Are you one of the people who has tried every calming supplement and sleep aid there is but it had virtually no effect on your insomnia? These are often sold as “Here’s something that will help calm down your overreactive brain: Valerian, Skull Cap, L-Theanine, GABA, Magnessium, 5HTP, Glycine, Passionflower, Hops, Chamomile and many others. If you answered yes then your root cause hides elsewhere and this article will help you steer in the right direction.
The reason I often refer to Eastern medicine is because it believes that the whole is greater than the sum of all parts. If the body is not balanced, illnesses and disease can occur. In order to appreciate this better and improve my sleep I had to self-educate on a ton of things. Here are some key concepts that will help you understand why you might be experiencing lots of frustration with common sleep aids.
Homeostasis – The Great Balancing Act
Think of your body as a 24 hour balancing act. You are programmed to survive in an inner changing internal and external environment. For example, you eating and enjoying a movie but what is your body doing that very moment? It is performing a complex set of procedures to digest, regulate temperature, blood pressure, balance out PH and sugars, regenerate muscles, detox and hundreds of other functions all the same time! Meanwhile, oblivious to all the multiple processes taking place inside you are relaxing on your sofa.
All living organisms, from plants to hamsters to people, must regulate their internal environment to process energy in order to survive. This is what is called Homeostasis – the ability to maintain a balance. One of the components [continue reading…]