Article

Insomnia

An Integrative Approach for Relief

Insomnia refers to a prolonged inability to get adequate sleep. Not getting a good night's sleep can result from waking up in the middle of the night and having trouble getting back to sleep. It also occurs when people have a hard time getting back to sleep. Insomnia can be a temporary, occasional, or chronic problem.

Insomnia can be triggered by psychological stress, food allergies, lack of exercise, lifestyle patterns, and inconsistent sleep patterns.

Fortunately, there are alternatives to counting sheep to help you get a healthy night's sleep. Creating a restful place to sleep by removing noise, light and other distractions and making sure your mattress is comfortable for you. Relaxation tapes and other self-help tools or a counselor experienced in treating insomnia can help let go of tension.

Caffeine is a stimulant. The effects of caffeine can last up to 20 hours, so some people will have disturbed sleep patterns even when their last cup of coffee was in the morning. Besides regular coffee, black tea, green tea, cocoa, chocolate, some soft drinks and many over-the-counter pharmaceuticals can also contain caffeine. Avoiding this can alleviate insomnia.

A steady sleeping schedule and eating schedule combined with caffeine avoidance and counseling sessions using behavioral therapy has reduced insomnia for some people. Daily exercise as a way to reduce stress can in turn help with insomnia.

At Restoration Health, we believe an integrative approach can be beneficial in relieving insomnia:

• Vitamin therapy such as Melatonin and amino acids can help regulate the human biological clock.
•  Herbal remedies such as Valerian have been used safely for centuries for insomnia.
•  Constitutional Homeopathic prescription to help stimulate the body to come back into balance to regulate sleep patterns.
• Stress reduction techniques as well as massage therapy.
•  Nutritional consulting for better eating habits to help with insomnia.