Just what is it that makes us sleep? What a great question! So
if only researchers could pinpoint the answer then perhaps all
the companies that manufacturer insomnia medications would be
out of business.

It really doesn’t matter to whom you ask what it is that makes
us sleep, but one thing is for sure and that is you will get a
range of answers.

While there are some of us who must have a comfortable bed and
a quiet bedroom, there are others who simply believe that the
body will sleep when you are tired enough and actually in need
of sleep. Many people would say that a big, fat, hearty meal
would cause you to sleep. But guess what folks, the actual
answer to this question is that you sleep when the natural
hormone melatonin is released.

The hormone melatonin is secreted from a gland located at the
base of the brain called the pineal gland. Melatonin is
secreted at various levels all day long. The varying levels of
melatonin which are present in your body at any given time
helps your body to regulate your body’s natural sleep-wake
cycle. So think about it, the tiny pineal gland is responsible
for your night of restful sleep or lack thereof. The pineal
gland and the melatonin it secretes helps to regulate your
internal body clock, which then helps to keep the body in a
state of chemical balance that impact the body in many
different ways.

For example, there is a correlation between the release of
melatonin and the body’s temperature, both of which are
controlled by the body’s circadian rhythm. Melatonin levels and
your body’s temperature are both actually lower during the
daytime but they gradually increase as evening approaches and
as you might have suspected, your body’s temperature and
melatonin levels reaching their highest levels during nighttime
sleeping which makes the most sense.

The pineal gland is stimulated by sunset and darkness which is
you’re your melatonin levels increase as darkness falls. But
the opposite is true during the daytime hours, which is when
you will find that your melatonin levels are barely traceable.
But, as daytime turns into night, the pineal gland begins to
release additional melatonin into the bloodstream. You can
almost feel the sleepiness creeping in as your melatonin level
increases. By this time your eyelids should be feeling heavy
and your body should feel tired. Another thing that happens as
your body gets ready for sleep is to actually lower your blood
pressure. This process continues as the melatonin in your
bloodstream continues to increase until it peaks in the wee
hours of the morning around 3 or 4 AM. And then you must
realize what a miraculous thing your body is, since as the
levels peak, they then begin to decline which helps you to
being to wake up.

Of course, anything that disrupts the normal release cycle of
melatonin can also disrupt your sleep patterns. If your body
senses lower levels of melatonin then your body will begin to
wake you up and prepare for the daytime.

So, although it is probably not the thing you obsess over,
knowing what triggers the sleep cycle is an important piece of
knowledge which can help you get a restful night’s sleep.
Melatonin definitely plays a critical role in helping you to
consistently enjoy a restful night’s sleep. So supplementing
with melatonin might be something to consider if you are
fighting insomnia. Talk with your physician to see if this
might be something that could be helpful to you.

About The Author: For more important information on getting a
good night’s sleep be sure to visit http://www.sleep-good.com
where you will find advice and tips on sleep habits, insomnia,
sleep apnea and more

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Insomnia is lack of sleep due to the inability to initiate
and/or failure to maintain sleep and the feeling of being
unrefreshed the following day. Insomnia can be brought about by
different factors. The most common of which are:

=95Emotional factors: Stress, depression and psychological
disorders.

=95Environmental factors: Extremes in temperatures, noise,
noxious smell and unfamiliar places.

=95Medical disorders: Hyperthyroidism, sleep apnea, restless legs
syndrome, arthritis, ADHD, Parkinson’s disease, asthma, kidney
disease, heart problems, etc.

=95Use of caffeine, alcohol, nicotine.

=95Change in sleep/wake cycle: Jet lag, shifting work schedules.

Insomniacs are often irritable and fatigued. They exhibit poor
work performance and excessive drowsiness in the daytime. They
have trouble concentrating, may appear dazed and confused most
of the time, and gets a bit too forgetful.

Just by looking at the effects of sleeplessness, we know this
warrants treatment. The first step would be to have yourself
evaluated and see if there is an underlying disease process
that’s causing your insomnia. In transient insomnia, treatment
may not be necessary because our sleeping patterns have a way
of going back to normal. But if it is becoming chronic and is
affecting your activities of daily living, proper treatment is
certainly called for.

Resorting to sleeping pills to treat sleeping problems is only
beneficial if you are going to use it temporarily. The risk of
developing drug dependence is always there if you try using it
to cure insomnia. Here are some tips that will help you sleep
easier at night:

=95Maintain a clean, comfortable and well ventilated bedroom
conducive for sleeping. Avoid working, eating, or watching
shows on TV inside your bedroom. That way, your mind will
associate bedroom with sleeping.

