Can You Cure Sleepwalking? Sometimes!

Natural Sleep Aids

Learning that you’ve been walking in your sleep can be somewhat upsetting, especially if you had never done so before…at least not that you know of!  If you find yourself a victim of this rather embarrassing condition, you probably just want to know  “Can you cure sleepwalking?”

Although sleepwalking in children is fairly common, adult sleepwalking is relatively rare.  Adult sleepwalking can begin at any age, even up into the 70’s, and is potentially more dangerous than in childhood.  It can have many causes, including genetics, certain medical conditions, some medications, alcohol/drug use, stress, sleep deprivation, or sometimes no known reason at all.

Depending on the cause of the sleepwalking episodes, there are steps you can take to help reduce or prevent sleepwalking.

1. Establish a regular bedtime—and stick to it!  Also, have a set time you get up in the morning, making sure to allow 7-8 hours for sleep.  One very common trigger for sleepwalking is sleep deprivation.
2. Before going to bed, do something to help put you in a relaxed state of mind: soak in a nice hot bath; read a book; listen to soft music.  Do not watch television before retiring.  While it might relax your body, it will stimulate your mind, and interfere with falling asleep.  Also, it’s a good idea to stay away from computer/video games prior to bedtime for the same reason.
3. If you find that sleepwalking episodes occur around the same time each night, you can try setting an alarm to wake you up shortly before the time you would be getting up to sleepwalk.  For some people, doing that for several nights in a row can help to break the cycle.
4. Don’t drink large amounts of alcohol late in the evening.  Alcohol and/or recreational drug use are very common causes of sleepwalking.
5. Try to remove causes of stress or anxiety in your life.  I know that’s easier said than done, but it can be done.  Mental, emotional, or physical stress is one of the most common causes of sleepwalking.  Avoid arguments with household members, as this can disrupt sleep patterns.
6. Yoga or meditation helps many people to calm and clear their minds.
7. Some herbal teas have a calming effect on the mind and can help you relax and become drowsy.  Drink a cup just before bedtime.
8. If you are prone to sleepwalking episodes AVOID at all costs, the use of Ambien, Lunesta and certain other prescription sleep aides.  These drugs can trigger very dangerous sleepwalking activities, such as sleep driving, and can cause very embarrassing behaviors.

So can you cure sleepwalking?

There are no medications that can cure sleepwalking.  A mild dose of muscle relaxer, such as Valium or Xanax have been found to help a small percentage of sleepwalkers, to reduce or eliminate sleepwalking episodes.
Self-hypnosis has proven to be an excellent way to stop sleepwalking.  With this method, the sleepwalker trains himself to awaken, as soon as his feet touch the floor.  Self-hypnosis programs are very inexpensive and extremely effective for sleepwalking and many other issues.
Your best bet for stopping sleepwalking, is to try the above steps.  If they do not resolve the problems, it’s time to seek professional/medical help.

Stop Sleep Talking Every Night

curesforsnoring.info

Sleep talking is a rare condition that affects a lot of people around the world. Because of the fact that it is shared across the globe should be a reassuring thought to help sufferers stop sleep talking. A lot of medical remedies have been prescribed in recent years but their side-effects have prompted people to resort to natural methods. Sleep talking can be very humiliating because some people are taunted using the words they speak; in some cases the words they murmur are embarrassing secrets in their past. For this reason you should try out these secrets on how to stop sleep talking every night.

If you are a victim of somniloquy/sleep talking you must watch your eating habits. In some of the reported cases doctors noticed how some of their patients ate heavy meals before going to bed. There is nothing wrong with a heavy meal before going to bed, it just mustn’t be eaten immediately before bedtime. Have an interval of at least 2 hours before going to bed or eat light meals throughout the day so that your last meal doesn’t affect your regular sleeping patterns.

Yoga; meditation and fitness exercises are a good way of beating stress disorders and depression. For some sufferers of sleep talking have been known to lead very stressful and depressed lives. This is why stress has been labelled as a cause of sleep talking that must be remedied by yoga and fitness exercises. In general yoga and meditation support a healthy blood circulation to the head and body, something that gets rid of stress significantly.

Some of the people experiencing sleep talking either don’t sleep enough or their sleeping patterns are too irregular. Put in more hours of sleep by doing all your tasks of the day on time. Once you have done this all you have to do is maintain that pattern long after your somniloquy ceases.

