Sleep is a fundamental part of health and wellbeing, and without a proper amount of good, restful sleep our lives can be much harder than they need to be. Insomnia is characterized by a lack of sleep, or restless, poor quality sleep. Insomnia is generally understood as a difficulty in going to sleep, but can also include frequently waking throughout the night. Restorative sleep gives your body the chance to refresh and regenerate, and without it your body and mind can wear down and malfunction.

Benefits:
*Promotes sleep
*Allows for deep, restful sleep
*Counters insomnia
*Hastens sleep and eases jet lag

Insomnia can affect people at any age, although many people become more susceptible to it as they grow older. Various illnesses and viral bacterial infections have a greater risk when the body is not getting all the sleep it needs to stay healthy. Insomnia can be caused by many factors, either physical, emotional or psychological, with stress being the most common contributor. Other factors can include depression, anxiety and other mood disorders, medical illnesses such as heart disease, respiratory disease, or disorders of the digestive system which cause physical discomfort. Heartburn, diabetes, arthritis, as well as lifestyle factors such as caffeine, alcohol, drug use, work patterns, and prescription medications are all causes of insomnia.

If the body experiences a lack of restful restorative sleep, some noticeable issues can arise, such as constantly being tired, irritable and generally fatigued. Your memory, concentration and patience will all decrease and your general mood can become very negative. Another noticeable symptom is a preoccupation with the need for sleep or anxiety over the lack of sleep. In this sense a cyclical problem can occur, where the more you sleep the greater your anxiety due to not being able to sleep.

Step one in treating insomnia is recognizing that chronic insomnia is a symptom of a deeper problem, potentially a hidden medical condition or psychological factor. Treating these underlying causes of insomnia is important before there is a possibility of realizing any lasting results.

Good dietary practices, as well as regular sleep patterns and exercise, are the best way to make sure that your body is able to get restful sleep. In addition, it is very important to ensure that the body does not experience any vitamin and mineral deficiencies, and to rebalance the body’s natural chemical structure.

5-Hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP) is a neurotransmitter used to regulate serotonin levels in the brain and central nervous system. 5-HTP is the most effective overall natural treatment for insomnia, with the added benefit of improving the quality of sleep.

Melatonin is a very effective sleep aid. Melatonin’s main job in the body is regulating night and day cycles, or sleep-wake cycles. When it gets dark the body increases melatonin production, signalling the body to prepare for sleep. Light decreases melatonin production, and signals the body to get ready for daytime. And when melatonin production is low, or melatonin regulation by the body is out of order, problems getting into a sleep-wake rhythm can occur. Melatonin supplements can help regulate sleep cycles, giving you the restful and deep sleep you need.