Insomnia is described as prolonged or abnormal ability to sleep. The main cause of temporary
insomnia is psychological stress, worry and anxiety. The consumption of caffeine or other
stimulants before bedtime is also a cause. More serious is Fatal familia
insomnia, an inherited, rapidly progressive prion disease of middle or later life.
Symptoms of this type of insomnia include intractable insomnia, autonomic dysfunction,
endocrine disturbances, dysarthria (difficulty in speaking but without mental defect),
myoclonus (twitch or spasm of muscle groups), coma, and death. There is no specific therapy
known for the treatment of fatal familia insomnia.
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Insomnia
he National Sleep Foundation conducted a survey and found
that one out of two Americans has trouble sleeping occasionally, and at least 12 percent of
the population experiences frequent insomnia. There is a plethora of over-the-counter
(OTC) sleep aids, but these generally come with side effects such
as drowsiness, clumsiness, difficulty awakening, dry mouth, constipation, and nausea, just
to name a few. Herbs have traditionally been used as
an alternative.
Valerian Root is the most
studied and most popular herb traditionally used for sleep. Passion Flower,
Kava Root, Chamomile, and Scullcap are also traditionally used.
Passion Flower has
been the subject of research on anxiety and sleep.
Kava Root is
traditionally used for relaxation.
Chamomile has long been a
favorite for calming nerves and easing the body into a restful sleep, and
Scullcap, a nerve tonic and
sedative, is traditionally used for relaxation and sleep. Several other herbs are
traditionally used for sleep, including
Devil's Claw,
Gotu Kola, and
St. John's Wort.
Additionally, Schizandra Berry has been used in Chinese medicine for centuries.
Note:
This information is provided for educational purposes only
and is not intended to replace the use of a qualified
health care professional. We strongly recommend the use
of a physician for the diagnostic phase of any treatment.
With an accurate diagnosis in hand, we believe the consumer,
at that point, has a basic, unalienable right to seek out
factual information on all therapeutic approaches, both
orthodox and alternative, and choose those approach(es)
that are right for them. Nonetheless, a "good doctor"
should be considered a requisite starting point.To U.S. Users:
None of the products mentioned on this page have been
evaluated by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration;
therefore, they are not intended to diagnose, treat,
cure, or prevent any disease.