You have to be at peace at the moment before you go to bed. Like I said earlier, sleep talking is sometimes caused by stress or a disturbed state of mind. Cool down by listening to soft music like natural sound as these have an extraordinary effect of calming you down and making sure you sleep in a relaxed manner.

Insomnia Remedies: The Science Behind Sleep-Inducing Foods

 Sleep Apnea Disorder

The type of foods we eat in the evening can have a pronounced effect on the quality of our sleep. One of the keys to a restful night’s sleep is to calm and relax the brain, rather than stimulating it. Certain foods are natural insomnia remedies that contribute to restful sleep, while others keep us alert and awake. The calming foods contain the amino acid tryptophan, which is a precursor to the sleep-inducing substances serotonin and melatonin. Two recent studies confirm that eating carbohydrates increases tryptophan production, while eating a higher protein ratio increases tyrosine – an amino acid related to a stimulated, alert frame of mind.

One key study was published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.  It is titled “High-Glycemic-Index Carbohydrate Meals Shorten Sleep Onset”. The glycemic index measures the effect of different types of carbohydrates on blood sugar levels. Researchers at the University of Sydney Australia gave two different kinds of meals to the study participants, a few hours before bedtime. They found that a carbohydrate-based, high glycemic index meal resulted in a significant shortening of the time needed to fall asleep, compared with a low glycemic meal. (Feb. 2007, Vol. 85, No. 2).

In another study done at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, scientists honed in on specific measurements of tryptophan vs. tyrosine in the brain, based on whether carbohydrates or proteins were eaten at breakfast. Blood samples were collected after the meals, and the researchers concluded that a carbohydrate-rich diet raises tryptophan levels, while high-protein foods depress it. (Amer. J. of Clinical Nutrition, Jan 2003, Vol. 77, No. 1).For those who need to stay alert and sharp during the day, high protein, medium-carbohydrate meals are best eaten for breakfast and lunch. For dinner and bedtime snacks, eat a meal or snack that is high in healthy carbohydrates, with a small amount of protein that contains just enough tryptophan to relax the brain.

According to William Sears, M.D., “The best bedtime snack is one that has both complex carbohydrates and protein, and perhaps some calcium. Calcium helps the brain use the tryptophan to manufacture melatonin. This explains why dairy products, which contain both tryptophan and calcium, are one of the top sleep-inducing foods.”

Dr. Sears recommends that foods high in carbohydrates and calcium, and medium-to-low in protein, make the most ideal sleep-inducing bedtime snacks. Some examples are whole-grain cereal with milk, hazelnuts and tofu, oatmeal and raisin cookies with a glass of soy or regular milk, or a peanut butter or almond butter sandwich with ground sesame seeds.

Sesame seeds are rich in tryptophan. Other foods that are high in tryptophan, which can be combined with healthy carbohydrates to become natural sleep remedies, are whole grains, lentils, chickpeas, beans, eggs, sunflower seeds, and miso. As always, it’s best to stay away from caffeine, sodas and nicotine in the evening.

The well-known nutritionist Adelle Davis writes about the roles of calcium for sleep in her book “Let’s Eat Right to Keep Fit”. She discusses natural insomnia remedies and says: “A calcium deficiency often shows itself by insomnia, another form of an inability to relax. The harm done by sleeping tablets, to say nothing of the thousands of dollars spent on them, could largely be avoided if the calcium intake were adequate.”

Sleep remedies containing highly absorbable, quick acting forms of calcium and magnesium, such as Sleep Minerals II from Nutrition Breakthroughs, can be helpful with both falling asleep and staying asleep during the night. This natural sleep aid contains six types of calcium, three forms of magnesium, boron, Vitamin D, Vitamin K and horsetail herb - all combined in a softgel with carrier oils. Oils such as evening primrose have been shown to increase mineral absorption, reduce calcium excretion, and increase bone density.

In conclusion, bedtime snacks and dinners that are high in carbohydrates, low-to-medium in protein, and contain calcium, will help you relax in the evening and set you up for a good night’s sleep.  Effective natural insomnia remedies can also be taken before sleep and during the night if you find yourself waking up and unable to go back to sleep.Here’s to your good sleep.

Importance of Rest from Your Workouts

By Joy Basilio

Relaxation and rest are critical to a successful fitness program. That means that you can chisel yourself into a hard, sexier body just by vegetating. When you are training, you tear at your muscle fibers. When the fibers heal, they develop into stronger and robust muscles. It is between workouts during your resting state that your system heals and transforms.

