Catnip is a member of the mint family which is grayish-white in color and native to Europe and Asia. The heart-shaped leaves and white or pale lavender tubular flower tops are used to make the catnip supplement for a sleep as well as other medical uses. Catnip is also called catnep, catmint, cat’s play, catrup, carwort, nip, nep and field balm, It contains volatile oils, sterols, acids and tannins including monoterpene and nepetalactone which are similar to the valepotriates found in Valerian a popular herbal sedative. Catnip has the opposite effect on people as it does on cats. You may feel cool, calm and collected while your cat is rolling around uncontrollably and experiencing dilated pupils and a rapid heart beat. Nepetalactone can also be used as a repellant for insects such as; cockroaches, termites, mosquitoes and can help your cat repel fleas. Catnip also contains thymol an antiseptic used on the skin and in nasal passages. Read more »
Potassium Can Help You Fall Asleep Easy
Potassium is an electrolyte, a substance that conducts electricity in the body along with other minerals. Potassium can help you fall asleep easy as it is very important for bodily functions in all cells, tissues and organs and plays a key role in muscular and cellular functions, cardiovascular function, muscle contraction, nerve transmission and converts glucose into glycogen. Potassium is found in all meats, some fish (salmon, cod and flounder), many fruits, vegetables and legumes as well as dairy products. Also called a natural diuretic, potassium is easily absorbed and due to its alkaline property it helps our body maintain it pH balance and water levels. Potassium also keeps our blood pressure under control, fights fatigue and reduces our chances of acne, allergies and kidney stones. Read more »
How Much GABA to Take to Fall Asleep Easy
How much GABA to take to fall asleep easy? Let’s first look at what GABA is and what it does for you. GABA or gamma-aminobutyric acid is produced naturally in the brain and acts as a neurotransmitter to reduce stress-related impulses. On average we supply enough GABA on our own, but many people suffer from a deficiency of GABA that causes anxiety, irritability, insomnia and even depression. Many deficiencies are cause by environmental and lifestyle factors such as poor diet and toxins in the air. Doctors recommend GABA as a gentle non-sedating tranquilizer which is available in pill or powder form at your local health food store or pharmacy. Read more »
How to Fall Asleep with Jet Lag
What is jet lag or desynchronosis? It is a temporary condition people experience due to crossing several time zones or the earth’s meridians in a short period of time causing the traveler’s sleep/wake cycle to become out of sync creating an almost bipolar condition. The earth’s meridians distinguish geographic position in relation to the earth’s poles defining time zones. Jet lag is a sleep disorder not caused by abnormal sleep problems, but due to your body subjected to external stimuli and local timetables while trying to establish a new sleep/wake pattern in its new location. This adjustment involves the circadian rhythms associated within the body and its ability to learn how to fall asleep with jet lag. Circadian rhythms relate to changes in body function that occur during a 24 hour period. Circadian rhythms not only affect your sleep/wake cycle they also regulate your body temperature, operate gland and hormone, airway and kidney functions. Read more »
How We Can Sleep Easy
Getting to sleep easy with your partner could be bad for your relationship and your health according to reports by the BBC. One study found that doubling up in the same bed can lead to approximately 50% of sleep problems. Unfortunately we all need sleep and if we don’t get enough of it, we quickly become moody, irritable and curt especially toward those we live and work with. How can we sleep easy and get uninterrupted deep sleep that is so important for our health and well-being? Why can some of us sleep in any situation while others find it hard to fall sleep? Read more »
Stop Smoking Can’t Sleep
Some people can’t sleep because they are trying to stop smoking. When your body craves nicotine due to a dependency, it may cause you to wake up periodically during the night with an increased heart rate, especially if you are trying to quit. If you decide to get up and have a cigarette you may find it hard to go back to sleep because nicotine is considered a stimulant even though many people feel the need to smoke as a way to calm themselves down and relax. The fact is smoking stimulates the mind and body that can initiate sleep problems and if you can’t sleep over a period of time it may result in sleep deprivation, in which you will find it more difficult to function normally during the day and eventually it may cause serious health issues; like heart disease and obesity. Read more »
Sleep Easy with Menopause
If you are trying to sleep easy with menopause you might find it difficult if you are experiencing night sweats one of the main side effects women have when their estrogen levels begin to decline. There are a number of other factors that may cause you to have trouble falling asleep and staying asleep. Not only are you facing hormonal changes causing nights sweats and/or hot flashes which throw off your sleep/wake cycle, you could also have other health issues such as thyroid problems, incontinence, sleep apnea, stress, depression, anxiety, side effects from medication and weight gain. What can you do to help eliminate or lessen these symptoms? Read more »
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