Alternative treatments for sleep disorders

Insomnia is not standing apart from the current trend of alternative treatments that many medical conditions are addressed with. Despite the intense advertising efforts made by pharmaceutical giants, more and more people are looking into traditional, herbal and alternative medications to cope with their health problems. Herbal treatments are believed to be much safer and sometimes more effective than the usual chemical solutions, which tend to have certain side-effects and in some cases make sleep disorders even worse. So if you feel like herbal remedies could be a good aid in your struggle for good healthy sleep, here's a list of herbs that are known for their insomnia-curing properties. Of course, it takes more than just taking the herb in any form – trying and experimenting is encouraged here, because you may find a mix of certain herbs more effective for you, and the other person may find a whole different solution working better. Valerian Valerian root was known as a good herb for insomnia well since the dawn of mankind. There are numerous forms it comes in: tablets, capsules, liquids, etc. It usually increases drowsiness and thus can be safely used by people who have nervous causes for their insomnia. It is not recommended to use Valerian in conjunction with other sleep medications, and you should use it only before going to sleep. Don't operate any machinery or perform hazardous tasks before you actually know how Valerian affects your awareness. Melatonin Melatonin is not a herb but a hormone that is produced with the pineal gland, but because it is available as pills it qualifies for being an alternative medication. Melatonin is responsible for controlling the sleep/wake function within the body and is usually produced in smaller quantities as we get older, thus the typical sleep disorders with senior people. Before using melatonin for relieving sleep disorders you should seek professional advice because it can interact intensively with other substances. Kava kava Kava kava has strong relaxing properties and can be used for helping you get ready for sleep. However, you should not take it on a daily basis because it can strongly affect your liver functions. Do not give it to children and mix with alcohol as the consequences can be quite unpleasant. It is recommended that you consult with an expert before using Kava kava. Magnesium Magnesium is known for its muscle relaxant properties and not having enough magnesium in the body is likely to cause awakenings and sleep disorders. Magnesium mineral is available both as a stand-alone medication and can be found in numerous multivitamin dietary supplements. Hops Hops are of course associated with making beer, but they actually contain a chemical called methylbutenol that acts as a sedative agent on the central nervous system. Hops are also recommended to be used in cases of stress, anxiety and insomnia of course. They can be used for making tea and are also available in the form of pills. Skullcap This herb is widely used for treating a wide range of nervous issues and is known to act beneficially on the quality of sleep. It is widely available in herbal stores and can be used when making tea. So there you have it. If you don't want to haste of using drugs such as Ambien right of the start, you might want to use these alternatives. However, if you have serious sleep problems that don't show any improvement even when using the above mentioned herbs, you should consult with your doctor, and maybe Ambien is just the drug you need.