=95Set a specific bedtime and wake-up time even on weekends to
get your body accustomed to a regular sleep/wake cycle. Turn
off the lights when you sleep and expose yourself to day light
when you wake up, this can help with sleep/wake cycle you are
trying to establish. Avoid daytime naps to make it easier for
you to sleep at night.

=95Stay away from alcohol, nicotine and caffeine. Coffee, cola,
tea and chocolates are caffeine-containing foods.

=95Watch what you eat. Avoid heavy meals, spicy foods and sweets
for dinner. A glass of warm milk without sugar will help.

=95Regular exercise in the daytime will help you sleep soundly at
night. Body massages and a warm bath before bedtime also helps.

If you think you need more than the conventional methods
mentioned above, try these alternative treatments commonly used
to treat insomnia:

=95Hypnosis CDs. These are currently gaining popularity. These
CDs contain soft music and ambient sounds that promote
relaxation.

=95Meditation. Whether though guided imagery or yoga, the intent
is to soothe the mind and body and relieve stress and promote
relaxation.

=95Accupuncture. This is a branch of oriental medicine that tries
to treat insomnia by primarily dealing with the imbalances in
the internal organs that is causing the sleeping problem.

=95Home remedies. Onion is a highly effective treatment for
sleeplessness. Slice it, hold it under your nose, smell it,
then climb to bed. Just try it. Keep a jar of it at the bedside
in case you wake up in the middle of the night. Tart cherry,
another natural cure for insomnia, is also making a name for
itself. It contains the substance, melatonin, which helps
improve quality of sleep. A cup of lavender tea and chamomile
oil for aromatherapy is also relaxing. California poppy,
passionflower and valerian are herbs that can make you sleep as
well. They act on our body like benzodiazepines. But be careful,
they are just as addicting.

The next time you find yourself tossing and turning in bed, try
not to reach for that sedative and save yourself the trouble of
going through withdrawal syndromes. There are other ways of
keeping yourself sharp and radiant the next day. And if the
insomnia continues, see your doctor. A physical or
psychological disorder might be causing it. The best way to
deal with a problem is to understand what is causing it and
start from there.

About The Author: Damien Johnson provides advice for sleep
disorders such as Insomnia, Sleep Apnea, and overall better
sleep habits at http://www.StopSleepDisorders.com.

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One of the first things you must do when trying to prevent
insomnia is to work aggressively to improve your sleep habits.

For example, self hypnosis, relaxation breathing, and
biofeedback are often helpful options that can lead you to
relaxation and a more restful sleep.

Establish a set bedtime routine.

Regardless of whether it is the weekend or the work day, get up
at the same time and go to bed at the same time.

This helps your body to set a more scheduled internal clock
which will enhance your ability to sleep better more
consistently.

Control your environment.

Get rid of the excessive light pushing through the windows,
eliminate irritating bedroom noises, and rid yourself of
uncomfortable room temperatures.

Remember the bed should only be used for sex and for sleep,
absolutely nothing else. Avoid using the bed to watch
television or to read. These activities should be conducted in
a chair or on the couch, but avoid doing these in the bedroom.
Your bed is for sleep.

If you don’t fall asleep within 30 minutes of lying down, get
up out of bed.

Try a relaxing activity such as listening to soothing music or
even repeating your nighttime routine. You might also find that
a nighttime snack is helpful for the prevention of insomnia. It
might also be helpful if you avoid taking a nap during the day.

There are special situations that can cause insomnia that
require some less common insomnia prevention tips.

For example insomnia from jet lag and can be particularly
irritating. In this case, insomnia prevention can be helpful if
you intentionally began to alter your bedtime to coincide with
the time schedule of your predetermined destination.

Insomnia associated with working swing shifts also benefits
from insomnia prevention tips.

It is important to establish good sleep habits with a regularly
scheduled time to go to bed and a regularly timed schedule to
get up. Many people find it is also helpful to keep this same
schedule even on their days off.

Some shift workers also find insomnia prevention is working
when they take a quick nap prior to working the swing shift.

Remember the prevention of insomnia is your goal here. You
often have to find which combination of suggestions work best
for you. Don’t get discouraged if you have to try more than one
suggestion. That is not uncommon.

After all it really doesn’t matter what combination of insomnia
prevention tips works for you, what really matters is that
something works.

Happy insomnia free nights!