You definitely need to relax, stretch and heed your body before another workout.

Get enough sleep

Your body reconstructs itself best when you are asleep. Sleep deprivation also disturbs your normal hormone levels thereby depleting you of needed energy to get you ready for a good workout. Not only will you get an ineffective workout but you will also crave for sugar as an alternate energy source.

Test subjects who did not get plenty of sleep every night in a study of 1,000 volunteers at Stanford University had a greater body fat content when equated with the other subjects who kept a minimum of seven hours of sleep.

Take a break between your workouts

Give yourself a minimum of 24 hours between workouts. Take at least one day off every week. You can still get great results from strength training twice a week. Do not strength train more than five times a week because all your hard work would not get you anywhere if your do not let your body recover.

A huge percentage of bodybuilding pros have confessed that their biggest mistake when working out is over training. Your muscles are going to need rest for them to heal. Overworked muscles will not grow. If your workouts are done properly and with high intensity, you are setting yourself up for injury and over exertion. Do not forget that complete muscular failure and any stress in your body could take five to ten days to recover.

You can also over train even though you are working another area of your body the following day. You can discourage muscle growth if you work a major muscle group to failure then try to do some more heavy presses on another major muscle group the very next day. For example, after a hard workout of the legs, the body starts the process of recovery from the blow it has received by the workout only to be subjected to another blow from heavy bench presses.

Unless you take steroids or other drugs to help you treat the catabolic operations working inside your body, it will be immensely difficult for your body to endure another strenuous workout the following day. Therefore, include rest and recuperation as part of your work out program.

Do not neglect spasms and pains

Disregarding muscle irritation or cramping just confers you with bigger issues. If you feel any agony while working out, stop your workout immediately. If you feel tightness, stop to stretch the tight muscle. Stretch after your warm-up and at the end of your workout to maintain your body performing at its premium best.

Refrain from taking painkillers and anti-inflammatory drugs

Delayed-onset muscle soreness, or DOMS as it is called by exercise physiologists, is characterized by sometimes muscle tenderness, muscle weakness and a decrease in range of motion. It usually peaks about 24 to 72 hours after an extreme cardiovascular or strength exercise event. Although anti-inflammatory drugs do appear to reduce muscle soreness during DOMS, studies show that they may slow down the ability of the muscles to repair the damage.

Eat appropriately

According to a study in the Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition, subjects who snacked with a 4-to-1 ratio of carbs to protein within 30 minutes of their workout, offset muscle damage the most. That is because after a workout your body is damaged and depleted of energy, thereby requiring immediate attention.

You will also get the most immediate bounce-back if you drink your snack in liquid form because your body absorbs liquid faster than solid foods. You can purchase ready to drink protein shakes at most health food and grocery stores. Keep fat and sugar to less than 2 grams per serving. Have your shake with an apple, small banana or 1 cup of berries.

About the Author:

Rochester Athletic Club NY, Rochester Health Club NY and Rochester Personal Training NY dedicate their services to fitness and health.

Can’t Sleep? Try Feng Shui as an Insomnia Remedy!

Melatrol Natural Sleep Aid Q&A...
If you’ve got a problem with insomnia, and are into alternative ways of looking at things, you might want to consider using Feng Shui to help you sleep better at night. The ancient Chinese practice of Feng Shui aims to channel the flow of energy between earth and heaven in order to help individuals experience the harmony of that force. Some of the principles of this system of belief might suggest ways of arranging your bedroom that will permit your natural energies to flow more easily, letting you sleep when it’s the right time.

The first thing to consider when trying to cope with your insomnia problem by way of Feng Shui is the placement of your bed. Placing a bed close to a window may cause energy to drain from the room, so it’s best to avoid that location. Yet you should also avoid putting the bed directly in a corner, because energy is thought to be dormant there. The optimal location would be against a wall that doesn’t have a window. However, while in bed, you should also be able to see the entrance to the room and whoever might be coming in, but without pointing the foot of the bed at the door. If this can’t be achieved through any possible positioning of the bed, you can still accomplish the same effect by hanging a mirror where it will reflect the entranceway so you can see it from the bed.

The surroundings are important too. Things with pointed corners create “energy arrows” that disrupt the flow of energy or even create negative energy. So if you have several bookcases or a desk, place them so that you’re not facing them when lying in bed. If possible, it would be even better to have those things in a different room. If you can, keep the bedroom as uncluttered as possible, or have things with more rounded corners, which in Feng Shui would be regarded as more beneficial.

