Michael Reed Gach, PhD to instantly calm down. Even the most über health-conscious of us have periods of heavy stress, whether at work or in our personal lives. This can quickly overwhelm our bodies and cause us to feel anxious, lose sleep, and/or become moody and withdrawn.  Natural remedies for insomnia are a healthy, positive way to cope. Make these natural remedies a part of your bedtime routine to get you through those tough times of sleeplessness.