“Proven Effective Natural Ways To Help You Fall Asleep”
Do you need help finding out how to fall asleep fast? Have you tried prescription and over-the-counter medications, only to experience temporary relief where you wake up in the middle of the night and unwanted side effects? The advice in this article can help you find safe, effective solutions to replace your restless nights with quality deep sleep.
Expert Advice on How to Fall Asleep Fast
I personally have always had trouble sleeping from time to time, but some of us suffer long periods of inadequate sleep. So I understand the frustration and hopelessness lack of sleep causes as well as the concerns about taking a conventional sleep aid which has many unwanted side effects.
I want you to know many of my clients, including myself have experienced improved sleep using the right all-Natural insomnia cures.
In this article, I discuss common causes of insomnia, risks of traditional medications and alternative ways to fall asleep that allow you to experience the benefits of deep relaxing sleep for yourself.
If you have any questions, please use the “Contact Me” button above.
What Is Insomnia?
An important fact, I find few people realize insomnia is not a disease but a symptom of something going on in your body. When considering a natural cure for insomnia, it’s extremely helpful to determine why you can’t sleep. As with most natural herbal or holistic remedies, addressing the root of the problem allows you to find the best insomnia treatment for you.
Most of us who have experience insomnia know it’s more than an inability to fall asleep. You might wake up throughout the night, have trouble falling back asleep or wake up too early.
Although you may take something to help you sleep in your medicine chest for an occasional restless night, most people seek treatment when insomnia begins to affect his/her ability to function during the day – usually between two to four weeks of sleepless nights.
Physical Effects of Sleep Deprivation
The inability to sleep interrupts your body’s natural sleep-wake cycle, known as circadian rhythm. This pattern includes different phases of sleep such a non-REM and REM – when we dream. The effects of sleep deprivation go far beyond feeling tired and groggy.
Physical symptoms of insomnia include:
- Difficulty focusing or completing tasks
- Headaches and migraines
- Depression and anxiety
- Irritability
Your response time is also slower, leaving you more apt to accidents ranging from minor errors to possible falling asleep at the wheel.
Chronic lack of sleep intensify a number of health conditions as well as increases your risk of weight gain, diabetes, cancer, heart problems, high blood pressure and stroke. So, it's a very serious problem. In addition, psychological coping mechanisms become weakened and your immune system doesn’t fight off colds and viruses as it normally would.
Prescription Sleep Medications
If you ask your doctor how to fall asleep fast he/she can prescribe sleeping pills from one of three primary categories: Benzodiazepines, non-benzodiazepine hypnotics and sedating anti-depressants, anti-convulsants or anti-psychotics.
Benzodiazepines are the oldest insomnia treatment. Related to Valium, medications such as Estazolam, Triazolam and Quazepam offer short-term solutions and have sedative effects carry over into the day. Over time, your body develops a tolerance causing the drug to be ineffective; they are also highly addictive with potentially dangerous withdrawal symptoms, including a risk of seizures upon abrupt withdrawal.
Most doctors prefer trying a hypnotic sleeping pill, like Ambien or Sonata, before other drugs. They work faster and longer than benzodiazepines, mimic natural sleep patterns and do not cause sluggishness the next day. Although initially believed not to cause “rebound” insomnia, evidence shows dependency after prolonged usage; increasing the dose as it becomes less effective causes morning drowsiness and a “hangover” effect.
Side Effects of Sleep Medication and Sleeping Pills
Medications that help with sleep offer temporary solutions to how to fall asleep fast with many risks. General side effects include nausea, dizziness, forgetfulness, depression, daytime sluggishness, hallucination, changes in mood, worsening insomnia and the potential for physical and psychological dependence.
Over-the-Counter or OTC Sleep Aids
Over the counter sleep aids, although easily available at your local drug store, still need to be taken with caution. I suggest you read the box for side effects and dosage as well as interactions with medications, herbs or supplements.
The most common OTC sleep aids are antihistamines – best known for treating allergies. The two most common are diphenhydramine, contained in Benadryl, Sleepinal and similar products, and Doxylamine, the main compound in Nighttime Sleep Aid and Unisom. Certain products combine antihistamines with analgesics such as Tylenol PM, while others contain alcohol, like NyQuil.
