4 Natural Ways To Treat Insomnia

Insomnia is one of the most common sleep disorders in the population. This can range from taking several hours to sleep, waking up in the middle of the night, or getting up earlier than necessary. Even  in some very extreme cases, it reaches total sleep deprivation.

Thus, we can classify this disorder into two types. On the one hand, the so-called onset insomnia whereby the person takes more than 30 minutes to fall asleep. And, on the other, maintenance insomnia, in which there are no problems staying asleep, causing nocturnal awakenings lasting more than 30 minutes. Or the person wakes up totally, incapacitating him to acquire the dream again.

Insomnia can be caused by many factors. Among them are stress, anxiety or eye problems. 

All people need to  respect the hours of sleep we need, if we want to be productive enough during the day. And not only that. It is essential that we rest so that the body and mind can adequately perform all their metabolic functions.

In general, for adults the recommended hours of sleep are between 6 and 8 hours a day. However, many people are renewed after 4 hours, while others do not do it until 10 hours. It varies with the age and needs of each.

Insomnia, depending on its evolution, can be temporary or chronic. In the first case, it usually lasts just a few days or weeks, and, in more serious cases, up to months and even years. If it occurs temporarily, you can use this short list of some natural ways to treat insomnia. If it persists, see your doctor.

4 natural ways to treat insomnia

1. Valerian infusion

This is a perfect natural remedy for anxiety, stress or insomnia. In addition, it can be taken in different ways.

As highlighted by a study published in the Journal Phytomedicine , valerian has a substance called valerenic acid that inhibits the breakdown of GABA in the brain.

Therefore, its consumption leads to a state of calm and tranquility. Even their effects are compared to those of drugs for anxiety as Valium and Xanax. 

Ingredients

• 3 or 6 drops of valerian
• 1 cup of water (250 ml)

Preparation

• If you prefer to drink it hot, you just have to pour a cup of water into a pot. Put it on a low heat, or simply heat it in the microwave.
• Add the valerian drops to the water, mix well. And drink it.
• It is recommended to consume  half an hour before sleeping.

2. Milk with honey

Have you heard that milk is one of the best remedies for insomnia? Well, although you may think that it is a myth, it is true. The nutrients it contains help us relax and fall asleep much faster. For its part, honey serves as a natural sweetener.

Ingredients

• 1 glass of milk (200 ml)
• 1 teaspoon of honey (7.5 g)

Preparation

• If you only have powdered milk, you should only use 2-3 tablespoons to make yourself a glass.
• After you make the milk, add the honey to make it taste sweeter.
• Heat it up and consume about 30 to 40 minutes before going to sleep.

3. Chamomile tea

Many herbs that we consume regularly have relaxing properties and function as calming of the nervous system. That is why chamomile is wonderful for falling asleep.

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon or bag of chamomile (10 g)
• 1 cup of hot water (250 ml)

Preparation

• This is one of the easiest infusions to prepare. All you have to do is place the chamomile bag in the hot water and wait for it to completely distil.
• If you prefer to use the loose herb, strain it before drinking.
• Consume this infusion 20 minutes before sleeping.

4. Lettuce tea

As we have said before, insomnia can be caused by many factors. Lettuce is an excellent remedy to calm anxiety and stress, and helps you fall asleep quickly. This time we will use only the central part of the lettuce.

Ingredients

• 1 log or 3 leaves of lettuce
• 1 cup of water (250 ml)

Preparation

• Heat the water, the amount of which can vary depending on the grams of lettuce that we are going to use.
• When it comes to a boil, add the stem or leaves and let it infuse for 5 minutes so that the minerals and soothing agents in the lettuce are distilled.
• After the indicated time, strain the infusion and wait for it to cool down a bit.
• Drink it about 30-20 minutes before bed.

These 4 natural remedies will help you fight insomnia. Keep in mind that the first time you may not notice a difference, but if you add them to your daily habits you will notice great effects.