Tag: Nutritional Supplements

An Alternative Approach for Overcoming a Sleep Disorder

Having a sleep disorder can be very disruptive to everyday life. Sleep deprived people are usually excessively tired and sleepy. They tend to become irritable and very emotional. At times they become a danger, not only to themselves, but also to those around them.

Some people use alternative, natural ways to lessen the effects of their sleep disorder. Many people focus on diet and nutrition, while others use herbs and supplements. Still others believe in the positive effect of exercise, relaxation and sensory techniques, meditation or behavioral and cognitive strategies. Often people use a combination of these approaches to help alleviate the symptoms of their sleep disorder.

A healthy diet is essential for optimal energy and a restful sleep. Avoiding certain foods is as important as including others in your daily diet. Eating a wide variety of foods and drinking plenty of water will keep your body well- balanced and provide a more stable energy level. Avoiding food that is grown, treated or processed with chemicals, and limiting the amount of sugar and caffeine will also help your overall physical condition. Many foods promote a restful sleep and are helpful in relieving some of the symptoms of certain sleep disorders. Eating the proper snack before bedtime can increase natural serotonin levels. Serotonin acts as a natural sedative and is made in the body from the amino acid tryptophan. Foods that a re rich in tryptophan include chicken, turkey, cheese, cottage cheese, fish, milk, nuts, avocados and bananas.

Many people use herbs and natural supplements as an alternative approach to treating their sleep disorder. There are many nutritional supplements and herbal products on the market. It is important to know how a specific product acts on the body as well as on the specific sleep disorder.. For example many people with restless leg syndrome have an iron or folic acid deficiency. Taking an iron supplement may alleviate some of the symptoms of RLS. Many herbs are well known for promoting a natural sleep. A clamming tea of chamomile or lemon balm can be very relaxing to many people that suffer from a sleep disorder.

Exercise and relaxation techniques, whether used alone or together, can reduce stress and muscle tension. Many people that use these techniques to lessen the symptoms of a sleep disorder do these before going to bed. They not only ease physical tension but they calm the mind and prepare the body to sleep. These techniques include mindful exercise, progressive muscle relaxation, breathing exercises and yoga.

Meditation and visualization are also used by some sufferers of sleep disorders to calm the body before sleep. Two common forms of mediation are meditation on the breath and mantra meditation. Both of these types can have a positive effect on relieving stress and calming the body. Many people focus their energy on a healing visualization as a method of alternative therapy for their sleep disorder.

Sensory techniques that people use to lessen the symptoms of their sleep disorder are hydrotherapy, and aroma therapy. The two main techniques included in hydrotherapy, which means water therapy, are relaxing in an Epsom salt bath and a lymph stimulating footbath. Aroma therapy includes the use of therapeutic essential oils in baths, massage oils, room sprays, and simple inhalants.

Alternative practices and techniques can help many types of sleep disorders. Often they are used in conjunction with traditional medication and practices.

Anxiety Stress Treatment

Everyone knows that working too hard and worrying too much are one of the causes of stress. Aside from taking pain killers and drugs such as Xanax or Buspar to relieve it, there are also natural treatments to treat anxiety.

One of the simplest things to do is maintaining a proper diet. This means not skipping meals and eating something that has a combination of carbohydrates and protein. The person should also minimize drinking coffee since a lot of tests have proven caffeine is a major cause of stress.

Food is just one of many things that can give the person proper nutrition. Since the average Joe cannot quantify this in each meal, this can be balanced with the use of nutritional supplements or vitamins. The bottle should contain things such as calcium, vitamin B complex, pantothenic acid or magnesium as part of its ingredients.

There was a time that people relied on artificial ingredients in supplements. Some doctors have discovered that taking herbs can also produce the same effects.

A good example is Kava which is found in Polynesia. This has the same natural ingredients found in drugs such as Xanax and Valium to relive stress. The big difference is that there are no side effects.

Another example is Valerian which is an herbal tranquilizer to treat those who are suffering from insomnia. This makes the person feel calm and isn’t habit forming compared to other drugs in the market. The individual can mix this with other herbs such as hops or passionflower if the smell is bad or the taste isn’t good.

