Some of the best homeopathic sleep aids include the use of relaxation therapies, exercises such as yoga, and herbal supplements. Some homeopathic practitioners and physicians also advise that some key changes in diet and lifestyle may help with sleep disorders. Homeopathic medicine generally approaches health problems with a wide view, taking into account the overall health of the body, rather than trying to address one specific issue. With sleep disorders, this may be a viable view, as problems associated with sleep may actually be the symptoms of varied health concerns.
Relaxation therapies frequently used as homeopathic sleep aids include “progressive relaxation” and “relaxation by response.” Progressive relaxation involves concentrating on each individual muscle group, and slowly relaxing them one at a time. Typically, patients are instructed to start at the top of the body and work their way down to the feet, or vice versa. Relaxation by response is similar to progressive relaxation in that it involves relaxing each muscle group individually. The difference is that with relaxation by response, practitioners are instructed to tense the muscles a couple of times prior to attempting to relax them.
Some homeopathic sleep aids involve changes in lifestyle rather than relaxation therapies or dietary supplements. Some people find that reading themselves to sleep often works, because it helps distract the mind from stresses related to day-to-day problems that could be causing wakefulness. In addition, many people find that listening to soft music may help them get to sleep. Regarding exercise, homeopathic practitioners typically caution against performing vigorous exercise prior to sleeping, but instead recommend yoga, as it usually promotes relaxation.
A popular natural supplement that may help people get to sleep is chamomile. Chamomile can be taken as a pill, but is more commonly brewed in tea. Most people seem to find it has a pleasant taste, and in clinical studies, it has been shown to cause drowsiness.
Melatonin is another of the popular homeopathic sleep aids. Melatonin is a hormone naturally produced in the body as the body reacts to darkness. Some people may have problems falling asleep because their bodies are not producing enough of the hormone, or the secretions are not occurring when they should. People with this problem may find themselves drowsier during daylight hours than they are at night. Taking melatonin as a supplement within a couple of hours of bedtime may help some people fall asleep.
