Sunday, December 14, 2008

The Wonders of Natural Sleep Aids

Getting a good night's sleep is essential for feeling refreshed

and alert during the day. When we sleep, our body rests and

restores energy levels. However, sleep is an active state that

affects both our physical and mental well-being. A good night's

sleep is often the best way to help a person cope with stress,

solve problems, and get a full recovery from illness. But, with

all the stresses of everyday life, not everyone can now afford to

have the needed eight hours sleep. Eight hours of uninterrupted

sleep is what an average adult needs to maintain an optimal mental

and physical health.
Sleep is prompted by natural cycles of activity in the brain and

consists of two basic states: rapid eye movement (REM) sleep and

non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep, which consists of Stages 1

through 4. During sleep, the body cycles between non-REM and REM

sleep. Typically, people begin the sleep cycle with a period of

non-REM sleep followed by a very short period of REM sleep. Dreams

generally occur in the REM stage of sleep.
According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and

Stroke, over 40 million Americans a year will suffer from some

sort of sleep disorder. Many of them will go undiagnosed, or turn

to over-the-counter sleeping aids for relief. While insomnia is

the best-known sleep disorder, over 100 types of sleep disorders

actually exist. In order to get a proper diagnosis, it’s important

to understand the symptoms and causes of the most common forms of

each sleep problem. Other known sleep disorders include sleep

apnea, Restless Leg Syndrome (RLS), and narcolepsy.
Insomnia is often a symptom of other health problems. Typical

patterns of insomnia include the inability to fall asleep or stay

asleep at night, waking up earlier than usual, and daytime

fatigue. Most people with insomnia don't fall asleep in

inappropriate situations, like driving. If this does occur, it may

signal that a medical disorder (such as sleep apnea) is the cause

of insomnia.
Fortunately, there are many natural sleep aids that could be

considered as effective cures for insomnia. Popular natural

insomnia treatments include the herbal sleep aid Valerian Root.

Studies show that taking supplements can help improve the quality

of sleep. If a person wants to avoid taking potentially addictive

sleep aids, taking natural insomnia remedies including Melatonin

and other vitamin supplements can be helpful.
Melatonin is a popular natural cure for insomnia. While our

bodies naturally produce a certain amount of melatonin, taking it

in supplement form can help us make sure we get the necessary

amount we need to get quality sleep. Clinical studies of this

herbal sleep aid find that it is quite effective.
Another natural insomnia remedy is the B-complex vitamin. Research

has also shown that being deficient in B-complex may lead to sleep

problems. For many, taking B-complex supplement has been a very

effective natural cure for insomnia. Many people in search of

natural insomnia treatments have also had good luck taking a 5-HTP

herbal remedy.
Natural insomnia treatments are numerous. A wide variety of

natural cure for insomnia supplements are available. Natural

insomnia remedy can help a person get the needed sleep aid. From

melatonin, to the B vitamin family, and herbal insomnia remedy

5-HTP, a good night’s sleep should soon be yours!

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