Natural Remedies for Insomnia

Choosing natural insomnia remedies over prescription drugs can prove to be a wise decision for many reasons. Drugs for insomnia can be powerful, yet along with their punch come many challenging side effects . The top problem would be physical dependency. Some drugs are more prone to create dependency than others and should be used only on occasion if at all. The other common side effect is day time drowsiness. Essentially, you may have received a full nights sleep, yet you can feel as though you were awake all night! Another problem with prescription drugs for insomnia is the cost. They can be very expensive. Personally just paying for them is enough to cause me to not sleep well!

Thankfully, there are alternatives. First of all, I would suggest looking at all the possible causes of your sleep problem. Do you need to work on your stress levels? Usually taking time out each day for meditation, whether guided or on your own can make a huge difference. Using an uplifting relaxation audio can be an easy and effective solution. Are you feeling depressed or emotionally stuck? Finding a good therapist or friend to talk to can help you get in touch with your feelings and take care of yourself. Possibly there is an underlying physical problem that needs to be addressed. I would suggest you consider all the possible causes and change your sleep habits where necessary. Then if your still having a hard time sleeping, try some of the following natural insomnia remedies.

1) Melatonin

Melatonin is a hormone found naturally in the body that helps you sleep. The pineal gland in the brain makes serotonin which is then converted into melatonin at night when exposure to light decreases.

Melatonin is typically taken about 30 minutes before the desired bedtime

2) Valerian Root

Valerian Root is one of the most commonly used herbs for insomnia. It can work for some and not for others. Like other natural insomnia remedies, you may need to take it consistently for a week or two before receiving its full benefits.

3) Kava Root

Kava is an herb that is used ceremonially in the South Sea Islands. Its especially good for anxiety related insomnia. If your lucky enough to visit the islands you may find yourself being welcomed with a thick liquid in a coconut shell. Innocent enough as it creates a relaxed and possibly euphoric sensation. But done in excess as it often is there, it can be hard on the liver. Thus, the FDA has put out a warning regarding its overuse.

4) Other Common Herbs

Chamomile, Passion Flower and Hops. Usually these and other herbs are used in combination, or formulas, that you can find at your local health food store. Sold as tinctures, capsules and teas. Try different formulas until you find one that works for you.

5) Relaxation Techniques

Both yoga and meditation can help tremendously with relieving stress and insomnia. You can either find a class or use videos for yoga and audios for meditation. Using RELAXATION and SLEEP AUDIOS to help you unwind your stress during the day as well as help you fall asleep at night can be very effective. These can both initially help you fall asleep as well as, over time, retrain your mind to fall asleep on its own.

Using natural approaches and remedies can help you get through those otherwise sleepless nights. Also with some patience and time, they can help you start sleeping better on your own again. Herbal remedies can do this by feeding and nurturing your nervous system. Eliminating the causes, using good relaxation techniques and meditation practices, whether on your own or with videos or audios, can and will ultimately re-train your body and mind for better sleep. Be patient and allow your body and mind to re-balance itself naturally. You will be happy you did!