Some of the most common causes of insomnia are as follows:
- Psychological factors
- Substance abuse
- Drug side effects
- Asthma
- Inadequate sleep
- Stress
In recent statistics, the NIH calculated that fifty to seventy million Americans have sleep-related disorders. About 25% of the elderly and nearly 10% of the general population suffer from insomnia.
Practicing good sleeping habits is the key to the success of insomnia treatments and natural sleep aids are as follows:
- Never take afternoon naps more than an hour
- Regular exercise
- Use your bed only when sleeping
- Do not drink alcohol, coffee or tea before bed time
- Never smoke at night
- Do not go to bed with empty stomach
- Relax for an hour before sleeping
- Do not take sleeping pills unless prescribed by doctors
Sleeping pills can be dangerous and they can also lose their effect after several weeks which can lead to loss of sleep again. Always prefer for the natural sleep aids.
Also, provided below are the some of the natural sleep aids and complementary medicine:
Relaxation techniques and hypnotherapy
This is a very useful help for people with insomnia. It is highly recommended that people should learn relaxation techniques since it can help to have a deep sleep.
Herbal cures
It includes chamomile and other herbal medicines since it has a relaxing effect. A cup of chamomile tea an hour before bed time is strictly recommended while the herbs hop and valerian also have a beneficial calming effect which can also be used to treat insomnia. Drinking herbal tea is much safer and more effective than drugs whether the insomnia is mild or moderate.
Aromatherapy
This is very helpful in treating insomnia. Lavender contains sedative and calming effect. The oil can be added in bath or take a light massage with some.
Although, the above said natural sleep aids came from nature, it is still best to consult a health care professional before taking any natural treatments especially if the insomnia is severe. It is important to know the main cause and best cure for the sleep disorder to avoid harmful effects which can be brought by bad medications.
