My mom never has trouble sleeping, but I do. I'm always looking for a way to get a good night's sleep. In the past, I've relied on sleep aids such as Ambien and Lunesta, and at times, night time pain relievers. But I am trying to get to sleep in more natural ways these days.
I can't even attempt sleep without a nice, relaxing bath. Usually, I add Epsom salts, to help take care of any aches or pains. I also add one of many bath products I always have around.
Lately, I've had good luck with melatonin. Our brain naturally produces melatonin, which is responsible for regulating sleep. But some of us need more, which we can get with melatonin supplements. The melatonin I take is tinctured with theanine. Until today I didn't know what that was. According to the label, it's a natural compound found in green tea.
Tea is something else that helps a lot of people. I make a point not to drink green tea before bed, because it does contain caffeine, but chamomile and mint, separate or together, are good choices.
Another suggestion is to make sure you are getting enough calcium and magnesium; if you have insomnia, you may be deficient in one or both of these.
I haven't tried it, but one of the articles I edited today states that sprinkling a few drops of lavender on a tissue and placing it under your pillow should help you sleep, because lavender reportedly increases slow-wave sleep, a deep sleep that allows your body to relax completely. On my next trip to the Vitamin Cottage, Sunflower Farmers Market or Whole Foods, I'll get some to try.
Another recommendation is yoga, which helps relax your mind and body. I'm not at the yoga stage in my life, but I'm sure that's worth a try.
No comments:
Post a Comment