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Natural Sleep Medications May Be the AnswerNatural sleep medications vary from herbal sleep remedies to hormones and even certain foods. Its a broad category so its worth experimenting to see which of these remedies is the most helpful for you. Its a good idea to try these natural sleep aids before jumping into the stronger "hypnotic" sleep medications. One thing to just bear in mind with some of these natural sleep medications is that they have not been tested and there is little data on their long term use. The FDA has no legislation over herbal remedies or food supplements, or anything which is not considered a drug. This doesn't mean that all of these sleep medications are harmless, in fact some of them are very potent. Just err on the side of caution and ask all the questions that concern you before purchasing such products. Knowing the correct dosage can be a problem, sometimes these are unknown. Tell your doctor or health professional if you are taking any kind of natural sleep medication as some herbal remedies can have unpleasant or dangerous reactions when mixed with other drugs. Also be careful if you are pregnant, there are some natural sleep medications to avoid; for instance chamomile. However there are definite advantages in taking these kinds of medications instead of the prescribed "hypnotic" types of drugs. These are non habit forming and generally have fewer side effects. They are not completely free of side effects however and some of these are:
Even though these sleep medications are not classified as drugs, they can still be a fairly potent, so use the same diligence as you would when taking a chemical drug. Lets have a look at some of the choices you have:
This is a plant based remedy. Valerian is noted for calming the nerves and promoting restful sleep in some people. Others say it has no effect. Valerian has been known to cause depression in those who are prone to the complaint. High doses of valerian may also cause vivid dreams and heart arrhythmia.
Another plant based remedy. It can calm stress and acts as a sedative. Not recommended if you are taking any other relaxants or anti anxiety medications. Karva karva can cause dizziness. Stay away from cars, machinery and alcohol.
Tryptophan occurs naturally in the body and is an amino acid. Its main function is to manufacture serotonin, (a neurotransmitter) in the brain which helps promote better sleep. Serotonin is a precursor of melatonin, so necessary for healthy sleep patterns. Tryptophan is available in supplements (animal based or synthetic) or by consuming protein and dairy products. Turkey meat is an excellent source, as is milk and bananas.
A relaxing and calming herb it can cause allergic reactions in some people. Don't take chamomile if you are pregnant.
I've included milk because of its double benefits. It contains tryptophan (see above) and also calcium, a mineral with calming properties which is also great for bones. Drink a glass before bed if your digestion can tolerate it, a teaspoon of honey helps the tryptophan to absorb better. A lack of iron or magnesium in the diet can also have an effect on our sleep. One of the best sources of iron is red meat particularly beef. Iron can also be found in eggs, sardines and green vegetables. Magnesium sources are soy products, nuts, yeast, brown rice, bananas and corn.
There is quite a lot of research being done on this product. Melatonin is a hormone produced by the pineal gland. It has a considerable effect on our sleep patterns and a low level of melatonin can cause sleeplessness. Help your sleep medication go to work with a new memory foam mattress. Your body will sink into your memory foam mattress and it will leave you refreshed in the morning. Check out the healing benefits of a memory foam mattress for your back. Help your college student also get a good night's sleep on those lumpy beds with a new memory foam mattress topper. Read this great student's blog on his new memory foam mattress and what he really thought about it!
Levels of this hormone decline with age and the elderly can benefit with supplements of melatonin. It is not the absolute answer to insomnia, some people don't benefit from it and there can be side effects with higher doses. These include daytime drowsiness, nightmares and headaches. The main problem with melatonin is knowing how much to take. Also the effects of the hormone are not known in the long term. However as a sleep remedy for the elderly, those trying to withdraw from the hypnotic sleep medications and those whose sleep pattern has been severely disrupted, it can be a very useful aid. More information about melatonin will hopefully be available in the near future. A better and much safer option can be found in the combination
of certain safe herbal substances. There is a product called Serenite, a very effective and safe sleep medication which will
not cause daytime drowsiness or any other side effects often
found with the stronger sleep medicines.
Serenite Plus has now been launched and has already been tested by us. It has proven even more effective than the original and we highly recommend it.
Many people have asked us for a natural remedy for long term (chronic) insomnia. Well until recently there was really nothing we could truthfully recommend, other than a combination of products.
All that has changed however with the launch of Serenite-LT. Serenite-LT combines selected herbs and sleep facilitating nutrients in an effective formula which will help you to solve your sleep problems permanently.
Serenite Junior is also available in a children's formula for little ones from about six months of age. Get More Info on Serenite Jr. for Child Sleep Problems
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