Over 60 million Americans fight insomnia. Sleep is a required event that must happen in order for us to stay healthy. It is the process where the body rejuvenates and prepares for the coming day. The medical profession is growing concerned about this and the disease Apnea which is potentially fatal.
There have been many studies on what causes this sleep disorder. There are numerous sleeping pills and drugs on the market to cure this disorder. It is a frustrating occurrence so people spend millions of dollars every year to try and cure it. However, can it be cured naturally?
One opinion I found on sleep disorder felt it was due to too much stress hormones in our bodies. The body stays at an alert state ready to deal with emergencies and danger when it is not needed. Our culture and lifestyles no longer require a hyper state of being as was required in past centuries. But what is causing this high stress level? What has changed to cause this..
The current world in the 21st century carries with it a high level of stress. We no longer get the large amount of exercise obtained in the past because we have modern conveniences which rob us of that exercise. We do not live on a farm or have the requirement of walking to get to our destination. We also try and do more and more every day. We carry cell phones so we are always able to stay in touch and be able to pack more into a day. This heightened state never allows us to relax. We are always at a high pitch. Even when we are trying to relax and exercise, our cell phones are with us or our minds do not let go of the problems we are dealing with. We never actually relax.
There are methods we can do to combat this problem. One is to take a hot bath before bedtime. Take the time to just relax and let the stresses of the world abate for a while. Another suggestion is to take a daily walk. Get away from the cell phone and just enjoy nature and the wonderful world we live in. Drinking hot milk supplemented with honey is another method available to us. Hot milk will help to reduce the stress in our bodies. Chewing basil leaves a couple of times a day will also help.
There are also some herbs that have stress relieving capabilities. These have been around for centuries but have fallen out of use as we rely more on the medical profession One of these herbs is chamomile which is a low growing plant that thrives in Europe. It can be made into a tea as a relaxing drink.
The use of lemon balm will also help our neuro-transmitters, inducing a relaxed state. It can be made into an enhanced oil or taken as a tea. The Arabs introduced it centuries ago as medicinal herb that could be taken for anxiety and depression. It is used in France today to reduce fatigue and headaches.
Rhodiola is a adaptogenic herb, meaning it acts in non-specific ways to increase resistance without disturbing normal biological functions. It is used in Russia today as a remedy for fatigue, poor attention span and decreased memory. It is also known to fight stress.
It is important for our well-being that we take steps today to reduce our stress and get a good nights sleep. It will not only help us in our daily activities but may also save our life.