Insomnia, is there a natural sleeping pill that works?

Insomnia is a disorder that will wreck havoc on your body & health.

Health Issues relating to Insomnia:

Weakened Immune System
Increased Risk of heart disease
Increased Risk of stroke
Poor skin health
Weight Gain
Increased risk of Mental Health Issues like anxiety and depression
Cognitive Decline (including concentration, focus, information retention etc)
decrease in heart function
Increase in inflammation

and so much more.

DID YOU KNOW

Sleep is one of the most vital requirements for the human body, and when there is a lack of sleep, the body will slowly start to deteriorate until it leterally can’t funtion any more!

What is insomnia?

Insomnia is a common sleep disorder that can make it hard to fall asleep or stay asleep. It also can cause you to wake up too early and not be able to get back to sleep. It is also common for individuals suffering from insomnia to still feel tired when you wake up. Insomnia can drain your energy level and affect your physical and mental health.

What are the causes of insomnia?

There is no 1 cause for insomnia and each person is different, which makes it very challenging to treat and cure. However, there are always very common traits that appear in those who struggle with insomnia, the top being STRESS, poor diet and poor lifestyle choices (i.e. too much alcohol, too much medication, over working, too many late nights, drug use etc).

Here is a list of common causes of Insomnia

stress, anxiety and depression.
noise.
a room that’s too hot or cold.
uncomfortable bed.
alcohol, caffeine or drugs.
jet lag.
shift work.
Having a hard time falling asleep at night.
Waking up during the night.
Waking up too early.
Feeling tired or sleepy during the day.
Feeling cranky, depressed or anxious.
Having a hard time paying attention, focusing on tasks or remembering.
Making more errors or having more accidents.
Having ongoing worries about sleep.

How do I naturally cure my insomnia?

We underestimate the power of sleep until we can’t.

Sleep is the cornerstone for optimal physical health, proper recovery, mental wellbeing and strong immune system (among many other things).

What has to be kept in mind is that insomnia does not get cured overnight. An there is no “1 cure for all”.

It can take time to figure out what works for your body and it insomnia is something you have been struggling with for years, will will take time for your body to correct itself and fall back into a healthy sleeping pattern.

Here are steps you can take now that will assist you towards optimal sleeping:

Follow a sleep schedule. Keep your bedtime and wake time the same every day, including on weekends.
Stay active. Physical exercise (doesn’t matter what form) is essential for the sleep process.
Check your medicines. Many pharmaceuticals have side effects that cause insomnia. Check with your doctor if you are currently on medication.
Limit or do not use caffeine, alcohol and nicotine. These 3 elements can be huge disruptors of sleep and when gone unchecked can become a health hazzard.
Do not put up with pain. Pain can cause immense discomfort, so much so that it can effect your sleep. Managing pain effectively can improve your sleep patterns and quality.
Do not eat large meals or drink a lot of fluids before bed. Keep meals light for easy digestion and to limit discomfort and avoid too much liquids that could cause you to wake up to want to pee during the night.

Does Insomnia ever go away?

If you’ve been having trouble sleeping for a few weeks due to stress in your life, it’s likely to resolve once you get past the troubling event. However, if you have a stubborn case of insomnia that persists even once the stress has been removed or has been present for months (and in many cases years), you’ll need to put together a plan of action that requires a strict lifestyle change, commitment and effort if you want to resolve it.

What helps you sleep at night?

Have good sleep routine (sleep hygiene)
Start practicing destress techniques like breathing exercises, meditation or grounding to help your body relax and release stress.
Try calming music or white noise to help you fall asleep.
Create the right sleep environment for example, having a comfortable pillow and mattress, blockout curtains if the light bothers you, close the door or windows to limit noise etc
Remove electronics from your room and place your phone on silent when you sleep.
Do not force sleep.
Improve sleep through diet and exercise.

What foods help you sleep?

Certain nutrients and hormones are vital for healthy and effective sleep.

Tryptophan helps promote the production of serotonin.

commonly found in seeds, nuts, tofu/soy, eggs, peanuts turkey, fish and milk,

Melatonin is ESSENTIAL when it comes to sleep.

Melatonin can be found in tart cherries, Goji Berries (get yours here), eggs, milk, fish, nuts and pineapple.