The visual impression of the room is also an important component of getting a better rest. For example, the images you place on your walls should be positive and soothing, rather than depressing or agitating. And things like televisions, computers, or exercise equipment should be kept out of the bedroom, since they induce alertness and stimulation rather than relaxation and sleep.

Even if you are somewhat dubious about this philosophy, there is no question that a good deal of the Feng Shui advice is in agreement with medical advice about keeping distractions and stimulation to a minimum in the room where you sleep at night. You won’t do any harm by trying out these principles, and it is very likely to help. When you arrange the room where your sleep according to the principles of Feng Shui, you may produce a room that is more relaxing or even healing, a room that allows you to enjoy a good night’s sleep.
Insomnia is a serious sleep disorder in which a person has trouble falling asleep, and may not even sleep at all. Many people resort to medication to deal with the problem, but there are also many natural insomnia remedies that are highly effective.

33 Secrets to a Good Night’s Sleep

Società Italiana di Medicina Ambulatoriale e Polispecialistica

If you are having sleep problems, whether you are not able to fall asleep, wake up too often, don’t feel well-rested when you wake up in the morning, or simply want to improve the quality and quantity of your sleep, try as many of the following techniques below as possible:
1. Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT). Most people can learn this gentle tapping technique in several minutes. EFT can help balance your body’s bioenergy system and resolve some of the emotional stresses that are contributing to the insomnia at a very deep level. The results are typically long lasting and the improvement is remarkably rapid.
2. Listen to white noise or relaxation CDs. Some people find the sound of white noise or nature sounds, such as the ocean or forest, to be soothing for sleep. An excellent relaxation/meditation option to listen to before bed is the Insight audio CD.
3. Avoid before-bed snacks, particularly grains and sugars. This will raise blood sugar and inhibit sleep. Later, when blood sugar drops too low (hypoglycemia), you might wake up and not be able to fall back asleep.
4. Sleep in complete darkness or as close as possible. If there is even the tiniest bit of light in the room it can disrupt your circadian rhythm and your pineal gland’s production of melatonin and seratonin. There also should be as little light in the bathroom as possible if you get up in the middle of the night. Please whatever you do, keep the light off when you go to the bathroom at night. As soon as you turn on that light you will for that night immediately cease all production of the important sleep aid melatonin.
5. No TV right before bed. Even better, get the TV out of the bedroom or even out of the house, completely. It is too stimulating to the brain and it will take longer to fall asleep. Also disruptive of pineal gland function for the same reason as above.
6. Wear socks to bed. Due to the fact that they have the poorest circulation, the feet often feel cold before the rest of the body. A study has shown that this reduces night wakings.
7. Read something spiritual or religious. This will help to relax. Don’t read anything stimulating, such as a mystery or suspense novel, as this may have the opposite effect. In addition, if you are really enjoying a suspenseful book, you might wind up unintentionally reading for hours, instead of going to sleep.
8. Avoid using loud alarm clocks. It is very stressful on the body to be awoken suddenly. If you are regularly getting enough sleep, they should be unnecessary. I gave up my alarm clock years ago and now use a sun alarm clock. The Sun Alarm™ SA-2002 provides an ideal way to wake up each morning if you can’t wake up with the REAL sun. Combining the features of a traditional alarm clock (digital display, AM/FM radio, beeper, snooze button, etc) with a special built-in light that gradually increases in intensity, this amazing clock simulates a natural sunrise. It also includes a sunset feature where the light fades to darkness over time – ideal for anyone who has trouble falling asleep.
9. Journaling. If you often lay in bed with your mind racing, it might be helpful keep a journal and write down your thoughts before bed. Personally, I have been doing this for 15 years, but prefer to do it in the morning when my brain is functioning at its peak and my coritsol levels are high.
10. Melatonin and its precursors. If behavioral changes do not work, it may be possible to improve sleep by supplementing with the hormone melatonin. However, I would exercise extreme caution in using it, and only as a last resort, as it is a powerful hormone. Ideally it is best to increase levels naturally with exposure to bright sunlight in the daytime (along with full spectrum fluorescent bulbs in the winter) and absolute complete darkness at night. One should get blackout drapes so no light is coming in from the outside. One can also use one of melatonin’s precursors, L-tryptophan or 5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP). L-tryptophan is the safest and my preference, but must be obtained by prescription only. However, don’t be afraid or intimidated by its prescription status. It is just a simple amino acid.
