Sleep is a vital part of our lives and our well-being, but sleep can become a problem in today’s fast-paced world.
More and more people of all ages have told me how they either have trouble falling asleep or staying asleep. As we get older, we don’t produce as much melatonin, which is the hormone that helps us sleep. If we don’t have enough melatonin, our body will pull it from our serotonin reserve in order to make it. You can buy melatonin as a supplement at the store. It comes in different strengths (one to three milligrams).
Dr. Gary Massad has researched melatonin and sleep problems in depth. He told me that the studies show that if you take half a milligram of melatonin around three in the afternoon, and another half milligram about an hour before bedtime, it will work most effectively. If a melatonin supplement is taken, it saves our reserves of serotonin, which affects our mood. If you aren’t draining your melatonin reserves, you will have more serotonin to help with sustaining positive moods.
Melatonin works much better with ample Vitamin B in your system. If you are concerned about Vitamin B, take a good whole-food Vitamin B complex supplement. Some medical experts think that a Vitamin B spray under the tongue is the best type of supplement source, because it is absorbed more effectively. Vitamin B’s are water-soluble and need to be replenished daily.
Hormone imbalances (specifically low progesterone) can also disrupt our sleep patterns. Have your doctor check you for a hormone imbalance, or an adrenal or vitamin deficiency.
Experiment to find out what works best for you. In fact, what works for you might change from time to time.
What Can Help You Sleep?
· Exercise daily and breathe deeply.
· Make the bedroom a place of peace and tranquility, with as little EMF (electromagnetic field) disturbance, noise, and light as possible.
· Write down a list of things you must do tomorrow. (This will get all of those thoughts out of your brain about the next day.)
· Think calming thoughts that are positive, uplifting, and filled with gratitude and thankfulness for 20 minutes right before bedtime. (You might write down five things that you are grateful for, or five miracles that happened to you or your child today, or five things that you want to happen tomorrow).
· Stay hydrated. Drink healthy, hydrating fluids during the day, but don’t drink too much right before bed. Then you won’t have a need to get up in the middle of the night to go to the bathroom.
· Try a sleep CD to help relax the mind and body. You might also listen to recorded sounds of rain or ocean waves to help with sleep. They can relax your mind.
· The Lifewave company has a specific patch called Silent Night. I have been wearing these patches for the past year and a half.
I noticed almost immediately that I was sleeping more soundly and I even began to have positive vivid dreams. They also have a new aromatherapy spray set (morning and night) to help balance your hormones. I think the patches and sprays are very effective as well as easy. If you wish to know more, click here to see how patches with phototherapy works. (Contact me (214-202-9243 and text me first), if you wish to know more.)
· I suggest you try to eat lighter at dinner, and give yourself at least three hours between your meal and bed. If your body has to digest and process food, then it has to work hard, and it’s not able to rest and restore. Give your body a break and have some soup for dinner or a light vegetarian meal. It would help to make your breakfast and lunch the main meals of the day.
· If digestion is an issue, lie down on your left side for about 20 minutes. According to Ayurveda healing tradition, when we sleep on the left side, our lymphatic system drains more efficiently, our heart beats more smoothly, our spleen function is supported, our bile flows easier, and because of gravity, our food moves more effortlessly from the small intestine to the large intestine. When you lie on the left side, the stomach and pancreas hang naturally, allowing for optimal and efficient digestion. That is good advice comes from an old Ayurvedic remedy.
If your body is acidic, try drinking a ½ teaspoon of baking soda in a glass of water to neutralize the acid. I add a pinch of unrefined, mineral-rich sea salt to this as well. What an easy, inexpensive solution!
· There are some sleep enhancing food and beverages. Drink herbal teas (chamomile tea is a good choice), which can encourage rest and sleep. Note: You may want to drink this an hour or two before bed, so you are not compelled to get up during the night. Also eating tart cherries or consuming tart cherry juice can assist in obtaining a better night’s sleep.
· Take a relaxing evening bath or foot-bath as this will calm you before bedtime. Fill up a warm or hot bath and soak for ten minutes or more. I like to put mineral salts (Magnesium Chloride Bath Flakes) in my bath. Right before I step into the tub, I add a few drops of one of my favorite essential oils. I add them last, so they won’t evaporate before I can get in and enjoy the aroma.
For night-time relaxation, my favorite essential oil is lavender.
My formula for my bath water is 1⁄4 to 1⁄2 cup Magnesium Chloride Bath Flakes, 1⁄4 cup of baking soda, and 5–10 drops of essential oil, like lavender or frankincense.
After your shower or foot bath, dry off and put on a soothing body lotion or cream to seal in the moisture. This helps avoid itchy, dry skin during the night. If you’re like me, you sleep better in comfortable clothing and sheets, so you might splurge on the quality of your bed linens and night clothes. It makes me feel better, and I look forward to putting them on and getting into bed. I feel like I’m pampering myself.
I hope one or more of these suggestions will help you get a deep, relaxing, and restorative night’s sleep. I wish you sweet dreams.
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Medical Disclaimer: Information provided in this podcast, blog, article, video is for informational purposes only. The information is a result of years of practice and experience by Nancy Addison CHC. However, this information is NOT intended as a substitute for the advice provided by your physician or other healthcare professional, or any information contained on or in any product label or packaging.
Do not use the information provided in this blog, audio podcast, article, video for diagnosing or treating a health problem or disease, or prescribing medication or other treatment. Always speak with your physician or other healthcare professional before taking any medication or nutritional, herbal or homeopathic supplement, or using any treatment for a health problem. If you have or suspect that you have a medical problem, contact your health care provider promptly. Do not disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking professional advice because of something you have read in this email.
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