Natural Sleep Aids

In case you don’t want to read all the articles, this is my list of top remedies. I would say to try these first and work your way down the list. GABA – amino acid that calms your brain Bach Rescue Sleep – amazing to help your brain calm down Magnesium – almost everyone is… more

Acupuncture and Chinese medicine work on the underlying issues that cause insomnia.  They help to relieve anxiety and stress and make the body stronger so it can sleep deeply. Acupressure is also an option.  Since acupuncture might not be available to you, I wanted to let you know how you can treat yourself at home.… more

GABA is an amino acid.  Amino acids are what protein is made of.  When you take amino acids in pill form, your body can use the amino acids to make neurotransmitters.  There are neurotransmitters that calm your brain and those that stimulate your brain. GABA is one of my favorite sleep remedies.  It usually also… more

I have to admit that I did not believe flower essences worked when I first heard about them.  I thought it was the alcohol that was the relaxing bit.  The essences are preserved in alcohol, but you only get a tiny amount when you use them. The proof is in the pudding.  I tried some… more

Sometimes you just hear too many noises that keep you awake.  If you have chronic insomnia, you have a harder time avoiding noises that affect your sleep. I have found white noise to be very effective.  I especially like the sound of rain.  If it is a gentle rain, you can fall asleep to it. … more

Your body uses calcium to contract your muscles and magnesium to relax them.  If you are deficient in magnesium, as 70 to 80% of Americans are, you will not be able to relax as well. There are many different kinds of magnesium: Magnesium citrate Magnesium oxide– this type is not well absorbed Magnesium malate Magnesium… more

L-tryptophan is an amino acid.  Amino acids are components of protein.  In other words, your body can derive most of your amino acids from the protein you eat. Your body uses amino acids to make neurotransmitters like serotonin.  Serotonin is the relaxation chemical in your brain. There are many medications that affect Serotonin.  They are… more

Valerian root is a popular herb in sleep formulas.  It is a mild sedative and muscle relaxant.  If you have chronic insomnia, Valerian root can help, but it might not be strong enough alone.  I like these formulas because they are combined with Chinese herbs.  There is no other brand that does this, that I… more

Caffeine in coffee, colas and chocolate can dramatically affect your sleep.  The problem is not that it keeps you awake, which it can, but it also can alter your sleep cycles and make your sleep lighter and less restorative.  As you get older, it is not uncommon to become more sensitive to caffeine. Caffeine makes… more

Very often people wake up at night, go to the bathroom and go back to bed.  They think they woke up because they have sleep problems.  In fact, often people wake up to go the the bathroom, then they think that they just took the opportunity to go while they were up. In Chinese medicine,… more

There are many classical herbal formulas that are used to treat insomnia in Chinese medicine.  In Chinese medical theory, insomnia is caused by an energetic imbalance.  It is very often the heart energy that is out of balance.  All emotions in excess affect the heart energy.  There are herbs that treat the heart energy and… more

To understand how acupuncture could help you, you need to understand how acupuncture works.  Your body has over 400 acupuncture points. Each point has certain functions and affects certain parts of the body and imbalances.  Your body works somewhat like a keyboard.  I can press a point on your ankle that affects your lower back. … more

  Melatonin is a hormone that your body makes in your pineal gland.  Some people find this effective to help them sleep.  Your body uses melatonin to regulate your sleep cycle.  It is typically taken in dosages of 3 mg. I personally do not like this supplement.  I wanted to write about it here because… more

Lavender essential oil is famous as a calming essence.  It has been shown to act on the deep areas of the brain to affect relaxation. A lot of the reason you cannot get to sleep is because you cannot relax in general.  You get very wound up during the day and your body goes into… more