| Difficulty sleeping can affect many aspects of life. | | | | causes none of the negative effects on |
| People who don't get the recommended amount | | | | concentration and alertness that prescription |
| of sleep for their age groups can have a myriad | | | | medications, thereby making it an excellent choice |
| of negative affects. | | | | for people who suffer from chronic insomnia. |
| Daytime crankiness, difficulty concentrating, | | | | Very high doses may cause certain side effects |
| frequent illness, depression, and accidents are all | | | | such as nausea, headaches, and dizziness. |
| common problems associated with poor sleep | | | | Melatonin |
| habits. | | | | Melatonin is a hormone that the body produces at |
| For some people, getting more sleep is not as | | | | night. It is sometimes called the "sleep hormone" |
| easy as going to bed earlier. If you suffer from | | | | because it is so important to healthy sleep. People |
| insomnia, you know how wearisome it can be to | | | | who are blind, who suffer from jet lag, or who |
| lie in bed, unable to sleep. | | | | live in places with extended sunlight hours may |
| Doctors can prescribe medication to help, but | | | | have trouble sleeping because their bodies do not |
| these medications have undesirable side effects. | | | | produce enough melatonin. |
| Stomach problems, dizziness, daytime drowsiness, | | | | Patients looking for a short-term sleep solution |
| difficulty awakening, accidents, and poor | | | | may be helped by taking melatonin supplements, |
| coordination are all common. | | | | as will persons whose natural wake/sleep cycles |
| Not only do prescription sleep medications have | | | | have been disturbed. Melatonin is also helpful to |
| negative side effects, they also don't cause | | | | people who are trying to wean themselves off of |
| healthy sleep. They cause sedation or | | | | sleep medications. |
| unconsiousness--not the restful, healing sleep you | | | | SAMe |
| need. | | | | SAMe (S-adenosyl-methionine) is an amino acid |
| But you don't have to choose between sleep | | | | derivative, and is found normally in the body. It is |
| deprivation and unwanted medication--nature has | | | | typically used as an antidepressant, but is also |
| provided us with many natural remedies for | | | | commonly used to treat chronic fatigue syndrome |
| sleeplessness. | | | | or as an herbal sleep aid. Its actions in the body |
| Whether you want a little help falling asleep | | | | help to promote healthy sleep cycles, especially |
| occasionally or a long-term supplement that will | | | | when taken daily for several weeks. |
| help restore your body's natural sleep rhythms, | | | | Mario Kyriazis, M.D, author of The Anti-Aging Plan |
| you should be able to find an herbal sleep aid that | | | | (Element, 2000) explains that SAMe helps to |
| will work for you. | | | | promote sleep by increasing serotonin, a |
| Chamomile | | | | nerotransmitter important to sleep and mood. |
| Chamomile is one of nature's oldest and gentlest | | | | SAMe also works with the hormone melatonin to |
| herbal sleep aids. It is most often drunk as a tea, | | | | harmonize the body's natural day/night rhythms. |
| which has a mild and pleasant taste. In addition to | | | | SAMe is extremely safe, with no known serious |
| promoting calm and restfulness, chamomile is also | | | | side effects. Minor possible side effects in high |
| used in cases of stomach irritation. | | | | dosages may include nausea and gastrointestinal |
| The benefits of chamomile works when taken | | | | discomfort. |
| occasionally, and is mild enough that it can be used | | | | Tryptophan |
| daily for extended periods of time. It doesn't | | | | Tryptophan is an amino acid that is a precursor to |
| cause dependency, and has no side effects. It | | | | seratonin. Low seratonin levels can cause |
| may, though, be an allergen for people who are | | | | irritability, anxiety, and sleeplessness, so adding |
| allergic to daisies. | | | | more tryptophan to your diet can help you relax |
| Experts are not sure how chamomile works to | | | | and will promote healthier sleep patterns. |
| induce sleep. US Pharmacist reports that apigenin, | | | | Many foods naturally contain tryptophan. |
| a flavonoid in chamomile, may help to promote | | | | Increasing the amount of turkey, cottage cheese, |
| sleep, but that other components are probably | | | | peanuts, soy, brown rice, or milk in your diet will |
| also involved. | | | | help your body to manufacture seratonin. |
| Valerian | | | | Tryptophan supplements are also available. |
| Valerian is a root that has long been used as an | | | | Choosing your supplement |
| herbal sleep aid. It has a characteristic smell, like | | | | With all of the natural and herbal sleep aids |
| old socks, which comes from isovaleric acid. | | | | available, it can seem tough to choose one. The |
| Valerian can be used to help occasional | | | | choices don't have to be overwhelming, though. |
| sleeplessness, but is also particularly helpful taken | | | | Some supplements are meant to be used only |
| long-term. | | | | occasionally, while others work better when used |
| Many studies have shown valerian root to be an | | | | long-term. Many supplements have additional |
| extremely safe and effective way to promote | | | | benefits, so it's often easy to pick one |
| sleep. Patients who take valerian report that they | | | | supplement to meet several needs. Naturopathic |
| feel less anxious and nervous, and have better | | | | physicians, dieticians, and herbalists can help you |
| rest at night. | | | | choose the best herbal sleep aid for you. |
| Clearly, there are many benefits of valerian, and it | | | | |