Insomnia is a sleep condition, characterized by difficulty falling and or staying asleep. Insomnia, by itself is not a disease but a symptom of a disease. There are many conditions that cause insomnia and treatment is best aimed at the underlying cause.
The primary law of homeopathy is "similia similibus curentur", or simply put, "like cures like". Substances that can make you ill (or hyper, as in the case of coffee) can also cure you. Coffee is a stimulant therefore if someone is over-stimulated, administering a homeopathic preparation of coffee will counter-act that. Therefore the homeopathic remedy, Coffea is used to treat insomnia caused by excessive mental activity. It is also useful for over-excitement and for preventing nightmares and vivid, disturbing dreams.
Other homeopathic remedies that may be useful include
Aconite - For those who have difficulty sleeping due to shock, fear, bad news or grief.
Arsenicum Album - is best suited to conditions where the individual is sleepy during the day but unable to sleep in the night.
Cocculus - If you’re a shift worker such as a nurse or police officer then taking cocculus can help, also ideal for people who are over-tired.
Kali Phosphoricum - This medicine is prescribed to deal with irritability, nervous exhaustion from extreme mental strain and low spirits.
Lachesis - For menopausal women
Homeopathy can help Insomniac patients to stimulate their body’s natural defenses and fight the symptoms of Insomnia in a natural way. Best results are obtained through visiting a qualified homeopath.
Herbal medicine
Valerian is one of the most common insomnia-fighting herbs. A German study published last July explored the way it affects sleep by investigating its action when combined with caffeine. The study participants took 200 milligrams of caffeine orally, and then researchers gave them either a placebo or a combination of valerian and hops (another herbal sleep aid). Every 30 minutes, the researchers took EEG readings for each subject and recorded the results. At the end of the study period, they concluded that the valerian/hop extract medication was capable of reducing or inhibiting the arousal induced by caffeine.
Hypericum perforatum (also known as St. John’s Wort) has been traditionally used for centuries to support balanced mood and safely maintain mental wellness and equilibrium.
Passiflora incarnata (also known as Passion Flower) has active ingredients, which include flavonoids, cyanogenic glycosides, alkaloids and saparin. Like St John’s Wort, Passiflora has also stood up well to clinical studies, which support its traditional usage as a soothing and moderating herb.
5-HTP (5-hydroxytryptophan) is a compound produced by the body from tryptophan. It is naturally found in many foods and most commonly extracted from the seeds of the Griffonia plant. 5- HTP provides the quickest, most effective, and most consistent overall results in treating insomnia. It is an effective alternative for dealing with sleep problems in a safe and natural way compared to sleep medicines. 5-HTP improves the quality of sleep. More importantly, clinical studies show that 5- HTP is useful in the treatment of sleep disorders often related to mood.
Melatonin has been called the body's own natural sleeping pill. It plays a key role in the sleep cycle by helping you fall asleep. Low melatonin levels can cause sleep-onset insomnia. However, it appears that the sleep- promoting effects of melatonin are most apparent only if a person's melatonin levels are low. This is how our body utilizes melatonin in controlling our sleep. The body changes serotonin into melatonin. Melatonin is stored in the pineal gland inside the brain.
Most importantly, remember also to take regular exercise not too close to bedtime, as studies show that people who are in good physical condition fall asleep faster and sleep more deeply.
