The importance of sufficient sleep isn’t lost on anyone. We all know that our minds and bodies need to rest to function properly, but some people have to face disorders like insomnia which make sleeping very challenging.
According to statistics, about ten percent of adults in the US are affected by long term chronic insomnia; moreover, about 33 per cent have to face brief symptoms of insomnia.
Insomnia itself is very detrimental as it diminishes the productivity of your immune system and increases your productivity as well, moreover, it also leads to numerous severe diseases that damage our mind and body.
Most commonly, people turn toward sleeping pills to cure insomnia. Pharmaceutical pills may seem like a viable solution right now, but over the long run, they are more harmful than helpful. Like almost every other pharmaceutical drug, sleeping pills also have various side effects. Moreover, as you keep taking the drug, your body builds a tolerance against it, which means that you will need to up the dosage, and higher doses mean more side-effects
Therefore, in today’s post, we are going to mention some of the most effective natural ways in which you can treat insomnia.
Eliminate stress:
Stress is quite unhealthy on its own, but it also leads to many severe diseases that can actively take years off of your life. Stress leads to diseases like depression, cardiovascular disorders, high blood pressure, diabetes and even insomnia.
Insomnia and stress have a very paradoxical relation, as increased stress is one of the leading causes of insomnia, and insomnia also leads to more stress.
Hence, controlling stress is essential, as if you don’t, you will fall down a very slippery slope of alternating tension and insomnia.
Therefore, apply different stress countering techniques, to improve your health and cure insomnia as well.
Try using cannabis:
Cannabis is one of the most prevalent drugs that doesn’t require any introduction. Though it is more popular for its recreational use, cannabis also has tons of medicinal benefits, one of which is providing relief from insomnia.
Firstly, cannabis is one of the best natural and side-effect free treatments for stress. Cannabis can interact with the endocannabinoid system of the body and trigger the release of certain hormones like dopamine and serotonin that uplift your mood.
Secondly, cannabis relaxes your mind and body, which helps you doze off; however, make sure that you use the right strain. THC dominant Indica strains are better for treating insomnia, as some Sativa strains can actually make you energetic and creative instead of sleepy.
Therefore, as weed is legal in the US and Canada, give it a try before you sleep.
Get a massage:
Massage therapy has various advantages, one of which is helping us sleep. Specific massage techniques can trigger our hormonal system and cause hormones like melatonin to be released in our body. Moreover, massage is also an effective treatment for stress and anxiety, which aids in the improvement of our sleep cycle as well.
However, it is quite impossible to get a massage therapist to help you sleep every other night. Therefore, consider investing in a massage chair which you can place in your room. Sitting in the massage chair for half an hour can help you relax and eliminate stress, which results in deeper and better sleep.
Improve your diet:
Obviously, our diet is impactful on every aspect of our mental and physical health. When it comes to sleep our diet also plays a very significant role. According to studies, foods that are rich in carbohydrates can increase the risk of insomnia. These include, foods with added sugar, rice, white bread and soda. Moreover, unhealthy fried foods can disrupt the digestive system, which can make it challenging to snooze off.
One the other hand, there are certain foods that you can add to your diet to improve your sleep. Here are some foods that you should try.
- Bananas
- Walnuts
- Foods rich in magnesium
- Basil
- Cherry juice
Improving your eating routine:
Experts suggest that you shouldn’t eat anything at least an hour before it is time to go to sleep. When we eat something, our body starts to work to digest it, which can disrupt our sleep.
Therefore, eat dinner at least a couple of hours before it is time to sleep so that your body can have time to digest it before you hit the bed.
Don’t use bright screen before going to bed:
Our body has an internal clock, which is regulated by our habits and our surroundings; however, the most prominent feature that controls our internal clock is light. When our surroundings are bright, our brain knows that it is time to get active, and when the sun goes down, and it starts to get dark, our bodies begin to release sleep hormones.
However, if you stare at your phone or a laptop screen before you sleep, your brain does not get in the mood for sleep, therefore, avoid using any bright screens for at least an hour before you go to sleep.
Avoid drinking at night:
There is no doubt that drinking is bad for us, and apart from many other adverse effects, it can also disrupt our sleep. Though you may think that a little alcohol may help you combat stress, it can damage your sleep quality as you start to get sober and have hangover symptoms. Therefore, avoid drinking late at night.
Try some natural sleep-inducing supplements:
Since sleeping pills aren’t a suitable option for the long run, you should check out some natural supplements that are known to help you sleep. Here is a list of some natural herbs that you should try.
- Chamomile tea
- St. John’s wort
- Valerian
- Passionflower
To sum it all up, six to eight hours of sleep in every 24 hours is essential for every human being; however, some people aren’t able to get sufficient sleep because of insomnia. The lack of sleep can have numerous adverse effects on our mind and body; therefore, we have mentioned some natural ways to treat insomnia that are effective alternatives to sleeping pills. We hope that you find this post helpful and informative.
Author Bio:
Samantha is an expert when it comes to providing remedies for physical and mental well-being. However, she is fond of writing regardless of what she writes about. She believes that she can influence people and their lives with her opinion and knowledge. To read her write-ups visit https://cannabismo.org/