More and more of my clients admit to having disturbed sleeps. They wake up early, at 3 or 4 in the morning, usually to pee, and then can’t get back to sleep. There are of course many causes:
- Overwork and stress puts the nervous system in overdrive. It does not know how to shut down and relax.
- Digestive and urinary problems are another cause.
- If you have a lot of gas this can also disturb your sleep.
- Too much salt has a detrimental effect on the kidneys and bladder.
- Eating too late in the evening tells your liver not to slow down. It causes pressure on the heart and other organs as digestion slows down at night.
It’s important to look at natural approaches to aid sleep:
- Magnesium is a good mineral to relax the nervous system.
- 5HTP, is another natural substance that helps the body to relax and gives you a good restful sleep.
- Taking the occasional course of a few days of melatonin is also a good way to retraining your body clock.
- Meditation can also really help.
Of course there are situation whereby one can lie awake and worry about things we cannot change. Sleeping well may help us to see these things more clearly and tackle the problems that keep us awake. Having black out curtains is a good investment to aid sleep. Right now in the UK it’s the darkest time of year and it’s not something we consider as important. But definitely think about it for the spring and summer, it is meant to really help with a deep sleep which is a real way to rejuvenate as well.
People who sleep little through stress are constantly wired-up and unable to make proper decisions in life. Try some of these suggestions and see if you can improve. If in doubt please consult a qualified practitioner.
With Best wishes to your health as we enter 2014.