Often when people are experiencing insomnia they are quick to grab an over the counter medication in the hopes of remedying the problem. These medications can have more negative effects than anything else. Therefore, many turn to herbal remedies and attempt to battle their insomnia in a more natural fashion. There are several herbal choices that can be extremely beneficial in treating insomnia. Many of the herbal remedies that are on the market today actually mirror some prescription drugs minus the sometimes complicated and unpleasant side effects. For example, many use St. John Wort for anxiety rather than going on some other drug like Zoloft, Paxil, or Prozac.

The leaves of the catnip plant are known to cause sedation in humans. The only problem with this approach is that there is no designated dose to take, however it is safe for humans to consume. Because of the problem with accurate doses, it is not a good idea for small children to use it and also it should not be used by women who are pregnant. The great thing about catnip is that it can easily be grow at home, as a matter of fact; many people who choose herbal remedies have herb gardens at home. Just like Ritalin has a counter affect similar to a stimulant when those who do not have ADHD take it, the same is true with catnip. In adults, catnip provides a very soothing and calming affect but in cats it acts as a stimulant. So keep kitty away from the herb garden.

Chamomile herb has been used for thousands of years to treat insomnia. Apigenin is a chemical in chamomile that causes the muscles to relax and initiates sleep. In laboratories, chamomile has been proven to produce a mild sedative and anti-anxiety effect in mice. Again, it has not been determined as of yet exactly how much chamomile had to be dosed to be sedative. It is safe for human consumption and can be used by pregnant women as well as those that are breastfeeding. Those who should not use chamomile are people who are allergic to ragweed. Chamomile is available it its original form or in pre packaged tea bags.

Other herbal products are worth looking into such as Hops, Kava, Lavender, Lemon Balm, Oats, Passion Flower, Skullcap, and Valerian. All of these herbs have sedative and relaxing properties. While these herbal supplements are very safe for human consumption and are also very safe, if you are taking any prescription medications you should cross check those before taking anything to ensure that there are no interactions.

When insomnia becomes severe doctors are often left with no choice but to prescribe heavy sedatives that induce sleep and while the patient will likely get sleep many have complained of bizarre dreams while sleeping on these medications and the inability to function normally the next day. This is why many people come to embrace treating their insomnia naturally so they can avoid the day after effects. Herbal remedies do not have any next day complications at all.

Insomnia is a whole lot more than your body telling you that you have had enough sleep. Actually, insomnia is your body’s way of letting you know that something is wrong. Insomnia is different in each person, some just can not fall asleep, others wake in the middle of the night and are unable to fall back asleep, and some just wake up much too early. There can be various reasons, perhaps you are drinking too much caffeine, maybe you suffer from anxiety and depression, maybe you have some conflict or inner struggles in your life, or maybe you are in pain from migraines or arthritis.

Whatever the case, there is a problem that needs to be diagnosed before you will get another good night sleep. When your body is not allowing you to sleep there is a problem and your body is telling you that something is wrong with your body and or mind that needs to be addressed.

Most adults require about 7 or 8 hours of sleep each night but that can vary depending on the person. Usually a person knows if they have got enough sleep depending on the way that they feel the next day. If you feel tired and lack energy then odds are that you likely did not get your proper rest. Research has shown that as people age their Stage 4 sleep, which is the deepest sleep, tends to become shorter and eventually can disappear entirely. This result is older people waking more during the night and napping more during the day. This is not always indicative of a sleep disorder such as insomnia.

There are some things that you can attempt on your own in an attempt to rid your insomnia such as eliminating caffeine, watching your intake of alcohol, using relaxation techniques, limit any stimulating activities at least a few hours before bed, and keeping a routine at bedtime. Make sure that you are not hungry or too full, try taking a nice hot bath, or even try reading yourself to sleep. Make sure that you are attempting to sleep in a comfortable bed.

If you find that you are having a difficult time falling asleep then remove yourself from the bed and go do something else until you become tired again. Never nap! As much of a drag as this might sound you have to establish a bedtime for yourself and a get up time and stick with it seven days a week. These are attempts that you can make but if they do not work then make an appointment to see your doctor so you do not lose another precious nights sleep. You are worth it and you will feel so much better.

Perhaps you might want to try some herbal remedies that are relatively inexpensive and easily accessed over the counter. Many of these herbal compounds especially Lavender and catnip have been used for centuries to relax and calm people down, therefore allowing them to fall asleep.

If you have found it almost impossible to get any sleep lately and believe that you are suffering from insomnia then it is always a good idea to consult your physician. You have to understand that insomnia is not a disease so there is no cures for it, however there are some temporary fixes. Most importantly your doctor will want to do an examination on you and likely screen your medication, if you take any. The doctor should check for things such as thyroid conditions. He may also like for you to keep a log of your sleep patterns over a period of maybe one or two weeks and then discuss it with you. Further, he will likely check to see if your insomnia is related to or causing anxiety or depression.

The doctor knows that if there is an underlying condition that is causing the insomnia then if he can diagnosis and treat that cause, he will likely relieve the insomnia too. In doctor terms there is primary and secondary insomnia. The difference is that with primary insomnia is that there is no medical condition causing it and secondary insomnia is because there is an underlying health concern. The doctor may also refer you to a sleep treatment center for further evaluation.

The sleep treatment center will perform multiple tests on you while you are there and you should expect an overnight stay too. The will likely conduct a Multiple Sleep Latency Test (MSLT), a Maintenance of Wakefulness Test (MWT), an Actigraphy, and some lab tests to check for anything including those to test for medicines known to affect one’s level of alertness, such as stimulants, opiates, and antianxiety medicines. The sleep study can help your doctor make a diagnosis and guide treatment by providing information on everything from body position and blood oxygen levels to heart rate and eye movements.

Sometimes the tests turn up nothing and you might find that you were just suffering from some anxiety due to an upcoming event or maybe you are depressed over some major event. Now medication can alleviate those problems which again, might just take care of the insomnia too. Insomnia can be tricky and it can take a while to hit the nail on the head and find out exactly what the problem is. First it must be determined if the anxiety is chronic or not.

Chronic meaning the insomnia has been consistently present for over one month. Then doctors will want to know if the insomnia is primary, secondary, or maybe even idiopathic, which means that there is no physical, mental, or emotional reason for the insomnia. This is why it is so important to go through the entire medical process to find out why this abnormal sleep pattern is continuing.

What makes this a most delicate situation is that insomnia is not a disease but a condition and therefore there are no specific tests that can explain the cause but rather a series of teats that eliminate one reason after another.