Natural Medicines for Sleep
You'll see lots of advertisements for natural medicines for sleep. Some are pills and some are teas. You might think that because they are advertised as 'natural' then they are safe. You hope that they work, because by now (hopefully) you've tried every other way you know how to sleep.
Natural Medicines for Sleep First Things First If you suffer with insomnia you've probably heard of the more typically prescribed medications: Ambien (zolpidem), Sonata (zaleplon), Rozerum (ramelteon) and Lunesta (eszopiclone). In the past, Valium and Restoril were typically prescribed. These are in the benzodiazepine family and are easy to get build up a tolerance to(your body gets used to them and you may need higher doses to achieve the same effects). People also become dependent and addicted to them. So, if your healthcare provider prescribes one of these for you, consider it a VERY short time remedy. There are newer ones that are short-acting, non-benzodiazepines and although they're not perfectly safe, they don't have the same risks that the benzodiazepines do. I wanted to mention these, because they are actually safer overall than some of the natural remedies for sleep. The safest of all: try some (or all) of the natural sleep remedies. You can click on the link above to learn more. If sleep is a problem for you, consider it a problem that will take some effort and time on your part. No pill, tea or other rememdy is a quick fix.
Natural Sleep Medicines
A lot of people take Valerian herb for insomnia, anxiety and sleeplessness. Some research studies have shown that it cuts down on the time it takes some to get to sleep. Most people do well with it and it doesn't cause that hangover feeling the next day like some of the prescription medications do. The down side: It doesn't work as fast as the prescription medications, and sometimes we get a little impatient. For the anxiety-prone, just wondering when we'll fall asleep causes a whole new cycle of anxiety that causes more insomnia. So, if you take Valerian, be patient. Take the time to try out some of the non-medicinal natural sleep remedies. Like so many out there, there isn't a lot of research on the herb, but taking a dose between 400-900mg/day 2 hours before bedtime is probably safe. ALERT: There have been a few cases of liver damage in people who have taken Valerian. Researchers are not sure if it was the Valerian that caused this or something else. If you take this for a good length of time, talk with your health care provider and ask for a blood test to check for liver function. Alcohol consumption is hard on the liver, so don't drink alcohol if you take Valerian. Also, if you take it for an extended amount of time, take yourself off it slowly-not abruptly. There can be some withdrawal symptoms if you stop it too soon. Best rule: If you take it, take it for a limited time and avoid taking it regularly. Use other types of non-medicinal sleep remedies, so that you don't rely only on pills. Most things of value, say a good healthy sleep pattern takes time and energy, but it is worth it! Always let your health care provider know what herbs or over the counter (OTC) medications you take. Some can have interactions with others. Natural DOES NOT mean safe! Are the combination products better than Valerian all by iteself? It looks like Valerian is probably as effective or more effective than the combination products. Keep this in mind, also: Whenever you add more herbs, medications or other products, you increase your risk of interactions between them. This is why the fewer medications (OTC, prescription, herbs...) you take, the lower the risk of problems. This is the same when you go to purchase some OTC cough and cold rememdies. Some are a combination of lots of stuff-watch out and avoid these. Just get what you need for your symptoms. Keep It Simple! 
Natural Medicines for Sleep How about chamomile tea? No doubt it can make you feel calm and relaxed. That is enough for some. Research hasn't shown that it is real beneficial for insomnia, though. Are you allergic to ragweed or something like ragweed? Be careful you may also be allergic to chamomile (Matricaria recutita). Key Note: Research is wonderful and important, BUT not everything has been studied extensively (good research numerous times). When I tell you about research, it may be limited. This might mean that a product may be more beneficial than research currently shows AND it might mean that it can be more harmful. Listen to your body and do your homework. If you look up a product, look at reputable sources-not just someone who wants to sell you something. 
Natural Medicines for Sleep Passionflower (Passiflora incarnata) was off the US market for awhile because of limited information about how effective and safe it was. It's back. You might see it sold as a dietary supplement-usually as a tea. Although it does seem to cause some sleepiness, there still isn't scientific evidence to show that it is helpful for people who have insomnia. It sure is a pretty flower, though, isn't it? Too bad we don't know about how safe it is. Natural Medicines for Sleep Kava (piper methysticum) is a popular remedy for anxiety, and some (okay, many) use it for sleep problems. Many people with anxiety know about Kava because it does seem to help lower anxiety in some people. It can also make you drowsy, though.
Natural Medicines for Sleep Although Benadryl (diphenhydramine) and Sominex are not 'natural' they are over the counter medicines that are taken for allergies. People take them for sleep problems because they cause drowsiness. Some even combine it with wine to really get knocked out.
How about Melatonin? That has to be safe, right? Melatonin is a naturally occuring hormone, but actual effectiveness is not really known. Melatonin might be a good choice for older people because the natural melatonin in the body might be low. If you take it, shoot for a dose of between 0.3mg and 5mg a night. Use it short term only, and if you don't have good results after a few weeks you may as well give it up. It probably isn't going to work for you. Is Melatonin safe long term? We don't really know. So, avoid long term use until more is known. Do you have trouble falling asleep, but once you are asleep, you are fine? Immediate-release melatonin should be tried first. It works faster and stays in your system a shorter time. Do you have trouble staying asleep? Sustained-release can be tried. It stays in your system a bit longer and might just help you stay asleep. You may build a reliance on them, and find that you can't sleep without them. This is not good. I wish there was a natural product I could suggest for you to discuss with your health care provider, but there just isn't enough reliable information out there.
The newer non-benzodiazepine drugs like Ambien might be recommended. People seem to do well with them (although there are reports of sleep walking and other strange sleep behaviors.
Why can't you sleep? There can be a variety of causes for insomnia. Natural Sleep-Ah, that sounds good! Sign me Up! Take me back to Naturally-Holistic.net Home Page Disclaimer: Material provided on Naturally-Holistic.net website is provided for educational purposes only. It is not intended to treat, diagnose, cure, or prevent any disease. Always take the advice of your doctor before undertaking any diet, exercise, or other health program. We will not be liable for any complications, or other medical accidents arising from the use of any information on this web site.
|
