Natural Remedies for Insomnia

A good place to start with natural remedies for insomnia is by taking a look at your diet.

• Caffeine - Caffeine is a stimulant, so it is not surprising that its consumptions can have a detrimental affect upon sleep patterns. You not necessarily have to cut out caffeine altogether, but you should at least limit your consumption particularly into the evening.


• Alcohol - Although alcohol may have a short term sedative affect, this is limited in duration and can lead to waking in the middle of the night


• Sugar - Eating sugar rich foods will give a short burst of energy. As your sugar level falls during the night, sleep patterns may be disrupted.


• Eat foods that are rich in magnesium - Magnesium is a natural sedative and can help sleep. Examples of foods rich in magnesium are legumes and seeds, dark leafy green vegetables, wheat bran, almonds, cashews, blackstrap molasses, brewer's yeast, and whole grains.

Aromatherapy has been one of the popular natural remedies for insomnia for many years. Lavender is a well known remedy and recent research has shown that it does indeed help to increase sleep time, increase deep sleep and make feel people feel refreshed. It works quickly and can be used in its natural form as an essential oil.

Chamomile also works well, either in spray form or a scented candle. Vanilla can be useful for overcoming appetite if this can interrupt your sleep.

It seems obvious that making sure that your sleeping environment is kept dark, but it is surprising that for many people this is something that is neglected. The amount of light you receive is an indication to your body when it is time to sleep and when it is time to be awake. On the flip side of this is making sure that you get sufficient light in the morning and throughout the day. Therefore, it is often helpful to make sure that you receive some natural sunlight during the course of the day.

Valerian is a herb that has been used as a remedy for insomnia for many years. In fact , in some parts of the world it is an accepted over-the-counter insomnia remedy. Although it is not particularly well understood how valerian works, it has been shown to be effective. However, it does not work for everybody.

It is generally taken around an hour before going to bed and tends to take between two to three weeks to start working. However, it should not be used for more than three months at a time. It can have a rather unpleasant smell in its natural form, so most people prefer to take it in its capsule form. It should not be taken with certain medications, such as sedatives and antihistamines, or with alcohol.