How to Use Natural Cures For Insomnia Relief

Insomnia, or difficulty in falling asleep, is one of the most common reasons for people to go to the doctor.

Of course there are plenty of prescription and non-prescription medications available for insomnia.

However, if you don't like taking pills, here are some Natural Cures for Insomnia.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. Take Time to De-stress! Stress is one of the main causes of insomnia. Take positive action to control the things that cause you stress.
   
   Just taking the first step will lower your stress levels to much more manageable levels.

2. Ease into sleep. Set aside 10 minutes or so about an hour before going to be. Use them to think calmly about the day's events and plan out tomorrow. Any problems you can solve now will not be around to keep you awake later.

3. Stay away from caffeine and alcohol after mid-afternoon. Caffeine can keep you jittery for hours. Alcohol can relax you at first but may well cause you to wake up in the middle of the night.

4. Avoid fluids later in the evening. Nothing's worse than getting to sleep and then having to wake up and go to the bathroom a couple of hours later.

5. Do something "boring" or monotonous at bedtime. What exactly that is depends on what you like to do. If you want to read, read something small like a magazine article or short story - a long story may engross you so much that you want to stay up to finish it.

6. Set a strict daily wake-up time. If you let yourself sleep into the day you will not be tired enough the next night.

7. Get into sleep mode. Once you're in bed get your mind into a peaceful place. You can meditate, or maybe just let your mind drift and picture yourself in a peaceful setting. Let any distractions float away with the breeze.

8. Try new bedding. Sometimes something as simple as an electric blanket can make all the difference. Or sometime just any extra blanket will do - the extra weight can make you feel more protected.

9. Distract yourself. If you can't get to sleep - or if you wake up in the middle of the night and can't fall back to sleep - the last thing you want to do is just lie there thinking. Thinking is the enemy of sleep!!!!
   
   Read a story, watch an innocuous TV show, get up and do something non-energetic, whatever you can think of. Just get your mind distracted from where it wants to go.

10. Exercise. However, be sure to get your exercise relatively early in the day - if you work out too late your body will still be pumped up when you go to bed.

11. Try a warm bath. It's a cliche but it can work. Take the bath in the early evening though, not at bed time.

12. Drink your tea. A cup or two of Chamomile tea may be just the ticket for a good night's sleep - but don't drink it too late or you'll have to wake up before morning!

Tips & Warnings

• Beware of herbal remedies for insomnia. They can work well, but sometimes their side effects are pretty drastic. If you choose to use them, do thorough research first.

Resources

• Natural Cures for Insomnia

[imme911]

on 8/7/2009 good post, i'll have to try these tips