Homemade Insomnia Remedies

Having trouble falling asleep at night or sleeping through the night is one of the most common sleep problems facing Americans. It is estimated that one third of the US populations is not getting enough quality sleep. Everyone experiences sleep disturbances once in a while. They are usually linked to an increased level of stress. Normally these disrupted sleep patterns diminish as the stress fades. But sleep problems that extend to one month or longer are classified as chronic insomnia. While not a disease on its own, insomnia is linked to serious illnesses such as heart disease and depression. People who suffer from chronic insomnia are also more accident prone, especially behind the wheel. For many, the only option for treatment seems to be addictive medications that come with troubling side effects. But Dr. Jacob Teitelbaum, author of "From Fatigued to Fantastic" and medical director of the national Fibromyalgia and Fatigue Centers, offers some remedies for insomnia that do not carry the undesirable side effects of prescription medications.

• Magnesium and Calcium. Both magnesium and calcium have been proven to help with sleep. When taken together they become powerful tools in fighting insomnia. IT is also beneficial to take these two supplements together because heart problems may occur when calcium is taken alone. Dr. Teitelbaum recommends taking 200 milligrams of magnesium and 600 milligrams of calcium nightly before bed.
• Wild Lettuce. Wild lettuce is a supplement usually used by suffers of anxiety, restlessness, headaches and chronic muscle or joint pain. Because of its calming effects, wild lettuce can also be used to help induce sleep.
• Hops. Hops are the female flower clusters produced by the hop plant. Beer drinkers are most familiar hops' sedative. However, hops in pill form are also recommended as an herbal remedy for headaches, anxiety, restlessness and joint or muscle aches. Because of its sedative effects, hops can be used for relief from insomnia. An alternative to taking hops supplements is to sleep on a pillow containing hops flowers. The aroma of the flower is thought to have a calming and sedative effect.
• Aromatherapy. Several herbs are recommended for use in aromatherapy because of their calming properties. Perhaps the most popular is lavender. It can be used in a warm bath right before bedtime or placed inside a pillow. It can also be applied directly to the skin as an oil or lotion. Other calming scents used in aromatherapy include chamomile, bergamot, cedarwood, clary sage, frankincense, geranium, jasmine and sandalwood.

Someone suffering from insomnia is battling more than just daily fatigue. Because serious medical conditions are linked to insomnia it is worth the research to learn about the causes and possible remedies in order to keep your health in check and live a full and productive life.