If you have glaucoma, heart disease, an enlarged prostate or Parkinson’s disease, avoid OTC insomnia cures that contain Diphenhydramine. Doxylamine, an antihistamine used primarily to help with sleep, should not be taken if you have asthma, chronic bronchitis or other lung diseases, glaucoma or a peptic ulcer. If you are pregnant or breast-feeding do not take an antihistamine for sleep without consulting your OB/GYN or family physician. Also get a doctors approval if you take MAOI for depression.
Antihistamines are most effective as a short-term solution if you are asking, how to fall asleep fast. Common side effects include drowsiness, dizziness, headaches, constipation, dry mouth, slow response time, clumsiness, blurred vision, difficulty concentrating and short-term memory loss.
How to Fall Asleep Fast With Natural Sleeping Aids
Choosing natural sleep aids may require a combination of tools and products to help you sleep. Each of our bodies responds to medications, herbs and sleep techniques differently and it may require trial and error to learn how to fall asleep fast.
Safer, often a more effective in the long-term as a cure for insomnia, natural sleep remedies include herbs and supplements as well as changing your sleeping habits.
Finding an Herbal Sleep Aid
Discovering how to fall asleep fast, includes lifestyle changes, exercise and relaxation techniques and finding the best sleep aid. Herbs, supplements and other natural sleeping aids help you achieve natural sleep without harmful side effects or next day grogginess.
Natural sleep remedies include:
- Valerian Root – the natural source of Valium, Valerian comes in tincture form or in capsules combined with other herbs; its often the first herbal insomnia treatment recommended by natural practitioners when clients ask how can I fall asleep?
- Chamomile – taken as a tea, the herbal sleep aid also helps with digestive issues.
- Tryptophan – an amino acid that helps the production of serotonin; often found in foods such as turkey, brown rice, cottage cheese, peanuts and warm milk, tryptophan is safe as part of your diet, but questionable as a supplement.
- 5-HTP – derived from the amino acid tryptophan, it helps with anxiety, depression and weight control.
- Hops – best known as the main ingredient in beer, natural sleeping aids with hops come in the form of tablets and tinctures or capsules containing herbs such as chamomile or passionflower; avoid hops if you have a history of depression, are pregnant or plan to breastfeed.
- Passion Flower – as a tea, tincture or capsule, natural sleeping aids with passion flower are most ideal if your sleep is hindered by anxiety or chronic muscle pain.
- Kava Kava – natural sleeping pills containing kava kava can cause liver toxicity if taken in high doses; searching how to fall asleep fast shows it been used as an effective muscle relaxer for thousand of years.
Many natural sleeping aids contain multiple herbs that address common issues associated with insomnia. An herbal sleep aid can include Peppermint, which helps indigestion and sleep, Lavender, known for its sedative and calming properties, Lemon Balm that works best in conjunction with other sedating herbs and Sage for anxiety and depression.
Sleep Aid Supplements
If you're asking how to fall asleep fast, natural sleeping pills that contain Melatonin, a hormone essential to sleep regulation, support your body’s natural sleep cycle. Melatonin helps you with how to fast asleep fast; however, some people experience headaches, daytime drowsiness, depression, moodiness and decreased libido when taking melatonin on a regular basis.
The Most Effective Natural Sleep Aid
There are plenty of natural sleep products on the market today. I have tested and used over 20 of them. I personally use a product called “Alteril” and many of my former customers have said Alteril was the best sleep aid they have used. This 3-step sleep system is designed to help just about anyone get a restful night's sleep. 1.) The nighttime capsule has the four most popular, proven effective natural sleep herbs. 2.) A deep sleep tea, with a special blend of herbs with sedatative properties. 3.) Plus, a CD with binaural beats which puts your brain into a meditative state which will help with sleep and stay asleep.
Alteril uses a unique combination of Melatonin and L-Tryptophan, Valerian and Theanine that will help you relax, fall asleep, stay asleep and wake-up rested, restored and energized.
Get yourself back on track and start enjoying life without dragging through the day feeling tired. Judge for yourself and see how this product will work for you.
