Sleep disturbances related to stress are prevalent in urban areas. Stress and worries often lead to insomnia and also depression, anxiety, and various pains. Caffeine and an irregular schedule are essential factors influencing insomnia.
Before resorting to sleeping pills, you should try some natural remedies to treat sleep disorders such as massage therapy or consumption of certain teas that help improve sleep. Also, natural sleeping pills made of sedative herbs are a natural way to attack insomnia.
The most sleep disorders are sleep apnea (temporary stopping of breathing while sleeping), narcolepsy (the disease caused by central nervous system disorders characterized by an irresistible need to sleep) and insomnia.
The most used methods to treat insomnia are:
- Massage with lavender oil.
- Herbal teas.
- Relaxing baths with a few drops of lavender essential- calms the entire body and induce the sleep.
- Fresh air and ambient atmosphere with diffused light make the rest come more natural.
- Quiet and relaxing music and practicing relaxation techniques before bedtime can relax the mind and body.
Plants are a natural remedy against insomnia. Valerian root is a mild sedative, and it is also used for treating migraines. It is used as a natural substitute for benzodiazepines and Xanax, an addictive drug. Valerian root is recommended in treating sleep disorders caused by anxiety. Hops and valerian act together very efficiently through melatonin receptors to induce sleep.
Kava root, a plant found in the Pacific Islands, has sedative properties. Its effects last up to eight hours. Kava is the most potent herb used to treat insomnia. Side effects that may occur after ingesting this plant are dreams that can seem very real and nightmares. Kava can also cause some liver damage, and thus should not be used more than three times a week.
Another plant, “passionflower” is used to treat anxiety and sleep disorders. Jasmine and chamomile are instrumental in inducing sleep because they act just like benzodiazepines. Recent studies have found that lavender is useful in treating insomnia. It is often used in aromatherapy.
Responsible for a restful sleep is melatonin. It is released by the pineal gland in the brain and induces sleep. Also regulates circadian rhythms, the biological clock that determines the sleep habits.
The environment triggers melatonin. Plants that contain melatonin produce rest and relax the body. Other effects of this hormone are slow aging, prevention of osteoporosis and treatment of depression. The most effective natural sleeping pills have these sedative herbs as ingredients like Melatrol, Alteril, Sleep so good.
Related Sources:
http://healthysleep.med.harvard.edu/healthy/getting/treatment/an-overview-of-sleep-disorders
https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/treatment/side-effects/sleep-disorders-hp-pdq