11. Get to bed as early as possible. Our systems, particularly the adrenals, do a majority of their recharging or recovering during the hours of 11 p.m. and 1 a.m. In addition, your gallbladder dumps toxins during this same period. If you are awake, the toxins back up into the liver which then secondarily back up into your entire system and cause further disruption of your health. Prior to the widespread use of electricity, people would go to bed shortly after sundown, as most animals do, and which nature intended for humans as well.
12. Check your bedroom for electro-magnetic fields (EMFs). These can disrupt the pineal gland and the production of melatonin and seratonin, and may have other negative effects as well. To purchase a gauss meter to measure EMFs try Cutcat at 800-497-9516. They have a model for around $40. One doctor even recommends that people pull their circuit breaker before bed to kill all power in the house (Dr. Herbert Ross, author of “Sleep Disorders”).
13. Keep the temperature in the bedroom no higher than 70 degrees F. Many people keep their homes and particularly the upstairs bedrooms too hot.
14. Eat a high-protein snack several hours before bed. This can provide the L-tryptophan need to produce melatonin and serotonin.
15. Also eat a small piece of fruit. This can help the tryptophan cross the blood-brain barrier.
16. Reduce or avoid as many drugs as possible. Many medications, both prescription and over-the-counter may have effects on sleep. In most cases, the condition, which caused the drugs to be taken in the first place, can be addressed by following the guidelines elsewhere on this web site.
17. Avoid caffeine. A recent study showed that in some people, caffeine is not metabolized efficiently and therefore they can feel the effects long after consuming it. So an afternoon cup of coffee (or even tea) will keep some people from falling asleep. Also, some medications, particularly diet pills contain caffeine.
18. Alarm clocks and other electrical devices. If these devices must be used, keep them as far away from the bed as possible, preferably at least 3 feet.
19. Avoid alcohol. Although alcohol will make people drowsy, the effect is short lived and people will often wake up several hours later, unable to fall back asleep. Alcohol will also keep you from falling into the deeper stages of sleep, where the body does most of its healing.
20. Lose weight. Being overweight can increase the risk of sleep apnea, which will prevent a restful nights sleep.
21. Avoid foods that you may be sensitive to. This is particularly true for dairy and wheat products, as they may have effect on sleep, such as causing apnea, excess congestion, gastrointestinal upset, and gas, among others.
22. Don’t drink any fluids within 2 hours of going to bed. This will reduce the likelihood of needing to get up and go to the bathroom or at least minimize the frequency.
23. Take a hot bath, shower or sauna before bed. When body temperature is raised in the late evening, it will fall at bedtime, facilitating sleep,
24. Remove the clock from view. It will only add to your worry when constantly staring at it… 2 a.m. …3 a.m. … 4:30 a.m. …
25. Keep your bed for sleeping. If you are used to watching TV or doing work in bed, you may find it harder to relax and to think of the bed as a place to sleep.
26. Have your adrenals checked by a good natural medicine clinician. Scientists have found that insomnia may be caused by adrenal stress (Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, August 2001; 86:3787-3794).
27. If you are menopausal or perimenopausal, get checked out by a good natural medicine physician. The hormonal changes at this time may cause problems if not properly addressed.
28. Don’t change your bedtime. You should go to bed, and wake up, at the same times each day, even on the weekends. This will help your body to get into a sleep rhythm and make it easier to fall asleep and get up in the morning.
29. Make certain you are exercising regularly. Exercising for at least 30 minutes everyday can help you fall asleep. However, don’t exercise too close to bedtime or it may keep you awake. Studies show exercising in the morning is the best if you can do it.
30. Establish a bedtime routine. This could include meditation, deep breathing, using aromatherapy or essential oils or indulging in a massage from your partner. The key is to find something that makes you feel relaxed, then repeat it each night to help you release the day’s tensions.
31. Go to the bathroom right before bed. This will reduce the chances that you’ll wake up to go in the middle of the night.
32. Wear an eye mask to block out light. As said above, it is very important to sleep in as close to complete darkness as possible. That said, it’s not always easy to block out every stream of light using curtains, blinds or drapes, particularly if you live in an urban area (or if your spouse has a different schedule than you do). In these cases, an eye mask can help to block out the remaining light.
33. Put your work away at least one hour (but preferably two or more) before bed. This will give your mind a chance to unwind so you can go to sleep feeling calm, not hyped up or anxious about tomorrow’s deadlines.

