| Do we get enough sleep? To add to the | | | | include additional health foods such as sprouted |
| disturbing numbers of people suffering from | | | | seeds, seaweed, and a variety of herbs that are |
| mental disease as well as physical ill health are | | | | proven traditional tonics such as rosemary, thyme |
| those who are unable to function to their full | | | | and . We should also include supplements that |
| potential because of sleep deprivation. This has | | | | directly improve brain function, nervous system |
| recently received focus in the media and claimed | | | | and assist our mental health include the four 'g's - |
| as one of the main causes of disease, both | | | | ginkgo, garlic, ginseng, and ginger. Exercising is |
| physical and mental. | | | | extremely important, as is proper respiration. As |
| Where it has been considered that eight hours | | | | important of course is the need to practise self |
| sleep is the requirement for an adult to undergo | | | | culture and control of our bad habits of anger, |
| physical and mental refreshment, it is common to | | | | anxiety and to reduce needless psychological |
| find that many are in the habit of perhaps | | | | stress. These and other natural improvements will |
| sleeping only six hours. Individuals do seem to | | | | help us to retain a healthy mind and preserve vital |
| vary in their need for sleep, but the 'average' | | | | faculties that will continue to serve us well for our |
| number eight is the result of considerable | | | | whole lifetime. |
| research. | | | | However, alongside our efforts to improve our |
| If sleep deprivation is as serious as being now | | | | health or situation, we must always attend to the |
| presented, it should certainly be classed as one of | | | | elimination of the negative factors that are |
| the most important factors that must be | | | | responsible for undermining our health. These |
| immediately redressed if we wish to avoid heart | | | | include pollution of all kinds, physical and |
| disease, cancer, depression, dementia and all other | | | | psychological. We have to create a good |
| serious diseases. Not only is it pointing to the need | | | | environment, not only for our physical |
| for personal attention to the health of workers | | | | surroundings, but for our emotional and mental life |
| but it is also a serious concern for employers who | | | | as well. No more anger, violence, and distortion |
| expect a high degree of alertness from their | | | | but rather increase mental calmness that gives us |
| staff. | | | | self control, and harmony and beauty instead of |
| In Australia the symptoms of mental disease such | | | | noise and ugliness. This is particularly important as |
| as depression and dementia in the community are | | | | the cruelty, the monsters ,the noises and the |
| continuing to increase at an alarming rate. Some | | | | violence that are fast becoming featured in our |
| reports indicate about fifty new cases being | | | | modern lifestyles are so damaging to us all, but |
| diagnosed each day. Others claim the ratio is now | | | | particularly the sensitive senses and nervous |
| one in five people suffer mental disorders such as | | | | systems of children. |
| mild, moderate or clinical states of depression or | | | | Sleep plays a vital part in keeping us well. We will |
| early signs of Alzheimer's disease in failing | | | | usually feel more positive and cheerful after a |
| memory and reduction of mental faculties. In | | | | good night's sleep enough to enjoy the early |
| addition we have children with autism and other | | | | morning awakening of the natural world as well as |
| once rare diseases needing special care in the | | | | our own as we just take a moment to appreciate |
| community. | | | | the gift of life. |
| The existence of so much mental stress and | | | | Although some claim that in older age one needs |
| disease indicates an urgent need for us to take | | | | less sleep, for many healthy aged people, sleep is |
| stock of our own health regime in order to avoid | | | | enjoyed as the restorer of the body, brain and |
| adding to the existent statistics. | | | | soul, to stall the likelihood of any loss of faculties |
| If we already realise we suffer from chronic | | | | or symptoms of brain deterioration. |
| fatigue the first adjustment would possibly be to | | | | If we are forced by circumstance to cut down on |
| get better hours of quality sleep. Our nutrition | | | | our number of sleeping hours we can always |
| should be improved to include more fresh fruit, | | | | extract real benefit from short 'cat naps', brief |
| vegetables, nuts and grains and to avoid | | | | relaxation time or periods of meditation that will |
| processed or commercially prepared food and | | | | often work wonders. |