Alternative Treatments for Sleep Disorders

Alternative Treatments for Sleep Disorders

Learn more about alternative ways to help sleep through the night.

By the Editors of Prevention

Sleep helps our concentration, ability to heal, memory, and many other things, but today Americans sleep on average one hour less per night than they did 20 or 30 years ago. Lack of sleep can lead to many health problems.

Learn more about common alternative and complementary methods, vitamins, minerals, herbs and foods used to treat sleep disorders, including insomnia. Most of the treatments help your body make serotonin (an important substance for normal nerve and brain function), relax, reduce anxiety and become calm or sedated.

5-HTP

5-HTP is used by the human body to make serotonin, which appears to play significant roles in sleep, emotional moods, pain control, inflammation, intestinal peristalsis, and other body functions.

Avena sativa (oats)

Oat alkaloids are believed to account for the relaxing action of oats, but it should be noted this continues to be debated in Europe.

Catnip

The volatile oil in catnip contains the monoterpene, nepetalactone, which is similar to the valepotriates found in valerian, a more commonly used herbal sedative. Human trials are lacking to prove the effectiveness of catnip for treating insomnia.

Chamomile

Chamomile is an herb commonly drunk as tea, and it is often used to treat sleeping problems because of its relaxing effects.

Hops (Humulus Lupulus)

Hops have been shown to have mild sedative properties, although the mechanism is unclear. Some herbal preparations for insomnia combine hops with more potent sedative herbs, such as valerian.

Kava

The kava-lactones, sometimes referred to as kava-pyrones, are the most important active constituents in kava extracts. High-quality kava rhizome contains 5.5 to 8.3 percent kava-lactones. Medicinal extracts used in Europe contain 30 to 70 percent kava-lactones. Kava-lactones are thought to have anti-anxiety, mild analgesic (pain-relieving) , muscle-relaxing, and anti-convulsant effects. *Beware of potential liver toxicity.

Lavender

The essential oil of lavender contains many constituents, including perillyl alcohol and linalool. The oil is thought to be calming and thus can be helpful in some cases of insomnia. One study of elderly people with sleeping troubles found that inhaling lavender oil was as effective as some commonly prescribed sleep medications. Similar results were seen in another trial that included young and middle-aged people with insomnia.

Lemon balm

The terpenes, part of the pleasant smelling volatile oil from lemon balm, are thought to produce this herb's relaxing and gas-relieving effects. One small preliminary trial studying sleep quality compared the effect of a combination product containing an extract of lemon balm and an extract of valerian root with that of the sleeping drug triazolam (Halcion). The effectiveness of the herbal combination was similar to that of Halcion, as determined by the ability to fall asleep and the quality of sleep. Another trial also found that the same combination of valerian and lemon balm, taken over a two-week period, is effective in improving quality of sleep.

Melatonin

Melatonin is a natural hormone that regulates the human biological clock. Melatonin is produced by the pineal gland, located within the brain. Levels of melatonin in the body fluctuate with the cycles of night and day. The highest melatonin levels are found at night. Melatonin is present in foods only in trace amounts.

Scullcap (American)

Few studies have been completed on the constituents of American scullcap. One of its constituents, scutellarian, has been reportedly shown to have mild sedative and antispasmodic actions in animal studies. Human trials have not yet been conducted to confirm the use of scullcap for anxiety or insomnia.

Valerian

Valerian root contains many different constituents, including essential oilsthat appear to contribute to the sedating properties of the herb. Central nervous system sedation is regulated by receptors in the brain known as GABA-A receptors. According to test tube studies, valerian may weakly bind to these receptors to exert a sedating action. This might explain why valerian may help some people deal with stress more effectively. Double-blind trials have found that valerian is an effective treatment for people with mild to moderately severe insomnia. Generally, valerian makes sleep more restful as well as making the transition to sleep easier, but does not tend to increase total time slept, according to these studies. Two trials have also found that a combination with lemon balm is effective in improving quality of sleep and in treating insomnia.

Web Brings Love & Happiness For HIV Positive Patients

Web Brings Love & Happiness For HIV Positive Patients

Technically, a HIV positive person can lead normal life with very few exceptions. However, with our society ripped apart with discrimination against them - life of an HIV patient isn’t easy.

Good to see web and internet helping and facilitating HIV positives find love and happiness in real life. An Indian website positivesaathi.com is helping HIV patients world-over to connect and form lifetime bond.
“… Tope lost her husband to AIDS. Six months ago, desperation drove her to post her profile on www.positivesaathi.com, and she has since been in regular contact with an HIV positive Indian man living in Canada, and they plan on getting married next month.”
Tope was frustrated of getting HIV transmitted from husband and even though of suicide. But now with a HIV positive fiance - they are one same ground with better understand and healthy relationship.
http://in.reuters.com/article/technologyNews/idINIndia-35667920080926?pageNumber=2&virtualBrandChannel=0&sp=true
This could be drop in ocean - still a worthy outlet for HIV positives to search for life partners who can understand them BETTER. Top matrimony portals like Shaadi, BharatMatrimony and so on can learn from positivesaathi.com and launch similar positive options for HIV positives.

