What Are Some Natural Cures for Insomnia?

When looking at natural cures for insomnia, there are some surprisingly effective and easy treatment options available. Many people with insomnia worry that only heavy medications like sleeping pills and prescription SSRI’s can offer them relief. However, there are actually a number of natural remedies that have been shown to have amazing results for people with sleeping problems.

Eating Right

One of the most overlooked natural cures for insomnia is simply paying attention to your diet. Everything you put into your body has an effect, and that includes your food. Many people are unaware, but there are certain foods you can add or remove from your diet that will change your sleeping patterns. Some dietary changes to consider include:

• Avoiding Sweets – Sugar not only gives a burst of energy, but it can also disrupt blood sugar levels. As blood sugar levels fall, your sleep can be disrupted. If you don’t want to cut out sweets altogether, try limiting yourself to no sugar after 5:00PM. This will give your body time to even out before bed, so that you can have a sounder night’s sleep. 

• Eating Magnesium Rich Foods – Magnesium deficiency can be an underlying issue for many insomnia sufferers. Research has shown that it’s a natural sedative and plays a critical role in sleep regulation. Dark leafy greens, nuts, seeds, and whole grains are all excellent sources of magnesium. 

• Getting Enough Calcium – Like magnesium, calcium also plays a vital role in the sleep schedule, particularly during the deepest levels like REM sleep. The absence of deep sleep has been linked to calcium deficiency. Adding foods like milk, cheese, and yogurt can help you restore proper levels of calcium in the body. 

Dietary Supplements

There are a number of dietary supplements commonly used as natural cures for insomnia, such as melatonin and chamomile. As supplements will not have the same effect on everyone, it is suggested that you experiment with a number of natural cures to find out what works best for your body. Some effective but less widely known sleep-aid supplements include:

• Wild Lettuce – This supplement has been used for its medicinal properties since ancient Egypt. It can treat headaches, chronic pain, anxiety, and insomnia. It is effective in calming restlessness and can be a powerful sleep aid.  

• L-theanine – Found in green tea leaves, this amino acid helps relieve anxiety that disrupts normal sleeping patterns. By increasing serotonin, L-theanine increases feelings of wellbeing and induces brain waves that correspond with relaxation. It can also lower your heart rate and reduce responses to stress. However, it may interfere with certain prescription medications, so consult your doctor first. 

Determining Effective Treatment

Aside from adding supplements and monitoring your diet, there are a number of other natural cures for insomnia. Therapy has emerged as a very promising avenue of natural insomnia treatment. Cognitive-behavorial therapy can help patients change sleep-related behaviors that might be causing insomnia. Neurofeedback therapy uses computers to guide wayward brainwaves back to healthy patterns. This side effect free therapy has been shown effective in treating many neurological conditions including chronic pain, headaches, anxiety and insomnia. If you’d like to learn about neurofeedback, you can read more here. By exposing yourself to a wide range of treatment options you will be able to find the most effective relief for your insomnia.