Anti Snoring Products - What You Should Know

By Vicky Downing

At present, more than 300 branded anti snoring equipments are available on the market. Every product offers a natural solution for your snoring. But, before you choose to buy any of such products, you should know that they are not actually effective. They don't concentrate on the fundamental reasons for snoring, and that is the difficulty.

Commercials, both on television and online, proclaim their anti snoring products will be an instant solution to the problem. Devices include nose clips, sprays to coat your throat, or plastic devices to fit into your mouth overnight. Though they may cover up the initial problem, they fall short when it comes to resolving the true problems that cause snoring.

These products don't work for a variety of reasons. Mainly it is because snoring is caused from internal things that these devices can't help with. For example they can claim to keep your tongue in a downward position but that still doesn't help with the airways being blocked. Once you fully understand what causes snoring you will realize why they can't work. Why do so many people buy them? The answer is simple enough; they want to find a way to stop snoring. They are desperate for a good night of rest. They may be getting pressure from family members too that can't sleep because of the noise. They are also usually very affordable so people are willing to spend money on them to see if they will work or not. Save your money and your time and avoid buying these anti snoring devices. While they won't harm you in any way they certainly aren't going to give you the results you are looking for.

Devices to prevent snoring simply don't work for a variety of reasons. The gimmicks and other methods do not address what causes snoring. When people realize what actually causes snoring, they begin to see why devices, which push down the tongue, or claim to open airways, don't really work. These products prey upon the desperation of men and family members who are trying to stop the noise that ruins every night's sleep. Some men will try anything to placate family members or spouses. They will spend large amounts of money simply to test the device. Usually the device will not hurt, except by taking money out of your pocket.

Instead of using anti snoring products, you should discuss the situation with your doctor or health care provider to see if changing some part of your routine can alleviate the problem. Snoring is serious because it robs you of a good night sleep making you tired and unable to perform at your best. You need to be cautious before making a rash decision to alleviate snoring. For instance, some people try anti snoring products. While that may appear to be an easy remedy, don't be fooled into believing it.

So when you see that next advertisement about the new ultimate product that cures your snoring - think twice before purchasing it.

About the Author:

To read more on anti snoring products or how to stop snoring visit howtostopsnoringinfo.com

A Good Night's Sleep - I'll Drink To That! Cherry juice found to aide sleep

PR Fire  Studies indicate that high melatonin levels of cherry juice act as a natural sleep aid giving good news to the one in ten and one in twenty insomnia sufferers each night.

Between one in ten and one in twenty of us suffer from insomnia every night according to Dr Irshaad Ebrahim, Medical Director of the London Sleep Centre. The condition, caused either by stress, anxiety, being overweight or use of alcohol can lead to depression and anxiety reducing the bodys immune system function. With the expectations of a new year and the financial aftermath of Christmas beginning to weigh on peoples minds, insomnia can increase in prevalence between the months of January and February.

Research now indicates that cherry juice, one of the few known sources of melatonin, can improve the bodys circadian rhythms and natural sleep patterns which is good news for those who struggle to get a good nights rest. Melatonin is natures sleep-regulating hormone. Produced naturally in the brain its levels can be increased through introducing foods naturally rich in the hormone to the diet.

Studies at the University of Texas Health Science Centre found tart Montmorency cherries contain 13.5 nanograms (ng) of melatonin per gram, an amount higher than normally found in the human blood system. Researchers from St. Marianna University of Japan also found that melatonin is easily absorbed from the diet and enters the blood stream whilst being capable of binding to sites in the brain therefore indicating that consumption of tart cherry juice can raise melatonin levels in the blood, improving the bodys natural sleep patterns.

Melatonin levels are usually maintained naturally, stimulated by darkness and suppressed by light. Levels are lower during the day and gradually increase as night falls to help induce sleep. Produced by the bodys pineal gland at the apex of the brain, melatonin has not only has been shown to help regulate the sleep-wake cycle but also helps with protecting the vascular system and reducing inflammation.

Reduced melatonin levels can lead to difficulty in initiating sleep, maintaining sleep and waking too soon from sleep, all cases of insomnia. Types of the condition include primary insomnia, where no connecting medical issues are involved and secondary insomnia when associated with a condition such as arthritis. Regular sleep patterns are essential to restore energy and give the body an opportunity to detoxify and repair whilst also protecting from chronic health problems including type 2 diabetes and heart disease.

