Tips on How to Beat Insomnia

I am sure that at some point or another we have all experienced the dreaded insomnia where no matter how many cups of chamomile tea, deep breathing exercises or pre-bed stretches you do you still lie wide-awake until the birds start chirping. There are various causes of insomnia ranging from stress and anxiety to hormonal imbalances. The cause of insomnia greatly effects the correct path to take in order to get some much needed Z’s in.

---

What Supplements can you use for Insomnia?

Severe and prolonged periods of stress often lead to a disruption in our hormones- particularly cortisol. Cortisol is a corticosteroid hormone which is at it’s highest levels early in the morning. However, after prolonged periods of stress and in adrenal burnout, we tend to have an imbalance in our levels of Cortisol which results in various other neurochemical as well as hormonal imbalances which prevent us from sleeping. For more information on Adrenal burnout, feel free to read my previous blog post on Adrenal fatigue!

We can also experience insomnia when we are feeling anxious or worried about something such as a work matter or family issue. Here are some things which you can use in order to help you sleep more easily

---

MAGNESIUM

Magnesium really is a miracle supplement- it helps with muscle pain and spasm, anxiety and even sleep. The way magnesium enables us to sleep is by promoting the production of Melatonin- our sleep chemical. Magnesium is available in many different forms and this can determine the end result. Probably the best forms of magnesium to use in order to promote sleep would include Magnesium Glycinate or Magnesium-L-Threonate. Both forms are easily absorbed with Magnesium-L-Threonate having a greater ability to cross the blood-brain-barrier. The top tip when taking magnesium is to take it half an hour before bedtime to promote a peaceful and relaxing sleep.

5-HTP 25mg

5-HTP acts as a precursor for Serotonin production, however it is also incredibly important for the healthy production of Melatonin. It’s always best to take a lower dose of 5-HTP if you are purely using it for sleep purposes. Overall, it is best to avoid using 5-HTP if you are currently taking any anti-depressant medications.

DE-WORMING MEDICATIONS

Yes, you read that correctly. Often times when a parasite has unfortunately made a home in your gastrointestinal tract it can lead to various vitamin and mineral deficiencies. Parasites also have a large effect on our sugar levels resulting in hypoglycemia during sleep which can cause one to wake-up in the middle of the night. In cases of insomnia in children it is always a good idea to consider parasites as the cause. In cases where magnesium doesn’t help with insomnia and there is bruxism (tooth grinding) present in the sleep, a little parasite-cleanse could really do some good.

VITAMIN B

Vitamin B is truly a miracle vitamin with practically anything to do with the nervous system. Vitamin B is also incredibly important with supporting the adrenal glands and promoting healthy production of cortisol.

HOPS AND VALERIAN

Both hops and Valerian have a wonderful calming effect on the nervous system and have the ability to help reduce symptoms of stress and anxiety. Valerian root is more specifically used to help increase levels of GABA in the central nervous system so as to bring about feelings of calm and relaxation. Hops, interestingly enough, not only functions by also enhancing the levels of GABA in our nervous system, but also has an ability to slightly lower our body temperature which also brings about a certain level of drowsiness.

MILK THISTLE

Milk thistle is used as a means of detoxifying the liver. I have had many patients who have said to me that they have no problems with falling asleep, however their biggest issue is that they have a tendency to wake up between 1 and 3 am. In accordance with the “Chinese Organ Clock” this is the moment when the liver is supposed to function at its most optimal state. If there is an issue with the liver, the person will most likely wake up at around this time. I usually recommend taking Milk thistle supplements which have dandelion extract in them, as the addition of dandelion helps to improve the flow of bile. By improving bile flow there is a much smoother detoxing process that can occur.

---

Homeopathic Remedies to Help with Sleep

Coffea tosta

This remedy is made from roasted coffee beans. It is a wonderful remedy to use when the problem is with falling asleep due to a constant flow of ideas. Often, people needing this remedy will say “I just can’t turn my brain off at night”

Carcinosinum

I absolultey love using this remedy in patients who have always had a difficulty in falling or staying asleep. Often times these patients started having sleep problems from the time they were children. It is therefore also a wonderful remedy to use for children who appear to “never sleep”.

Nux vomica

This remedy is a wonderful choice for those who are very business-oriented. Their insomnia is often related to worrying thoughts of business. However, this remedy also has a wonderful action on the liver and helps promote detoxification and support. Nux vomica patients often tend to go out with colleagues for a drink or two at the pub so their liver usually isn’t the healthiest. For a liver detox combine Nux vom, China officianalis and Sylibum in low potencies.