The majority of Americans feel they are not getting enough sleep at night, but understandably, many are hesitant to solve their problem by using sleep medications. Most people know that both prescription and over the counter sleep remedies come with unwanted side effects. Some of the medications are addictive, which is a frightening prospect to face. Some of the medicines create rebound insomnia after a while. And some of the medications provide a drugged, dreamless sleep that fails to provide the refreshment that comes from experiencing all the sleep cycles.
In the search for better alternatives to insomnia, many people turn to natural sleep remedies. There are a number of such supplements on the market, and many of them have been scientifically proven to induce sleep. Perhaps the most well known natural sleep remedy is Valerian. Valerian is a herb that has been used as a sleep remedy for a long time. The extract of the root calms the user, removes anxieties, and induces sleep. Even the renowned National Institute of Health acknowledges that Valerian can improve the quality of sleep and shorten the time to falling asleep.
While it isn’t known exactly how the herb works, it is believed to affect the levels of a compound called GABA in the blood. This is the same transmitter influenced by patent medications; however, Valerian is non-addictive and does not cause morning grogginess. It is said that all good things must end, however, and Valerian shouldn’t be used for more than 3 months at a time. After that length of time, the body gets used to its effects, and the herb may even cause insomnia.
One business executive Laura 36 of Atlanta, described a rather typical experience with Valerian.
“It puts me to sleep fast, not for the whole night but for a few good hours,” says the marketing executive. “But when it stops working, I have to give myself a break for a few weeks.”
The rebound effect, found in Valerian and many other remedies, both prescription and natural is circumvented in traditional Chinese medicine. From the Chinese perspective, a major cause of insomnia is inadequate and unfulfilling activity during the day, which results in a restless train of thoughts keeping the victim awake at night. The Chinese approach, therefore, is to strengthen the body’s energy flow (Qi) and tonify the sleep-wake cycle. As a result, Chinese based supplements, such as BioDream by eHelps, unlike many Western sleep supplements, do not create a rebound insomnia and do not have to be stopped every few weeks or months.
References:
http://altmedicine.about.com/ cs/conditionsitoq/a/Insomnia. htm