How To Cure Insomnia Naturally

Insomnia can affect anyone no matter what age they are, but most people don’t really know what insomnia is. It means the quality of sleep which one gets and not the amount. Usually someone with insomnia won’t be able to complete the natural sleep cycle and as a result not be thoroughly rested.

The causes are as numerous as the possible cures. Generally there is some issue or anxiety which has caused the sufferer to worry. If you go to bed feeling tense or anxious your mind will remain overly active and it will be very hard to fall asleep.

Another cause of insomnia is shift work. If you work night’s you do of course need to sleep during the daylight hours. The body produces a chemical at dusk called melatonin which starts to prepare the body for sleep and consequently you become drowsy around bedtime.

If you try and sleep during the daytime firstly unless you have very heavy curtains at the window sunlight will keep you awake, not to mention external noises and birds singing! Your body won’t have produced the sleep inducing chemical melatonin, and this will also make it very hard for the body to go into a full sleep cycle.

Insomnia can also be caused by having too much to eat, eating the wrong foods just before bedtime or drinking excessive amounts of alcohol. Spicy foods, stodgy foods and alcohol should be avoided prior to going to bed.

The body can tell you whether it’s ready for sleep or not depending on how comfortable you feel. The body needs to be able to rest and if the digestive system is working overtime then restful sleep won’t be possible.

So what is the answer to the question how to cure insomnia naturally? Firstly there are several methods of relaxation that have proven to be very effective. Do you remember the old joke of counting sheep to help you sleep? Well maybe there really is something to be said for it!

It doesn’t have to literally mean counting sheep, it could be thinking about a favourite place such as a sandy beach with the waves gently hitting the shore, or a green meadow with a gentle warm breeze creating ripples in the grass.

Try relaxing each part of your body combined with deep breathing. Start from your feet and work your way up to your head. By the time you reach your head you may already be asleep.

You can also buy relaxation cds with natural sounds such as the rain, waves crashing against the shore, birds singing or just very soothing and calming music.

Another effective way to overcome insomnia is to take a naturally soothing supplement. Chamomile tea can be calming, or a cup of hot chocolate can trigger the pleasure center of the brain and prepare the body for a relaxed state. You can even take melatonin in supplement form to help trick the body into believing that it’s night time.

You could try alternative therapies such as hypnosis. A therapist can help you to try and re imagine events in a more positive light, by focusing on the positives of a situation instead of the negatives you will feel calmer and happier. As a result you will be less likely to lay awake in bed feeling stressed and anxious.

Most times you should be able to cure insomnia naturally without the intervention of drugs, but sometimes in severe cases it may be necessary for a very short time. Sleeping pills can be addictive if taken for any length of time and should only be taken as a last resort when all else fails.