About The Author: For more important information on health
topics sure to visit http://www.the-health-hub.com where you
will find information and resources on personal health such as
aches & pains, conditions & diseases, diet & nutrition, fitness
and many other articles that you can view at
http://the-health-hub.com

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This sleep disorder is known as insomnia. Insomnia keeps you
from feeling refreshed even after a full night of sleep.

When suffering from insomnia you may experience difficulty with
falling asleep or staying asleep, waking up too early or a
general overall poor quality of sleep.

It is rather common for those suffering from insomnia to
frequently feel irritated, tired, frustrated and overall
grumpy.

In 2006 the Food and Drug Administration approved Rozerem
(ramelteon) at the 8 mg dosage for use in the treatment of both
acute and chronic insomnia.

Rozerem is the very first insomnia treatment medication on the
market that acts as a melatonin receptor agonist. Melatonin is
thought to be involved in the maintenance the circadian rhythm
which is the foundation of the normal sleep and wake cycle.

Rozerem targets two receptors, the MT1 or the MT2, in the
suprachiasmatic nucleus, which controls the circadian rhythm.
One of the best qualities of this insomnia medication is that
it was not identified by the FDA as a controlled substance.

This is an important differentiation between Rozerem and other
sleep medications on the market.

Another important hallmark of Rozerem is that clinical trials
have indicated no evidence that patients become dependent on or
abusive of the drug.

Rozerem also does not have a limitation for the duration of its
use. Again, this is an important distinction since many
insomnia drugs are indicated for use during a seven to ten day
period only because of the potential for drug dependency.

Rozerem should be taken 30 minutes before bedtime and in most
people is very well tolerated.

Most common side effects associated with this insomnia
medication were reported to be dizziness, fatigue, and
somnolence.

A couple of important things to remember with the use of this
drug are that it should not be used if you have a serious liver
condition because it is metabolized by the liver.

It should also be used carefully in patients suffering with
depression because of the possibility of worsening symptoms.
Rozerem should also not be used if you are taking Fluvoxamine
due to adverse reactions.

Rozerem is just one of the many insomnia medications available
on the market today. It is important that you discuss with
your health care provider if prescription medications are right
to treat your insomnia.

Rozerem has demonstrated in research studies to be
non-addictive and has not been labeled by the FDA as a
controlled substance. Both of these findings seem to be
contributing to the popularity of Rozerem as a new insomnia
treatment.

About The Author: For more important information on getting a
good night’s sleep be sure to visit http://www.sleep-good.com
where you will find advice and tips on sleep habits, insomnia,
sleep apnea and more

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Coffee After Dinner – A No-No

Many people like to drink coffee after large meals, especially
dinner. Waiters will often ask if you want coffee after your
dinner. Digestion takes up energy and people often become tired
after they eat. For this reason, people drink coffee to perk
themselve up. However, having this cup of coffee, or two or
three, after dinner can mess up your sleeping schedule. That
very cup of coffee could be the cause of your insomnia. With
all of that caffeine surging through your body, there’s no way
that you can lay down and fall asleep peacefully. Your heart
and head are racing and your legs feel as though there are
things crawling underneath them. You’re up and you’re ready to
go, even though you know that you should be winding down so
that your body can fully recharge.

That’s what sleep is. Sleep is your body’s way of recharging
after a day of many activity. Your body requires good sleep and
without quality sleep, your body will literally weaken and
whither away. You will become absent minded, unable to complete
thoughts and your body will literally feel drained out all the
time. If you do suffer from this sleeping disorder, it’s
important to find out if what you consume, such as caffeine is
the main cause of your insomnia.

If you are reading this, and you think coffee may be the cause
of your insomnia, try switching to decaf type. Or, if you need
your coffee in the morning for fear of going postal on everyone
around you, try switching to decaf at night instead, if you are
a night coffee drinker.

It should be noted that even decaf has a slight amount of
caffeine in it but it’s a good alternative to drinking full
strength right before youto be go to bed. Insomnia sounds good
to some, imagine all you can get done when you’re not bothered
by sleep! However, it’s not good at all. The less sleep you
get, the less you are able to function efficiently.

So, if you think coffee is the cause of your insomnia, skip
that last cup of coffee after dinner and get some sleep. You
can have all the coffee you can drink when you wake up in the
morning after a good long night’s sleep.

