Alternative Treatments for Insomnia

Alternative Treatments for Insomnia
Are you experiencing inadequate or poor-quality sleep
caused by a difficulty in falling asleep and staying
asleep, as well as waking up too early?

Do you feel restless, unrefreshed and even tired upon
waking up in the morning?

If so, you may have insomnia. Following are several
"alternative therapies" for insomnia that you can use to
get the necessary sleep you crave.

Through the years, treating insomnia with home cures or
natural approaches has proven effective with many sufferers.

Western medicine does not consider these "cures" as
scientific. Yet, many of these non-medicinal approaches
have succeeded in eliminating, if not alleviating, sleep
disorders.

Here are some of the most popular as revealed in "The Cure
for Insomnia" ebook available at
http://www.isolatedinsomniacs.com/insomnia.html

* Home Remedies

For over thousands of years, many popular remedies have
been used to cure insomnia. Although unscientific and
sometimes questionable and harmful, some of these attempts
do produce effective solutions to some patients.

Some home remedies involve behavioral approaches, such as
taking a half-hour exercise in the afternoon, taking a warm
bath at night, drinking warm milk before retiring for bed,
avoiding stimulating activities at night, getting up and
going to bed at reasonable hours.

Tryptophan is a natural sedative and warm milk contains
high levels of it. Some oils such as lavender oil, and
herbs such as chamomile, hops, and passion-flower, also
promote restfulness.

* Traditional Chinese Medicine

For thousands of years, traditional Chinese medicine
practitioners have been using a variety of approaches to
insomnia treatment. These include the use of herbs,
acupuncture, and dietary and lifestyle management. It is
believed these techniques rebalance the body's energies
that help solve the problem.

* Acupuncture

Serotonin is a chemical in the brain that helps sleep. The
ancient Chinese treatment of acupuncture stimulates the
production of serotonin.

With acupuncture, small sterile needles are inserted into
specific points in the body. It has proven to have a
calming effect on the nervous system and alleviates the
imbalances that cause insomnia.

Acupuncture is known to have no harmful side effects.
Acupuncture not only improves sleep. Many patients also
experience overall improvement in their health and energy
level as well as a greater sense of general well-being.

* Massage

Massage involves gentle physical stimulation techniques on
tissues that enhance relaxation and improve sleep patterns.

The skin is the largest sensory organ of the body, and
massage stimulates the release of endorphins, sometimes
called "feel good" hormones. Although it typically takes 15
minutes or longer to produce results, the relaxing and
"feel good" effects of massage can last up to 48 hours for
better quality sleep.

In addition to improving sleep quality, massage also
reduces anxiety, creates a more stable mood, and increases
one's mental capacity.

One of the simplest and most effective ways to induce sleep
is to rub some warm essential oils on the scalp and the
soles of the feet before going to bed.

There are many kinds of oils, but the ones most commonly
used are sesame oil, brahmi oil, jasmine oil, cow's ghee or
jatamatnsi oil.

* Behavioral Approaches

Relaxation and restful sleep are most often achieved
through a number of behavioral methods. These are known to
be very effective in cases of primary chronic insomnia.

Behavioral methods act faster and are used with insomnia
sufferers of any age group. Among the behavioral methods
that are commonly used are:

* Stimulus control

The bed is only for sleeping and/or sex. This idea serves
as the stimulus that controls when you go to bed. It is the
standard treatment for primary chronic insomnia and may
also be considered for curing secondary insomnia as well.
The primary goal of stimulus control is to regain the idea
that the bed is for sleeping.

The basic rules to follow are to avoid naps, going to bed
only when ready, getting up and doing something if unable
to sleep in 20 minutes, and adhering to a regular wake-up
time regardless of the number of hours slept.

* Progressive muscle relaxation

This may be used for older patients and some patients who
have secondary insomnia associated with a medical or
psychiatric condition. It helps induce sleep, but its
effectiveness during daytime functioning is not yet clear.

This technique involves sequentially focusing on a muscle
group (e.g., starting with muscles in one foot), inhaling
and tensing the muscle group for eight seconds until mildly
painful, then exhaling and relaxing the muscle for 15
seconds. It is important to do this technique gently so as
to avoid severe muscle contractions.

To learn more about insomnia, including its causes,
symptoms, drug treatments, support groups and much more,
read "The Cure for Insomnia" ebook available at
http://www.isolatedinsomniacs.com/insomnia.html

----------------------------------------------------
John Barrie, Author of "The Cure for Insomnia" has first
hand experience when it comes to sleepless nights,
helplessness, loneliness and resorting to such remedies as
sleeping pills. During this time, John researched insomnia
in more depth and discovered the secrets that enabled him
to conquer this vicious condition and regain his energy and
focus.
http://www.isolatedinsomniacs.com/insomnia.html