In the two previous articles of this “Natural Insomnia Cure Secrets” series we’ve covered some simple changes you could make to your surroundings and your behaviors and habits to promote better sleep.
There is however a number of harmless natural supplements that are recommended as natural cures and home remedies for insomnia.
The effectiveness of most of them is mild. Some of them may work for you. Some may not. However, since their side-effects are also relatively mild, it could be helpful to try. The first and the most common of them is…
Melatonin
Melatonin– the “hormone of darkness” — is a compound our bodies produce naturally when the day starts turning to dusk and helps us fall asleep. Production of melatonin is suspended by the light of the daybreak. (That’s why it’s important to have a dark bedroom if you are having difficulties falling asleep.)
Melatonin is a great natural remedy for mild insomnia. It helps you sleep. It is available as over-the-counter supplement (in pill form) in any pharmacy and natural food stores (even in Wall-Mart).
IMPORTANT: Melatonin is naturally destroyed by light, so you have to lay in the dark for it to help you falling asleep.
Melatonin has demonstrated effectiveness equivalent to some mild prescription sleeping pills. The best thing: it doesn’t cause chemical dependence, has relatively mild side effects and less likely to cause morning sedation.
However, while it shows good effects for the treatment of insomnia due to jet lag, the results for other forms of severe insomnia are less promising.
Valerian
Valerian is a natural root product that relaxes the mind and body and helps you fall asleep. In essence it’s a herbal sedative — it is used as a natural remedy against sleeping disorders, restlessness and anxiety, and also as a muscle relaxant. Valerian root is often used in bedtime teas and other sleeping aids. It is sold as a nutritional supplement in natural food stores.
Its effectiveness against insomnia is mild, as most studies find no significant differences between valerian and placebo in persons with sleep disturbance or insomnia. However, valerian has shown to be an effective remedy for the reduction of anxiety (which could be the cause for your insomnia in the first place.)
Some users report that valerian seems only to work when taken over longer periods (several weeks), though many users find that it takes effect immediately. Your results may vary.
Warning! Because the compounds in valerian produce central nervous system depression, valerian should not be used with other depressants and alcohol!
Kava
Kava is a lot like valerian root, except it is much more powerful. Kava is sedating and is primarily used for its relaxing effect that doesn’t disturb mental clarity – a great remedy for anxiety and consequently a natural remedy for insomnia.
As long as you don’t take kava more than three times a week you shouldn’t worry about its side effects. (It may have some lethargic side effects including: mild sedation, a slight numbing of the gums and mouth.) It produces mild euphoria and relaxation, and sometimes vivid dreams. Because of this Kava is NOT intended for daily use.
Chamomile
Chamomile is another body and mind relaxant but it’s the weakest of the bunch. Chamomile can often be found in natural sleep aids such as bedtime teas.
A Few Words About Alcohol, Nicotine And Insomnia
Alcohol
Some people try using alcohol as a form of self-treatment of insomnia. It appears to induce sleep. At first.
However, alcohol used to induce sleep can be the cause of insomnia. When you stop drinking, the body starts producing more glutamine than it needs. The increase in glutamine levels stimulates the brain while you are trying to sleep, keeping you from reaching the deepest levels of sleep.
Second, although alcohol is a depressant, and may help you fall asleep, the resulting metabolism boost that clears the booze from your body results in dehydration and a withdrawal syndrome. This withdrawal causes awakenings. And you’re back to square one.
Nicotine
Many mistakenly believe that nicotine is a relaxant. It is only a relaxant as far as it is making you breathe slower, deeper and hold your breath longer. It has been demonstrated that exactly the same effect can be achieved with just breathing exercises without poisoning your lungs.
Nicotine is a stimulant and should be avoided particularly near bedtime and upon night awakenings. Having a smoke before bed may feel relaxing, due to a change in breathing pattern, but it is actually putting a stimulant into your bloodstream.
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So, with all the sleeping pills being dangerous and all the mild home remedies for insomnia having a very mild effect for people with sever insomnia… what’s left? What could you do?
Read on. You’re about to learn about an amazing breakthrough in curing insomnia and how it helped many people, people like you, to break out of the vicious circle of sleeplessness and finally get relaxing and refreshing full nights sleep.
Onward to an amazing story of a Canadian gentlemen who suffered from a severe chronic insomnia for almost 20 years (!) and his unusual discovery …Read all about it here…