FOOD & MEDICINE

FOOD      AS      MEDICINE
HEADACHE?   EAT   FISH!   
Eat   plenty of fish -- fish oil helps prevent  headaches.
So  does ginger, which  reduces inflammation and pain.   
HAY   FEVER?   EAT   YOGURT!
Eat   lots of yogurt before pollen season. 
Also-eat honey from  your area (local  region) daily.
TO   PREVENT STROKE   DRINK   TEA! 
Prevent   build-up of fatty deposits on artery walls  with regular  doses of tea.  (actually,   tea suppresses appetite and keeps the  pounds from  invading....Green tea is great  for our immune  system)!
INSOMNIA   (CAN'T SLEEP?)  HONEY! 
Use honey as a tranquilizer and  sedative. 
ASTHMA?   EAT   ONIONS!!!!   
Eating   onions helps ease constriction of  bronchial tubes.  (onion   packs place   on chest   helped   the respiratory ailments and actually made   breathing  better).
ARTHRITIS?   EAT   FISH, TOO!!   
Salmon, tuna, mackerel and sardines  actually  prevent arthritis.  (fish   has omega oils, good for our immune   system)
UPSET   STOMACH?    BANANAS   - GINGER!!!!!   
Bananas   will settle an upset stomach.
Ginger will cure morning sickness and nausea. 
BLADDER INFECTION?   DRINK CRANBERRY  JUICE!!!!   
High-acid   cranberry juice controls harmful bacteria.   
BONE   PROBLEMS?   EAT   PINEAPPLE!!!   
Bone fractures and osteoporosis can be prevented by the manganese in pineapple. 
MEMORY   PROBLEMS?   EAT   OYSTERS! 
Oysters   help improve your mental functioning by supplying much-needed zinc. 
COLDS?   EAT   GARLIC!   
Clear   up that stuffy head with garlic.  (remember,   garlic lowers cholesterol,  too.)
COUGHING?   USE   RED PEPPERS!!   
A substance similar to that found in  the cough syrups is  found in hot red  pepper. Use red (cayenne) pepper  with  caution-it can irritate your tummy.   
BREAST   CANCER?    EAT   Wheat, bran and  cabbage 
Helps to maintain estrogen at healthy  levels. 
LUNG   CANCER?   EAT   DARK GREEN AND ORANGE AND  VEGGIES!!! 
A   good antidote is beta carotene, a form of  Vitamin A found in  dark green and orange  vegetables.. 
ULCERS?   EAT   CABBAGE ALSO!!!   
Cabbage contains chemicals that help  heal both gastric  and duodenal ulcers.. 
DIARRHEA?   EAT   APPLES!
Grate   an apple with its skin, let it turn brown  and eat it to cure  this condition.  (Bananas   are good for this  ailment)
CLOGGED   ARTERIES?   EAT   AVOCADO! 
Mono   unsaturated fat in avocados lowers  cholesterol.   
HIGH   BLOOD PRESSURE?   EAT   CELERY AND OLIVE  OIL!!!   
Olive oil has been shown to lower  blood pressure. 
Celery contains a  chemical that lowers pressure too.   
BLOOD   SUGAR IMBALANCE?   EAT   BROCCOLI AND PEANUTS!!! 
The   chromium in broccoli and peanuts helps  regulate insulin and  blood sugar. 
Kiwi:   Tiny but mighty. This is a good source of  potassium,  magnesium, Vitamin E &  fibre. It's Vitamin C content is  twice  that of an orange. 
Apple:   An apple a day keeps the doctor away?  Although an apple has  a low Vitamin C  content, it has antioxidants &   flavonoids which enhances the activity of  Vitamin C thereby  helping to lower the  risks of colon cancer, heart  attack &  stroke..
Strawberry:   Protective fruit. Strawberries have the  highest total  antioxidant power among  major fruits & protects the body  from  cancer causing, blood vessels clogging   free radicals. (Actually,   any berry is good for you..they're high in  anti-oxidants and  they actually keep us  young..........blueberries are the best  and  very versatile in the health field........they  get rid  of all the free-radicals that  invade our  bodies)
Orange :   Sweetest medicine. Taking 2 - 4 oranges a  day may help  keep colds away, lower  cholesterol, prevent  & dissolve kidney  stones as well as lessen the risk  of colon  cancer.
Watermelon:   Coolest Thirst Quencher. Composed of 92%  water, it is also  packed with a giant dose  of glutathione which helps boost  our  immune system..  They are also a key source  of  lycopene - the cancer fighting oxidant.   Other  nutrients   
Found in watermelon are Vitamin  C  & Potassium. (watermelon   also has natural substances [natural SPF  sources] that keep  our skin healthy,  protecting our skin from those darn UV   rays)
Guava   & Papaya:   Top awards for Vitamin C. They are the  clear winners for  their high Vitamin C  content. Guava is also rich in fibre  which  helps prevent constipation. 
Papaya   is rich in carotene, this is good for your  eyes.  (also   good for gas and  indigestion)
Tomatoes   are   very good as a preventative measure for  men, keeps those  prostrate problems from  invading their  bodies......GOOD   AS MEDICINE.