Potassium

Potassium is necessary for the normal functioning of all cells. It regulates the heartbeat, ensures proper function of the muscles and nerves, and is vital for synthesizing protein and metabolizing carbohydrates.
Potassium is found in bananas (Try our Baobanana Protein Shake, has everything you need and more) apricots and dried fruit, avocados, apples, leafy greens( such as spinach, kale and silverbeet), tomatoes, cucumbers, zucchini, eggplant and pumpkin, root vegetables (such as carrots, potatoes and sweet potatoes), Legumes (such as beans and peas), milk, yoghurt, meat and chicken, as well as fish (such as halibut, tuna, cod, snapper).

And magnesium

Magnesium helps promote muscle relaxation, plays a key role in supporting deep, restorative sleep by regulating certain neurotransmitters that calm the nervous system and allow the brain to transition to a restful state, helps maintain a healthy heart rhythm, is involved in the regulation of blood pressure and cholesterol production, assist with bone formation, density & structure.
Magnesium is found in bananas, figs, whole grains, quinoa, spinach, almonds, black beans, dark chocolate (yippy), tofu, edamame and milk.

Furthermore, many herbs, often found in teas like chamomile and mint are considered sleep inducing.

How to stop overthinking at night?

There are many other useful techniques — from meditation to journaling to wind-down time to relaxation techniques such as breathing to slow your thoughts and Yoga Nidra to keeping a pad of paper bedside (to be used very sparingly) for jotting down things you want to remember tomorrow to worry exposure.

What are the best natural remedies for insomnia?

First approach would be to look at your diet as a whole, eliminate highly processed foods, caffeine and alcohol and increase your intake of foods listed above, that contain the correct nutrition to support sleep.

Lavender

One of the main benefits of lavender is that it can calm without sedating . More than simply generating a serene state of mind, lavender can reduce anxiety by affecting the body’s fight-or-flight response. Lavender essential oil has been found to be effective in reducing: anxiety

GABA
- Whole grains.
- Fava beans, soy, lentils, and other beans.
- Nuts, especially walnuts and almonds.
- Sunflower seeds.
- Fish, especially shrimp and halibut.
- Fruits and vegetables such as citrus, tomatoes, berries, spinach, broccoli, and potatoes.
- Cacao (get yours here)

Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) is a naturally occurring amino acid. GABA is a neurotransmitter, which means it delivers a message through your nervous system from one neuron to another.
GABA functions to calm the nervous system and help your nerves process sensory input in an organized way.
It also helps lower blood pressure, reduce inflammation and control appetite.
Sources of Gaba

Valerian

Valerian is a perennial flowering plant native to Europe and Asia.
valerian is promoted for insomnia, anxiety, depression, premenstrual syndrome (PMS), menopause symptoms, and headaches.

CBD Oil

Unlike its cousin THC, CBD is not intoxicating or psychoactive. Proponents of CBD oil and other CBD products claim that it can be used to treat conditions such as chronic pain, inflammation, migraines, epilepsy, autoimmune diseases, depression, and anxiety.
By helping to reduce pain, stress, anxiety and other physical challenges (listed above) will assist the body in feeling calmer, more at ease and relaxed and therefore improving rest and sleep in the long run.

Other remedies include:

Melatonin
Kava
California Poppy

What is the best herbs for sleep?

Chamomile.
Lemon balm.
Valerian.
Theanine.St. John’s Wort.
Rhodiola a perennial flowering plant in the family Crassulaceae

What drinks help you sleep?

Chamomile, lemon balm, lavender and valerian are popular teas that people drink before bed, but other substances may also help.

Best is to avoid anything with caffeine or sugar at night.

What is the safest sleeping pills to take every night?

Prescription drugs almost always come with side effects (especially long term when taken daily).

When approaching a solution for insomnia, always consult your personal health practitioner or doctor before starting any sleep supplement/aid.

There are many natural sleep aid remedies, all with their own incredible benefits.

NB – it is going to take “trial and error” to figure out which one will work best for you.

Some doses will have to be higher than others, each person is different.

We can recommend 2 of our own products to try to help assist you with overcoming insomnia.

Lavender CBD oil (click here) – Our blend of Lavender & CBD oil is a beautiful compliment to take to help reduce stress and anxiety, aid sleep, reduce pain and inflammation and support healthy brain function.

DreamFul (click here) – This is our personal natural sleep aid supplement made up of Valerian, Gaba and Magnesium. It contains all the benefits of these 3 powerful ingredients and it is safe, effective and with zero side effects.