| The Brain Chemistry of Insomnia - Let’s Put | | | | what happens when we push ourselves too hard |
| an End to “Midnight Madness” | | | | and live against the body’s natural cycles. |
| More than 53 million sleeping pill prescriptions are | | | | What to do to stop Insomnia |
| given per year. That’s a lot of people not | | | | The sleep center at UCSF San Francisco highlights |
| sleeping. There are many more people taking the | | | | “SLEEP HYGIENE” as one of the most |
| so-called “non addictive” sleeping | | | | important aspects for curing insomnia. It includes |
| medications which are sold over the counter. | | | | going to bed before 10 pm, which is when certain |
| These statistics do not include the number of | | | | hormones start elevating causing a “second |
| prescriptions for anxiety. What are the real issues | | | | wind.” They also recommend lying down, |
| behind insomnia and anxiety, and what can we do | | | | reading and relaxing. Reading is the best activity |
| to stop “The Midnight Madness”? | | | | to do at this time (no action movies or scary |
| Our Body Rhythms and Brain Chemistry | | | | novels). Reading also helps as it mimics the |
| The body has natural rhythms that have evolved | | | | eye movement produced in REM sleep, which is |
| over thousands of years. These rhythms are | | | | one of the deepest levels of sleep. |
| governed by light and the absence of light. When | | | | Other tips to stop “The Midnight Madness” |
| the sun rises and your eyes get exposed to | | | | • Yoga and meditation are quieting |
| natural light, the optic nerve signals the release of | | | | exercises that can also be used to relax and calm |
| many different brain chemicals. These brain | | | | the body in the evening. |
| chemicals are called neurotransmitters. Some of | | | | • Caffeine has a half-life of 12 hours in |
| the neurotransmitters are exciting, produce vital | | | | the body, so any chocolate, tea, and coffee |
| energy and brain function where others are | | | | consumed at noon or after is still affecting you at |
| calming and cause relaxation and sleep. | | | | midnight. This includes decaf coffee (one cup of |
| The neurotransmitters that are calming and | | | | decaf coffee contains 6% caffeine.) |
| relaxing are produced by the absence of light. | | | | • Any strenuous exercise after 4 pm |
| When these nighttime neurotransmitters become | | | | may be over stimulating to your adrenal glands, |
| more dominant, the body becomes more relaxed, | | | | and turn on the stimulating neurotransmitters that |
| tired, and falls to sleep. | | | | may not allow your body relax enough to fall |
| We are a society of “Stress Junkies” who | | | | asleep. |
| are over worked and sleep deprived | | | | • If you have been taking sleeping pills for |
| We have a society of people who are working | | | | a long time, go off them gradually and take |
| multiple jobs, raising families, and drinking tons of | | | | natural products so you don’t have |
| caffeine to push the body into a constant state | | | | withdrawal symptoms and rebounding insomnia. |
| of sheer exhaustion. The pushing, drive and over | | | | • All alcohol, especially red wine and hard |
| use of caffeine is like “trying to whip a little | | | | alcohol are heating and inflaming to the body. It |
| donkey up a hill when he has already carried 50 | | | | then can cause a histamine reaction that may |
| people up the mountain”. Eventually this | | | | over stimulate the brain and body tissues and |
| over-pushing, will cause the body to be in a | | | | cause insomnia. |
| constant state of adrenal fatigue. It causes | | | | Insomniacs of the World! There is hope for you |
| chronic exhaustion, fatigue, insomnia, anxiety and | | | | The most effective natural products that are |
| depression. Missing out on deep sleep can be | | | | used for sleep, anxiety and depression are Gaba, |
| damaging to our health because this is when most | | | | Taurine, Thenine, Valerian, and Melatonin. There |
| of the important repair work for organs and | | | | are non-addictive and safe Chinese Herbal |
| tissues happen. | | | | formulas that have been used for thousands of |
| Come out into the light! Don’t be a | | | | years. If these products are accompanied with |
| “Cave Dweller” living in the 21st century | | | | the important sleep hygiene guidelines, you will |
| This is the first time in history that masses of | | | | notice that your sleep cycles will improve greatly |
| people work in offices, exercise indoors, and | | | | in just a few weeks. |
| rarely see natural light. When we ask someone | | | | For people who have been taking prescription |
| who works and exercises indoors, and drinks lots | | | | start increasing natural products, outdoor exercise, |
| of caffeine, how well they sleep, 80% of those | | | | and go to bed early. If you have been taking |
| people will tell us they have some level of chronic | | | | prescription sleep medication for more than a few |
| insomnia, anxiety or depression. There are also | | | | weeks, it is recommended that you wean off |
| many serious life situations that cause these | | | | these medications slowly and gradually with the |
| problems as well. The main point is that the | | | | help of your doctor. For those with more chronic |
| body has thousands of years of genetic | | | | problems we recommend checking for thyroid, |
| adaptation to evolve into this level of | | | | adrenal, and neurotransmitter imbalances. |
| sophisticated functioning. Now we are seeing | | | | |