Naturally Treating... - Natures Therapy

Natures Therapy

follow this blog

23 followers

122 daily readers

rank of 143

E-mail Subscription

Receive an e-mail notification of new posts on this site:

Naturally Treating... - Natures Therapy

Previous Page (1-14)

Naturally Treating...Insomnia

October 12th 2006 00:33

www.dreamstime.com

Insomnia is a disorder which causes difficulty in sleeping or the inability to fall asleep or remain asleep long enough, especially as a problem continuing over time.

Each night that an insomniac goes withouts sleeping, they incur a sleep debt that becomes almost impossible to repay. They spend most of their waking hours in a zombie like state, unable to function, concentrate or make clear decisions. Sound familiar?

The main cause is generally attributed to tension, anxiety and depression. The best way to treat insomnia is to apply a set routine in which your body becomes accustomed to and hopefully it will distinguish between the difference of sleep and awake time.

Here are a few tips that will discourage insomnia:

1. Have a regular bed time and adhere to it. Even on weekends.

2. Avoid watching TV in bed. Only use your bed for sleeping.

3. Reduce stress and excercise regularly. However, do not excercise at night as this wakes the body up and speeds up your heart rate, making it take longer to rest.

4. Avoid alcohol, caffiene and tobacco; especially six hours before going to bed.

5. Avoid food three hours before bedtime.

6. Avoid studying or tasks that require heavy concentration at least 2 hours before bedtime.

7. If you can't sleep - Don't lie in bed worrying about it. Get up and do something else.

8. If a particular issue is bothering you; mentally file it away for a time when it can be dealt with appropriatly.

9. Listen to a relaxation tape or music.

10. Ensure the room is dark, free from noise and distractions. Make sure your bedding and sleepwear are comfortable.

11. Have a bath that has lavender and rosemary oil added to it before going to bed.

12. Don't cat nap for more then 30 minutes in the day.

Valerian is a commonly prescribed natural herb for the treatment of insomnia. It is available in pill, tincture and tea form and works by relieving stress and promoting relaxation.

Sometimes insomnia can be caused by a deficiency in a particular nutrient. Calcium, magnesium and Vitamin B6 are the most common deficiencies that interfere with sleep.

If you still find that you are having problems with insomnia, you might want to see your health care proffessional to investigate the matter further and get to the root of the problem.

Resources
Vitamins and Herbs - Readers Digest

Vote

Comments (3)

Add Comments

[ Link ]

Posted By: Naomi - Category: Naturally Treating...

Email this Post to a Friend

Naturally treating...IBS (Irritable bowel syndrome)

October 5th 2006 00:00

Stomach ache by Prawny

The normal motion of propelling food through the digestive tract, caused by the intestinal muscles rhythmically contracting; is called peristalsis.

Irritable bowel syndrome is when there is a spasm in the muscles that causes the contractions to become irregular and uncoordinated. As a result; the contents in the intestine are forced to move too fast or too slow, resulting in abdominal pain, bloating, diarrhea or constipation.

There are lots of claims as to the cause of IBS and the common denominator is stress which definitely aggravates the symptoms. Some other contributors to IBS can be: overuse of antibiotics, poor diet, heavy consumption of fried or greasy food, smoking, alchohol and an intolerance to lactose or gluten.

Symptoms that are not attributed to IBS are: blood in the stools(unless from hemorrhoids caused by constipation), continuous abdominal pain that doesn't abate or gets worse, fever, dramatic weight loss without intention, sudden change in stool patterns. These symptoms must be referred to a doctor for further investigation.

The best remedies for IBS are ones that slow down or relax the intestinal muscles and regulate the spasms or; ones that slow down and relax the patient, holistically. Each one exacerbates the other.

Suggested treatments are:

Peppermint oil capsules (enteric coated): the coating ensures that the oil is not released until it is in the stomach. Peppermint is very effective in calming down the spasms and soothing other IBS symptoms. Peppermint tea can be taken with equally effective results.

Acidophilus: A source of good bacteria that is needed to keep the digestive system healthy. This is particularly helpful in cases of IBS that are brought on by candida(thrush), heavy alchohol consumption or an overuse of antibiotics.

Psyllium Husks: a type of dietry fibre that absorbs the water in the intestine and bulks up stools. This lessens the severity of the spasms and restores balance either to constipation or diarrhea. Psyllium husks can be added to cereal or used in baking. This is particularly effective if you suffer from chronic IBS. You must drink at least 8 glasses of water when adding psyllium husks to your diet.

Eat well: reduce alchohol and fried food consumption when suffering symptoms as they may well be aggravating the condition.

Valerian: taken in tablet form; valerian helps to relax the body and reduce the effects of stress.

Lavender: Used topically in conjunction with olive oil as a vehicle, massage into the temples, back of the neck of over the abdominal area to releive symptoms of stress and to calm the body.

Buscapan: derived form the Australian plant, Dubosia; buscapan is taken in tablet form and is one of the best treatments vailable to reduce the symptoms of IBS.

Holistic treatments:

Yoga,Tai chi, Float Therapy,
Reiki, Chiropractic, Walking.

Any therapy that relaxes the body and stimulates natural endorphins will be proactive in releiving the symptoms and possibly the cause.

Remember that IBS is usually a chronic condition so you must deal with the problem by making a complete life style change. Recognize the triggers and be ready with your chosen remedies on hand. if you treat it in the early stages you will be less likely to suffer the extreme pain that can potentially occur and affect your quality of life.

Resources
Vitamins and herbs, Readers Digest

Vote

Comments (1)

Add Comments

[ Link ]

Posted By: Naomi - Category: Naturally Treating...

Email this Post to a Friend