DRINKING WATER ON EMPTY STOMACH

DRINKING WATER ON EMPTY STOMACH
DRINK WATER ON EMPTY STOMACH
It is popular in Japan today to drink water immediately after waking up every morning. Furthermore, scientific tests have proven  its value.. We publish below a description of use of water for our readers. For old and serious diseases as well as modern illnesses the water treatment had been found successful by a Japanese medical society as a 100% cure for thefollowing diseases:
Headache, body ache, heart system, arthritis, fast heart beat, epilepsy, excess fatness, bronchitis asthma, TB, meningitis, kidney and urine diseases, vomiting, gastritis, diarrhea, piles, diabetes, constipation, all eye diseases, womb, cancer and menstrual disorders, ear nose and throat diseases.
METHOD OF TREATMENT
1. As you wake up in the morning before brushing teeth, drink 4 x 160ml glasses of water
2.. Brush and clean the mouth but do not eat or drink anything for 45 minute
3. After 45 minutes you may eat and drink as normal.
4. After 15 minutes of breakfast, lunch and dinner do not eat or drink anything for 2 hours
5. Those who are old or sick and are unable to drink 4 glasses of water at the beginning may commence by taking little water and gradually increase it to 4 glasses per day.
6. The above method of treatment will cure diseases of the sick and others can enjoy a healthy life.
The following list gives the number of days of treatment required to cure/control/reduce main diseases:
1.     High Blood Pressure (30 days)
2.     Gastric (10 days)
3.     Diabetes (30 days)
4.     Constipation (10 days)
5.     Cancer (180 days)
6.     TB (90 days)
7.     Arthritis patients should follow the above treatment o nly for 3 days in the 1st week, and from 2nd  week onwards – daily.
This treatment method has no side effects, however at the commencement of treatment you may have to urinate a few times.
It is better if we continue this and make this procedure as a routine work in our life. Drink Water and Stay healthy and Active.
This makes sense .. The Chinese and Japanese drink hot tea with their meals ..not cold water. Maybe it is time we adopt their drinking habit while eating!!! Nothing to lose, everything to gain...
For those who like to drink cold water, this article is applicable to you.
It is nice to have a cup of cold drink after a meal.
However, the cold water will solidify the oily stuff that you have just consumed. It will slow down the digestion.
Once this "sludge" reacts with the acid, it will break down and be absorbed by the intestine faster than the solid food.. It will line the intestine.
Very soon, this will turn into fats and lead to cancer. It is best to drink hot soup or warm water after a meal.
A serious note about heart attacks:
·        Women should know that not every heart attack symptom is going to be the left arm hurting,
·        Be aware of intense pain in the jaw line.
·        You may never have the first chest pain during the course of a heart attack.
·        Nausea and intense sweating are also common symptoms.
·        60% of people who have a heart attack while they are asleep do not wake up.
·        Pain in the jaw can wake you from a sound sleep.. Let's be careful and be aware.. The more we know, the better chance we could survive...

Eat oily fish to keep brain healthy

 

LONDON: Eating oily fish, rich in vitamin D, may be vital in keeping your brain healthy as you age, according to a new study. 
University of Manchester scientists and other researchers have found that higher levels of vitamin D, synthesised in the skin following sun exposure, is also found in oily fish. The study assessed the cognitive performance of more than 3,000 men aged 40 to 79 years at eight test centres in Europe.
It was found that men with higher levels of vitamin D performed consistently better in a simple and sensitive neuro-psychological test that assesses an individual's attention and speed of information processing.
"Previous studies exploring the relationship between vitamin D and cognitive performance in adults have produced inconsistent findings. But we observed a significant, independent association between a slower information processing speed and lower levels of vitamin D," said study author David Lee of Manchester's School of Translational Medicine.
"The main strengths of our study are that it is based on a large population sample and took into account potential interfering factors, such as depression, season and levels of physical activity," Lee said.