| We all know how hard a day can be when you | | | | herbal remedies or meditation could help alleviate |
| didn't get quality sleep the night before. It is | | | | your problem. One important point to keep in |
| horrible lying in bed tossing and turning, watching | | | | mind is that if you are on medication do not take |
| the clock, praying you will fall asleep soon. It is | | | | herbs without speaking to your doctor or |
| normal for everyone to occasionally have trouble | | | | homeopathic professional first. Certain medications |
| falling asleep, but when it starts to affect your life | | | | may potentially interact with herbal supplements |
| it is time to see your doctor. | | | | and deem them ineffective or increase the herbs' |
| Insomnia can be transient, lasting a few weeks or | | | | potency. |
| just a few days. Intermittent insomnia is | | | | As with any physical condition, diet and exercise |
| short-term and happens from time to time. | | | | can be highly beneficial. Following a low fat, low |
| Chronic insomnia occurs three nights a week or | | | | sugar diet and controlling caffeine and alcohol could |
| more for a month or longer. The chronic form of | | | | be important in curing your insomnia. At the very |
| insomnia is classified as primary or secondary. | | | | least, trying some natural approaches first could |
| Primary insomnia has no relation to health | | | | prevent the need for synthetic medicine. Reach |
| problems while secondary insomnia can be caused | | | | out to your physician or healthcare provider for |
| by a medical condition such as asthma, arthritis, | | | | lifestyle changes that might potentially help you |
| cancer, depression or stress. Generally, men | | | | sleep. Spend some time researching herbal |
| suffer from insomnia less than women and this is | | | | alternatives as herbs tend to have fewer and less |
| believed to be due to social pressures on women | | | | severe side effects when used correctly. Sign up |
| like divorce or unemployment. Occasionally, | | | | for a meditation course or try yoga. Eastern |
| pre-menopausal women have problems falling | | | | medicine has dealt with insomnia for centuries and |
| asleep and staying asleep. | | | | might have something to teach us. |
| It is a good idea to keep a sleep diary of your | | | | To avoid insomnia try keeping your bedroom dark |
| daily sleep patterns, how you feel during the day | | | | and quiet and if noise is a problem, there are |
| and your daily routine to show your physician or | | | | white noise machines on the market to provide |
| alternative care professional. There are some | | | | background noise to help you sleep. Making a |
| obvious culprits such as caffeine and sugar that | | | | nightly bedtime ritual can help, such as having a |
| keep our bodies awake long after we are ready | | | | glass of chamomile tea, a hot bath or listening to |
| to sleep. For mild cases of insomnia try a | | | | soothing music. Writing in a journal at the end of |
| reduction or elimination of caffeine and sugar. | | | | the day can help empty your mind of the day's |
| There are many new sleeping pills on the market, | | | | activities and stimulus and allow you to focus on |
| but as with all prescription medicine there are | | | | sleep. |
| many side effects. Relaxation therapy may help | | | | Note: Statements in this article may not be |
| clear your mind and assist in falling asleep. If you | | | | approved by the FDA, and should not be |
| have mild to moderate insomnia trying some | | | | considered as professional medical advice. |