About The Author: Tangopang is the author and editor of many
publications at http://www.insomiasite.com. Read about insomnia
alternative treatment at http://www.insomiasite.com

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In Ayurveda, bathing is a ritual designed to clean you inside
and out, and begins with the application of oil. Applying oil
to your skin lubricates, protects, detoxifies, and rejuvenates
your skin and nervous system, while soothing your endocrine
system. The oil helps loosen and liquefy ama so that the toxins
can drain into the body’s gastrointestinal tract for
elimination. It is an excellent antidote for modern stresses
and is said to help you achieve the balance that is the
foundation of spiritual development. As the body’s largest and
most sensitive organ, your skin deserves abhyanga every day.

In Ayurveda getting a massage or giving one to yourself is one
of the most effective and pleasant ways you can balance vata
and is a wonderful way to start the day. With regular practice
you’ll see why abhyanga is considered to be the crown jewel of
rejuvenation, prevention, and longevity. Sesame oil is
recommended for vata, pitta, and kapha types, and for healthy
people as well as those suffering from an illness. The only
exception is when your kapha is aggravated in this case you
should use a dry massage, described below. Be sure to get
cold-pressed organic oil from a health food store. Olive oil is
also acceptable, and coconut oil works well for pitta types.
Never use mineral oil or any other oil that is not digestible
(the skin is a digestive organ). It’s traditional to cook the
oil one time, heating it until it forms tiny bubbles. This is
said to cure the oil and prevent it from turning rancid.
Certain condi=ACtions respond best to medicated oils=97oils to
which special herbs and fragrant spices have been added, as
specified in the A=96Z section. Once you’ve been treating
yourself to abhyanga regularly, it’s hard to stop, and even
busy people manage to make time.

“If I get lazy or pressed for time and skip my daily abhyanga,
I really start to miss it. I feel scattered, less grounded,
less able to cope. I love the little pool of serenity it
creates in the morning . . . a quiet, sensual time just for
myself before I get swept up in the madness of the day. I think
what a different world it would be if everyone had v,p,k,
massage in the morning Copyright =A9 Dr.Helen Thomas 2007. All
rights reserved.

About The Author:
http://www.drhelenthomas.com/health_care/store/massage_oils_2.html
California License to Practice Chiropractic 1983 Bachelors From
California Institute of Integral Studies Focus Ayurveda Trained
In Practicing Ayurveda in California for fifteen years. First
Ayurved Formal education : Mah

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One of the best ways to combat chronic insomnia is with the
replacement of bad sleep habits with the good ones. The first
thing that needs to happen is the establishment of a regular
and structure sleeping schedule. Go to bed and rise at the same
time every day of the week, including weekends and days where
you do not have a place to be at a certain time. This
established periodic regularity will create a pattern in your
biochemical reactions that could contribute to a better
sleeping ideology within. Do not attempt to move your sleeping
patterns around without carefully establishing them with some
regularity, especially if you have chronic insomnia.

Other Factors To Consider

Another factor to consider in the fight against chronic
sleeping problem is to eliminate caffeine from your diet,
especially after noon. With this, you should also exercise
regularly. Regular exercise means a daily form of exertion that
will use up your body’s energy cells and require rest so as to
recuperate. You should not exercise too closely to your
established sleeping period time. As nicotine is a stimulant,
you should also consider giving up smoking for the benefits not
only of your health overall, but also to your chronic insomnia
and the symptoms that are related to it.

Try to use your bed only for sleep and sexual activity. If your
body begins to associate the bed with other things, such as
eating or reading, it may not know how to react (naturally)
when you are in it. Hopefully training your body to see the bed
as a place of sleep does not impede your sexual activity in bed
(that will be a disaster), but if it does you can try other
areas for that activity as well. Treating chronic insomnia is
about making compromises and tough decisions, and your sex life
may have to suffer for some time before it is actually cured.

About The Author: Tangopang is the author of many insomnia
publications at http://www.insomiasite.com. Sleep better at
Natural Home Remedy for Insomnia

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Is It Something You’re Doing?

Sometimes, insomnia is caused by what the person is doing.
That’s right, you could be causing your very own insomnia. The
reason you can’t sleep can be due to the fact that you’re
eating certain foods or maybe you’re drinking too much coffee.
Caffeine from coffee and other foods can keep you tossing and
turning, unable to sleep, so a good insomnia treatment would be
to try and eliminate such things from your diet. Experiment with
different foods and see if that helps relieve the insomnia
symptoms.

Another insomnia treatment that you can try is to get plenty of
exercise during the day. The more energy you use up during the
day, the less energy you’ll have at night. Your body will want
to rest, and finally you will eventually fall asleep. Try
taking up a sport or an exercise as an insomnia treatment. Look
at it this way, not only will you probably find sleep but you’ll
look and feel great too!