Other herbs that can be used to treat anxiety disorder are lemon balm, skullcap, suma, chamomile and hops.

The person should first consult the doctor if it is safe to take these herbs. This could endanger children or those who are pregnant. The individual should be aware that improvements may happen in a matter of days or in some cases, a few weeks after usage.

Herbs don’t have to ingested every time one feels stressed. The person can go down to the store and buy some candles or oils and make this go away using aromatherapy. The oil used can be massaged in the scalp and temple while the rest is being burned.

Some examples of the oils used are rose, sandalwood, lavender, jasmine, cypress, bergamot, geranium and ylang-ylang.

The person may need some bodywork to relieve stress. A good masseur can relieve the muscle tension and stress which will help improve the individual sleep. There are various massage treatments such as swedish, shiatsu and thai that will work well with anyone that requires a rubdown.

Physical exercise is also another treatment used to treat stress. The person can walk, jog or run several times a week or play a game of basketball with friends. This will strengthen the heart and muscles which in turn will strengthen the person’s endurance at work.

Exercise doesn’t always have to be physical. The person can also release the tension from the body using mind and body breathing exercises commonly found in yoga, tai chi, meditation and bio feedback. This should be done whenever the individual feels stressed or daily.

The various treatments against anxiety stress shows that this can be overcome. The person should try these to find out which is the best to use regularly.

A Quick Look At Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a debilitating disorder that is characterized by a condition of extreme exhaustion and fatigue that lasts for extended periods of time usually six months or more. Doctors have yet to uncover what exactly causes this disorder but it is widely believed that a number of factors trigger its onset. These factors include stress, viral infections, hormone levels and lack of adequate sleep.

Poor diet and lack of exercise are also considered as factors that strongly contribute to the development of chronic fatigue syndrome. Because there is no known exact cause of CFS, doctors find it difficult to diagnose if a patient is indeed suffering from CFS or if the symptoms are actually of another ailment.

The NIAMS (National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases) says that in order for a patient to be diagnosed with CFS, he must be suffering from severe chronic fatigue for six months or beyond and at the same time, should have four or more of the following symptoms: impaired short term memory, prolonged feeling of extreme exhaustion, muscle pains, swelling and tenderness of multiple joints and the lymph nodes, recurring sore throat, severe headache and un-refreshing sleep.

Since the exact cause of chronic fatigue syndrome is yet to be determined, there is no known cure for it at present. Treatments for CFS are meant to relieve the symptoms and improve the patient’s bodily functions. Doctors recommend a combination of medications and non-drug therapies. Dietary restrictions and nutritional supplements are also used to help suppress the symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome. In addition to therapy, lifestyle changes are also highly recommended.

Although it might seem contradictory, regular exercise is also a good way to help treat chronic fatigue syndrome. However, doctors should carefully supervise any physical activity that the patient does to avoid aggravating the symptoms. Mild exercise for 10-15 minutes followed by 30 minutes of rigorous physical activities such as tennis, swimming, brisk walking and others. Such activities help make the heart stronger and healthier to promote better circulation.

Aside from these, individuals afflicted with chronic fatigue syndrome can also do stretching and other relaxation exercises to help manage stress. A doctor should approve any exercise routine to avoid injury or worsening of the CFS symptoms.

Many doctors also recommend herbal remedies because they are natural and effective. There are a number of herbal medicines that CFS victims can take. Echinacea root is known for its ability to boost the immune system. Since viral infection is one of the factors that trigger chronic fatigue syndrome, using Echinacea strengthens the immune system to fight of viruses and eliminate their harmful effects.

Ginseng root, long used in the orient as a herb to restore vitality and energy, can be taken in capsule or tablet form to help keep the body active and strong. Licorice is primarily known for its ability to purge toxins from the body and can help keep the immune system resistant to attacks by viruses.

Aside from herbal medications, just living a healthy life and having a balanced, healthy diet can help the individual overcome the symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome. Fruits and vegetables provide the body with the important vitamins and minerals to keep the immune system strong.