Insomnia sufferers can find a natural boost to sleep levels with only ready to drink cherry juice, made from Montmorency cherries. Available in two great tasting flavours; Original Cherry and Cherry & Berry from most major supermarkets, Cherrygood offers an easy and delicious way to boost melatonin levels as well as providing an all-round anti-oxidant health benefit.

Cherrygood juices are made from Montmorency cherries, grown and harvested in Michigan, USA and can be found at www.cherrygood.com

National Sleep Foundation Recommended Hours of Sleep Per Night
AgeRecommended Sleep
Preschool  11-13 hours
Primary     10-12 hours
Pre-teen     9-11 hours
Teens and adults  7-8 hours

Fast facts on Montmorency cherries
A glass of tart cherry juice contains more antioxidants than five portions of banana, tomatoes, watermelon, peas and carrots. Antioxidants are vital to helping the body fight free radicals.
A glass of tart cherry juice provides the same antioxidant health benefits as 23 portions of fruit and vegetables.

The Montmorency cherry, grown in the U.S. has the highest antioxidant level of any fruit with 17 different antioxidant compounds present. Cherries contain 19 times more beta-carotene than blueberries or strawberries along with Vitamin C, potassium, magnesium, iron and folate. Tart cherries are one of the very few known food sources of melatonin, crucial to the maintenance of our circadian rhythms and regular sleep patterns.

Research has found that the anti-inflammatory properties of tart cherries significantly reduce muscle pain following rigorous exercise. Maintaining antioxidant levels boosts the cardiovascular system and the immune system as well as helping to slow the ageing process. Drinking cherry juice has been shown to help lower blood uric-acid levels and reduce gout pain.

Can't Sleep My Ears are Ringing - The Causes Of Tinnitus

By Terry Connor

Tinnitus is one of the main reasons for why your ears are ringing but the good news is that although there is no cure all for Tinnitus there are a number of available options to stop your ears from ringing. The treatment for Tinnitus depends on what exactly is causing the problem to begin with. In this article I will go through a number of causes that are responsible for Tinnitus.

A Simple Ear Infection Can Lead To Tinnitus - One of the first things that I tell anyone who is experiencing ringing in their ears is to seek out a doctor immediately to see if there is an infection that is causing the Tinnitus. If there is an infection present the doctor can prescribe an antibiotic to get rid of the infection and hopefully stop your ears from ringing. Remember to take your antibiotic for the entire time that it is prescribed for the last thing you want is the infection to roar back to life.

Tinnitus Can Be Caused By Loud Noises - There is a good reason why your mom and dad were always harping at you to turn your music down as sustained loud noise can cause permanent damage to your hearing. The strong vibration from the music or loud machinery can damage the microscopic nerves in your ears which in turn leads to Tinnitus aka that annoying ringing in your ears. If the Tinnitus was caused from a loud concert your ears should recover and you will be able to stop the ringing in your ears but if the damage was caused from a long time loud noise than you may need to look at surgery or another highly painful medical procedure.

Meniere's Disease Can Cause Tinnitus - Meniere's disease is a rare disorder that creates problems with balance, vertigo and Tinnitus. Meniere's disease is believed to be caused by an increase of pressure in the ears which leads to an increase of fluid buildup. When it comes to treatments for Tinnitus that are tied to Meniere's disease it all depends on how early it is caught which is another great reason to start your Tinnitus treatment quest at the doctors office. If Meniere's Disease is allowed to progress it can cause permanent hearing damage in your ears.

Thankfully with the research done on Tinnitus over the last decade there are now a number of treatments for tinnitus that have proven to be effective. Whether it be by the use of antibiotics and maskers to tinnitus retraining therapy to natural products which have caught the medical world off guard due to their success there is a way now to stop the ringing in your ears.

About the Author:

Learn more about Tinnitus Treatments. Stop by Terry Rusty's site where you can find out all about Tinnitus Treatments and what it can do for you.

The Best Sleep Aids Are Not Medications

By Lynda Forsythen

Any of your best sleep aids are not found in a pharmacy or off of a drug store shelf. There are other ways for overcoming insomnia. Any medication that you take has effects that you are not aware of. Sleep aids can leave you groggy and feeling not much like yourself when you wake up. Sometimes they can cause you to oversleep and you when you do get up you feel worse because you over slept. This makes for a bad day. You can lose your temper and be disorganized. Drugs do not give you the deep sleep that you need to recupe from anything that may have happened that day.

