“Some national parks have long waiting lists for camping reservations. When you have to wait a year to sleep next to a tree, something is wrong.” – George Carlin
This article is for those of you that can’t fall asleep or stay asleep. Insomnia and sleep disruption are common problems for many of us and many times medications are prescribed to help. I would recommend discussing your options with your doctor because of the side effects and potential drug interactions with medications you may already be taking. Let’s discuss the possible solutions that nature provides.
Some of the reasons we don’t get to sleep range from our schedules, eating habits, lack of exercise, stress and more. Insomnia will most likely strike each of us at one time or another, but for some it is a way of night. These unfulfilled nights of rest can lead to more stress, poor work, bad relationships and health problems. Let’s discuss causes so we can eliminate them from our days.
Alcohol is one common source of sleeplessness. It may seem that the liquid depressant would calm you and sooth you to sleep. However, while it initially makes you tired, it is then converted into sugars and can keep you wired a few hours later. Not to mention the frequent bathroom trips from all of the fluids won’t help you sleep either.
Likewise, having too much water or any fluids later in the day could lead to a lot of trips to the toilet. As we get older or after women have had kids, we all have an increase in the number of bathroom trips we need to make each night. Reducing fluids later in the day could help keep you in bed. However, guys make sure you get your prostate checked out by your doctor to ensure that is not your night-time nemesis.
Many people unfortunately still smoke and that is a stimulant, which will interfere with falling asleep and staying in dreamland. It may seem calming but it isn’t to your body or mind, and is an addictive behavior. Your body may disturb you at anytime during the night because of its need for more nicotine. With chronic smoking comes the “smoker’s cough,” which sounds like the lung, then the liver and the intestines, are all coming up.
Along that same line of coughing would be getting sick with a seasonal bug. There may