Stress and other emotional feelings can also cause insomnia,
too. If you have some event coming up that’s causing you
stress, anxiety or fear, try avoiding that situation
altogether, or try looking at it positively. Remember, these
are your own feelings and it’s up to you to relieve them. If
you’ve tried to alleviate them as part of an insomnia treatment
and you just can’t seem to get rid of them, try some stress
relief exercises, such as Yoga, Tai Chi or even meditation. Or,
just slowing down and taking a different outlook on life can do
wonders for your well being as well as your ability to get some
sleep.

If you’ve tried all of these insomnia treatment and nothing
seems to help at all, then it’s time to see your doctor. There
are many over the counter medicines that can help you fall
asleep. However, try the above insomnia treatments first before
the medicine. Most often, you’re wide awake night after night
because of something you’re doing. Pay attention to your daily
life routine and find out what’s keeping you from a nice,
restful sleep.

About The Author: Tangopang is the author and editor of many
publications at http://www.insomiasite.com. Read more about
Insomnia and Natural Remedy at http://www.insomiasite.com.

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What is Melatonin?

Melatonin is a hormone that makes you feel tired. Melatonin is
naturally made in the body by the pineal gland. It is produced
by the body during sleep and around the night hours to induce
sleep. The body produces less of it as we age, though, which
is thought to be directly related to age related insomnia.

Melatonin is a natural way to fight insomnia because it does
not have side effects and is all natural and safe. Yet, when
the body does not produce enough melatonin a person may start
to exhibit symptoms of insomnia. That is where the link
between cherries and insomnia come in.

Cherries and Insomnia

When a person’s body is not producing enough melatonin, they
may start to experience insomnia. Not knowing the cause, some
people typically reach for medications and other sleep aids to
get rid of the insomnia. Sleep aids can cause side effects and
many medications have been known to cause dependency, which can
be dangerous.

Cherries are packed with melatonin. The high concentration of
melatonin in cherries makes them very potent against insomnia.
In particular, it is the skin of the cherries that contains the
most benefit. Consequently, eating cherries is a natural way
to boost melatonin in the body and is a natural way to get
relief from insomnia. Instead of using pills, a person can
simply eat a few cherries and reap the same benefits without
the risks.

The Cherries and Insomnia Cure

Specifically, the best way to use cherries to fight insomnia is
to eat them right before going to sleep. Though there is no
definitive evidence to suggest the proper amount of cherries to
eat, researchers believe that a handful of cherries before
bedtime should be adequate to gain the benefits of the
melatonin.

Though cherries as a cure for insomnia may have never crossed
your mind, the research has shown that the high levels of
melatonin in cherries is more than enough to help people
suffering from insomnia. So, the next time you have a bit of
trouble sleeping, give cherries a try.

About The Author: Jonathan Townsend writes about The Link
Between Cherries and Insomnia for The Insomnia Project -
understanding the causes of and cures for insomnia -
http://www.theinsomniaproject.com/the-link-between-cherries-and-insomnia.ht
ml

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One particular insomnia treatment involves the examination of
environmental factors that may be causing your insomnia. For
those suffering through a stressful period of time – plagued by
work, finances, or emotional issues – insomnia can easily be the
result. Insomnia treatment in this instance involves the
reduction of as much stress as possible prior to sleep. Try
adopting a new nighttime routine that involves a long soak in a
hot bath, a cup of herbal tea, listening to soothing music, and
even meditation or stretching. Make your bedroom dark and
comfortable and retire only when you are ready to sleep. Avoid
exercise or watching television just prior to sleep; focus
instead on slowing your heart rate and relaxing your muscles.

It could also be, perhaps, that your insomnia is the result of
certain lifestyle choices throughout the day. Ingesting an
excessive amount of caffeine during waking hours, eating a
heavy meal later in the day, or taking particular medications
or drugs that accelerate heart rate can all impact your sleep.
As part of your insomnia treatment, decrease your caffeine
intake throughout the day and eliminate it completely in the
afternoon and evening, eat lighter meals later in the evening,
and discuss any drug concerns with your doctor.

With these various changes you may find that your insomnia has
been successfully addressed. If not, you may want to speak with
a medical professional who can diagnose any physical factors
that may be contributing to your sleep disturbance and
prescribe insomnia treatment accordingly.

About The Author: For easy to understand, in depth information
about insomnia visit our ezGuide 2 http://insomnia.ezguide2.com

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