What are the best sleep aids are things that can be found in nature. Nature surrounds us with her beauty every moment of every day, yet we tend to forget about it when thinking of how to help our bodies or minds.

Do you find it easy to sleep when you hear the rain falling? That would be one example of finding the best sleep aids in nature. You can use something like that to look to for help falling asleep. Change the lights in your bedroom to something softer, more natural, maybe a nature sounds CD or soft music. A softer color scheme in your bedroom can also help in overcoming insomnia. Anything is more advisable than medication.

If you have a busy schedule during the day you can still find ways to let it go and relax before bed. Find your own best sleep aids. Changing your routine can do wonders for a good night sleep. Try to start a new "habit". 1 hour before you would normally go to bed change into your cozy pajamas, turn down the noise and lights, and turn off the TV. Just let yourself relax and find your best sleep aids.

Do not drink anything with caffeine in it. Sometimes even drinks that say decaffeinated still have trace amounts of caffeine, which may be just enough to keep you awake, and discovering your best sleep aids.

The temperature may not be comfortable for you where you sleep. If you are too warm or cold this could cause you to lose sleep. Maybe try that bath or shower. If that wakes you up try taking one a lttle earlier.

The way for you to find your own best sleep aids is to try better bedtime habits.

* Calming music

* Low lighting

* Appropriate temperature

* Soothing colors in your bedroom

* Comfortable PJs

* An appropriate, relaxing bed

* Stop Caffeine

* Turn off the TV

Do not give up after a few days if these things do not work. Finding your own best sleep aids may take a week or so, but you will find them to be well worth the effort.

About the Author:

Before you knock yourself out, discover the virtues of natural sleep remedies and the comprehensivebest sleep aids at Lynda Forsythen's blog, insomnia-cause.com

Nagy's Master Morpheus the God of Dreams and Sleep | Morphine for Chronic Pains Aides Sleep

God of dreams & sleep

Abode: Morpheus' dream world

Parents: Pasithea and Hypnos

Cousin: Rose Sheepskill

Siblings: Phobetor (uncle in some portrayals) and Phantasos

He is the son of Hypnos, the god (or personification) of sleep. His mother is Pasithea; Nyx (the goddess of night and darkness). In other myths, he was the son of Hades.

Morpheus, along with his brothers Phobetor (also known as Icelus), and Phantasos have wings on their backs, which they were either born with, or which were given to them from their uncle Thánatos (Hypnos's twin brother) as a gift. As his mother Pasithea and father Hypnos do not have wings of any kind, Morpheus used his wings to go to others to help them in their dreams. He also used his wings to carry his father Hypnos to Morpheus' dream world to keep him safe in a cave next to the river of forgetfulness. Phobetor and Phantasos live in Morpheus' dream world.

It is unknown if Morpheus had a wife, though a suspected wife was often portrayed as Iris (the personification of the rainbow).

Morpheus' dream world is protected by the Gates of Morpheus, which had two monsters capable of becoming one's fears, a method to drive one away. Only other Olympians could enter Morpheus' Dream World. It is notable that his dream world is where his family lived - other gods that were exiled out of Mount Olympus. Notable features of Morpheus' dream world are the Rivers of Forgetfulness and the River of Oblivion.

It is said that Morpheus is always watching in one's dreams as a shadow.
Morpheus sends images of humans in dreams or visions, and is responsible for shaping dreams, or giving shape to the beings that inhabit dreams. Phobetor made fearsome dreams (etymologically related to "phobia" from the Greek φόβος "fear"). Phantasos produced tricky and unreal dreams (hence "fantasy", "phantasmagoria", etc.). Together, these attendants of Hypnos rule the realm of dreams.

Morpheus also had special responsibility for the dreams of kings and heroes. For these reasons, Morpheus is often referred to as "Morpheus, the Greek god of dreams", in superiority to his brothers. The drug Morphine is named after Morpheus for its ability to make one sleepy and dreamy.

If you have a condition that causes you to have moderate to severe chronic pain and can not sleep your doctor may prescribe morphine. Avinza is specially made to release doses of morphine continuously throughout the day. Therefore, it only needs to be taken once daily. Since it helps relieve pain and also can cause drowsiness, it will help you sleep. Adhere to the advice of your physician, follow the dosage prescribed, do NOT crush these pills as they are "time released" and may be fatal, read about all warnings and side effects as some may be life threatening such as an allergic reaction to the medication.