There are ridiculously simple ways to cure insomnia that you are certain to stay up just to wonder why you never heard of them before. Sleep is not the problem; it is either the stresses of life getting to you or physical imbalances or deficiencies that keep you from falling asleep.
What is insomnia, in the simplest sense of the word? The inability to catch sleep or when you find yourself consistently sleepless, you are a fine example of an insomniac. But do check out some of the ways you can doze off or encourage your body to give in to sleep using nothing but natural foods and herbs.
You get health value as well as the sleep you deserve. No matter how energetic you may feel deprived of sleep it is not a healthy kind of energy. Years later, your body will take its toll for insomnia. Yes, it is not your fault. Sure, you are not to blame. But if you cannot sleep it is your responsibility to take care of your body’s needs. Sleeplessness is your body’s way of telling you something is wrong.
So, before you go off thinking you are an immortal vampire and that the gods have blessed with more time to plan world domination, you had better sleep on that assumption.
Foods To Take Just Before Bed
Let us begin with what you are eating every evening. The bigger the meal the longer it is going to take for your body to digest it. Generally, you are looking at 3-4 hours of digestion for an average sized meal. Eat light because this more than anything can complicate your system on a hormonal level, often resulting in insomnia.
- Tryptophan is a good chemical; it helps you sleep. Milk is abundant in tryptophan. Add some honey to a glass of warm (not hot, lukewarm, cool. or cold) milk and hit the sheets.
- Other foods that contain a good amount of tryptophan are chicken, turkey, and banana. Take a little bit of the one you prefer.
- Sweet or spicy food is a bad idea before bedtime. They have a tendency to frustrate the stomach. Its uneasiness becomes yours and you lose sleep because of it. This is why you should avoid desserts like chocolate and beverages like coffee if you want to sleep properly.
What is tryptophan, really? It is an amino acid that produces serotonin, a chemical responsible for stress relief, happiness, and of course sleeps.
Herbal Help
Herbs are supremely healthy and bring absolutely no side effects to your system. Taking the right dosage can help you sleep like a baby while giving your body the health boost it needs.
- 4000-8000 mg of dried passionflower is a wholesome way to promote sleep. You can certainly find these mild herbal sedatives available in capsule form.
- Sleeping pills bring a ‘hangover’ effect. Valerian (2 capsules an hour before bed) is a herbal option that does not impart side effects. Besides, it even puts you to sleep faster.
- For example, a sleeping pill like Diazepam targets the same brain receptors as Valerian. One is healthy, the other is not; you can guess which.
Smell Support
An aromatic bath before bed is a great way to destress your body but it is the scents used that imparts a coded message to your brain, resulting in a body that is willing to sleep for the next several hours.
- Soak in a tub of warm water with this essential oil combo: 5 drops lavender oil + 3 drops ylang-ylang oil.
- Lavender being the soothing tranquilizer that it is, people are turning to it to help induce sleep more often than they take up sleeping drugs. Dab some Lavender essential oil on your forehead and temples before you sleep. The aroma will do wonders for you.
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Jasmine essential oil is another excellent option. Apply some on your wrist and watch as the magic unfolds. It has proven (study conducted by the Wheeling Jesuit University, West Virginia) to be more useful than Lavender when it comes to promoting peaceful sleep.