Insomnia Natural Remedies

 

Insomnia Natural Remedies by Dr. Josh Kantor

Insomnia Natural Remedies - Sleep Time is Healing Time

Sleep time is healing time. It is just as vital to our health and survival as food, water, and air. Sleep is an innate behavior that is programmed into the core of our very existence. Unfortunately, sleep deprivation is one of the most harmful things someone can do to their bodies, on par with abusing drugs, consuming excess alcohol, eating a poor diet, and smoking. Sleep is a biological need that is so important that you will die without sleep, and sleep deprivation can be used as a method of torture

So why do so many people choose to torture themselves?


The effects of sleep deprivation are both obvious and insidious and have short and long-term impacts on our health. Not getting a good night’s sleep affects mental and emotional health, clarity of mind, memory and concentration, temperament, immune function, tolerance for daily stressors, libido, hormonal cycles, recovery time, and can cause inflammation and pain.

What is more encouraging is that the benefits of getting adequate sleep touch every aspect of our health, ranging from improving one’s sense of well-being to improved athletic performance to preventing cancer.  

There are two types of sleep problems 1) being able to fall asleep but not stay asleep or 2) being unable to fall asleep. Each type of sleep issue requires a different approach but has similar causes. It is important to question why and what would interfere with such a vital life-sustaining system of the body? What has happened to the body’s nervous system regulation and hormonal and neurotransmitter balance? And what needs to be done to restore balance to the circadian rhythm?

Insomnia is a true illness that, in my opinion, is not taken seriously enough and needs more attention than just taking a prescribed sleeping pill or tranquilizer.  Sleep medications do not contribute to REM cycles which is vital to sleep-induced body and brain recovery. A healthy night’s sleep for 6-8 hours creates REM cycles. You should wake up rested and alert, not groggy, and in need of coffee before you can “wake up.” This is a sign of sleep insufficiency and deprivation.

For most insomniacs, sleep-deprived, and “sleep insufficients,” the causes are self-induced, and with some willpower and lifestyle changes, a good night’s sleep can be achieved.

The path to healthy sleep is to balance the stress part (sympathetic) and calming part (parasympathetic) of your nervous system and remove the things that are creating the imbalance. The most common chronic offenders are caffeine in all forms, alcohol, high stress, and blue light from devices before bed. These all prevent or delay fitful sleep.

Stress management techniques such as yoga, meditation, deep-breathing, and relaxation therapies are sometimes the main missing link in allowing the body to sleep and stay asleep. When other home methods do not achieve the desired result, highly effective “bio-hacking” therapies will enhance the parasympathetic nervous system, such as floatation therapy, low-temperature infrared sauna, and using a PEMF mat combined with salt therapy. I can’t say enough about floatation therapy - it is probably the most profound way to induce calm and quiet for a stressed, nervous system. We offer these therapies at Chill Space NYC as a rapid and effective method of triggering the parasympathetic nervous system to buffer stress.

The next step in improving quality REM sleep is with supplementation of various herbs, minerals, vitamins, and nutraceuticals. Using different blends of nutrition and herbs enhances the natural production of hormones and brain chemicals that allow sleepiness to occur. Many useful herbs help maintain sleep, encouraging REM sleep and a normal circadian rhythm. Not everyone has the same need, but the following are the various supplements that I recommend. Supplements alone are not the answer but can help tremendously and work best in combination.
 

Herbs:


Valerian Root, Hops, Passionflower, Oats Milky Seed, Kava Kava, Chamomile
 

Vitamins/Minerals/Proteins


5-HTP, B6, B-Complex, Phosphatidylserine, Vitamin D, L-theanine, Magnesium, Tryptophan, Melatonin (will not work if cortisol is high)
 

Examples of use:


If you can’t fall asleep, I recommend phosphatidylserine, which lowers cortisol, and herbs such as valerian root, hops, and Passionflower to enhance GABA production and quiet the body and mind. Alkalizing minerals such as magnesium help the parasympathetic nervous system and a trace amount of melatonin (.5mg).
 

For the person who can’t stay asleep, I recommend 5-HTP to enhance melatonin production, work on balancing blood sugar and the adrenal glands, Kava Kava and chamomile to help maintain sleep and B vitamins essential for neurotransmitter production. 

About the Author

Dr. Josh Kantor is a leading NYC Applied Kinesiologist and Owner of Chill Space NYC, Manhattan's top Health and Wellness Spa.Learn more about the health benefits of Chill Space's Spa Services by visiting his website.

Location: New York, NY, USA

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