Gay Landeta
Stress. We all encounter it, or at least the potential for it daily. How well react to those stressors is linked to how emotionally resilient we are. Resilience consists of many aspects however one essential component (for most of us) is enough sleep. This month, with the silly season looming large (yes it is!!!), I thought I would run some of my preferred sleeping supports past you. I use these if my usual sleep routines aren’t working … I hope there is something to help you, or your loved one, find a better nights rest.
There are many natural and herbal sleeping concoctions worth trying. I carry the homeopathic ‘Brauer Sleep and Insomnia’ spray and ‘Sleep Rescue Remedy’ because I find that they are a great calming support for many of my clients. The former to calm an over excited nervous system, the later helps a busy brain. You can pick these up in Health Food Shops as well or many chemists carry them.
I personally can’t take anything with Valerian (it’s like tripping out for me!) so my herbal sleep support is ‘Complete Sleep’, available at the chemist or supermarket. My Chinese Medicine friends tell me the Chinese Dates in it are very good for the nervous system and the combo is fine for frequent use. There are also great Chinese medicine combos that will help calm an over active nervous system available from TCM practitioners. I tend to use the Brauer spray or Complete Sleep if I feel my nervous system is a little over extended but, if I find I am using it regularly, I will get myself balanced for the underlying stress that is contributing to my over-energy.
One of the great things about a good sleep is feeling refreshed the next day. As a converted night owl I now love mornings but still feel a bit disoriented if I wake before 7/730 am, especially to an alarm. That waking time doesn’t fit my life especially now I am integrating an early morning yoga routine in. There are a number of apps that wake you in a more natural way than an alarm, however, often they need to be under the pillow which not everyone likes. I am trying ‘Sleep Genius’ which does not rely on being under your pillow (therefore saving me from EMS) and helps me to wake gradually at the time I prefer. Viola, no disorientation. This app also features some music and pink noise that is supposed to help you sleep better. They say it is like being rocked off to sleep. I put it on the other-side of the room and it works very well.
A couple of other pointers – if you have been under constant stress then your adrenals may well be over extended. Time to get a balance to see the world in a new way and re-set the energy system. Otherwise see a Naturopath, your Chinese Medicine Practitioner, Osteo or Chiro or other favourite support person to deal with the underlying factors stopping your sleep. And, if nothing is helping it is worth trying a sleep specialist to get to the bottom of the issue. I (personally) think sleeping tablets (aside from very occasional use) can hide underlying issues that, once addressed, not only help you sleep but also can transform a whole life.
I hope some of these ideas are new to you and will help you to improve your sleep. If you want more information on any of these, or want to make a time to clear out your sleep issues, feel free to email me or give me a call on 0418 795 135.
Sleep well!
This article was written by Gay Landeta with the intention of helping you to Create the Life you Want to Live! All rights reserved 2013.
