Insomnia Remedies
…what remedies are available?

Insomnia remedies are many and varied especially as the cure is with the underlying cause and this could be dealing with a complex variety of symptoms.

Finding the underlying cause is the key to finding help for this problem.

Who are the insomnia remedies for?

When you think of insomnia you’re thinking of someone who can’t sleep for a reasonable amount of time. Often the cause is not apparent and so the remedy must be very general, and there are an alarming number of people who are showing the signs.

According to statistics taken from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services it’s estimated that 60 million Americans suffer from some type of insomnia (40% of women and 30% of men) and that it increases with the age of the population!

There tend to be more females because of the increased level of responsibilities in their lives since more and more households in the U.S. are becoming single parent homes and of these, 75% have a female as the sole bread winner. Without spousal support the stress and strain of a single parent family is obvious and apparently a major source of insomnia producing problems.

What is the range of insomnia remedies available?

There seems to be a huge range of insomnia remedies; as many as there are insomnia causes! Which ones work and which ones don’t will really be different for each individual case and this will be based on the actual basic cause.

There are medicinal drugs available both over the counter and on prescription from the doctor. Such items as “Ambien” , “Rozerem” or “Lunestra” fall into this category.

But as more and more of the “sleeping pill” type of medication becomes available there becomes a need for scientific data, not only to back the medical claims but to measure such things as drug dependency or effectiveness over time. Obviously your doctor is a key resource in this process.

Then there are so called “natural” herbal insomnia remedies such as the non-addictive Valerian , chamomile or even lavender. Chamomile is often used as a tea for relaxation and lavender as an aromatherapy aid.

Diet considerations can also help insomnia. Avoid caffeine and sugars but eat magnesium rich foods such as eggs, cottage cheese, turkey or cashews. Milk, of course does the same.

These all produce an amino-acid called Tryptophan which, about an hour after eating, releases serotonin hormone which helps relaxation and sleep. More foods in this group include dates, potatoes, tuna and whole- wheat bread.

One interesting food is the Pomegranate which contains a nutrient in the fruit key which helps immunity and sleep. (…this one was a new one on me, and worth investigating!)

Relief of stress and tension is a major remedy where insomnia is concerned. Warm bath, massage, soothing music, warm milk, herb teas, and Yoga have al been suggested as helpful aids. And don’t forget to calm the nervous system with Calcium, Magnesium, Zinc, Vitamins B6, B3 and C: the Mineral approach!

Some use a frankincense or chamomile oil burner and listen to someone reading on tape (cd?)…of course you could always try reading the book yourself before you go to bed!

Sleep atmosphere has always been suggested as a possible remedy. A firm bed, a well ventilated dark room with no brightly lit clock and protection from noise. And a bed-time routine; same time, same place, same routine works wonders. Avoid naps, exercise early in the day, get tired, and avoid caffeine drinks…..these are all good suggestions as to remedies.

Insomnia remedies are many and as varied as the underlying insomnia causes but unless you confront them and talk them over with your doctor you are unlikely to see much in the way of change.

Insomnia can become a debilitating and severe problem if left un-diagnosed…get help!