Natural Cures for Insomnia- Basic Information

We've put together this guide to help you understand insomnia, the causes, and most importantly the natural cures for insomnia that can be used. We believe that the best cure is not to take drugs but to find the cause of the problem and deal with it with the help of some natural insomnia cures.

If you toss and turn half the night, only to fall asleep when it's time to get up you'll be very aware of what insomnia is! Or perhaps you fall asleep only to wake up two hours later and then stay wide awake until dawn. There are different types of insomnia but all of them can leave you feeling unrefreshed from sleep and seriously impair your abilities during the day.

Insomnia may be one of the following

• difficulty falling asleep


• falling asleep the waking after a short time


• waking up too early


• waking up frequently throughout the night


• sleeping through the night but so poorly you do not feel refreshed in the morning
  

If you have insomnia you will have problems in the day such as depression, irritability, tiredness, difficulty focusing or thinking clearly etc. Most people need around eight hours of good quality sleep to feel rested and refreshed.

Different Types of Insomnia

• Transient - this is characterised by insomnia that last between one night and a few weeks then disappears


• Intermittent - short term insomnia that repeats after a time


• Chronic - difficulty sleeping for three nights a week at least that lasts a month or longer
  

Chronic insomnia is also divided into two types

Primary insomnia has no relationship to other health problems that you may be suffering from
Secondary insomnia is related to a medical condition such as asthma, arthritis, cancer, stress, depression, chronic pain or other physical or mental health problem. It can also be related to a bed partner who snores or other poor sleep conditions. Sleep apnia can also cause disturbed sleep.

Insomnia seems to be more of a problem for women with more than twice the number of women reporting sleep problems than men. In perimenopausal women night sweats and hot flashes can lead to insomnia and pregnancy can also affect sleeping patterns.

Diagnosis of Insomnia

Talk to your doctor if you are worried that you have insomnia. keep a record of your sleeping pattern for a week before you see him so that you can give him full information. There may be underlying medical causes and he may also be able to refer you to a sleep center if the insomnia is having serious effects on your life.

Natural Cures for Insomnia

Natural cures for insomnia include learning to meditate, making sure your room is conducive to good sleep, cutting down on caffeine consumption, developing a sleep routine as well as some natural herbs that have found to be effective.

Natural Cures for Insomnia - Relaxation Techniques

Relaxation techniques are natural cures for insomnia that have been used for many years to help relieve tension and help you to sleep. Try out our favorite method below.

1. Lay down on your back with the hands relaxed at the sides and get comfortable.

2. Concentrate on relaxing parts of your body in turn. Start with your face and with your mouth slightly open make an effort to relax your jaw and forehead.

3. When your face is relaxed completely concentrate on your toes then the ankles and work up the body. Imagine your toes tingling as the tension is released. Relax the fingers and arms all the time making sure you don't tense up the face as you go.

4. When you are fully relaxed imagine your worries floating away from you. Think of them as bubbles floating away into the far distance.

5. Visualise your tensions leaving your body through your fingers and toes and out of the top of your head.

6. As you relax slow your breathing, feel your heart beating, feel all of your body slowly relaxing.

7. Now that you are fully relaxed concentrate on slowing your breathing even more. Let your body breath, don't try to do it just let the natural process of breathing take over. Make sure you exhale fully on each breath.

8. Pick a favorite color and try to imagine it, feel yourself enfolded in waves of your color.

By this time you should be fully relaxed and almost asleep. Continue to breath slowly and evenly with complete exhales until you fall asleep.