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Home Cures for Insomnia

Recurrent bouts of sleeplessness are classified as insomnia. Whether you have trouble getting to sleep or staying asleep once you get there, insomnia can serve as a major obstacle to your quality of life. Before you run to your local drugstore to ease your restless nights, try out these home remedies.

  1. Make an Effort

    • Write out an agenda for the day ahead so that your mind won't be racing out of control. Stretch to relax your muscles and turn on your favorite peaceful music or book on tape and have it running quietly in the background while you relax.

    Control your Cravings

    • Make sure to put at least three hours in between your last meal and the time you go to sleep. The digestion process not only can keep you awake, but can cause you to pack on pounds due to digestion slowing.

    Consistency is key

    • Try to break your cycle of insomnia by going to sleep at a decent hour and waking up at a decent hour. Repeatedly staying up late will throw your body's natural circadian rhythm off, making sleep more difficult each night you continue.

    Hydration at the right time

    • Make sure you are hydrated, as "dry mouth" can wake you up during the middle of the night. Make sure to hydrate about two hours before you plan on going to sleep, as drinking too late can cause you to wake up for a restroom stop.

    Vitamins and Minerals

    • Try taking a calcium supplement before bedtime, as it relaxes the nervous system. A good quality supplement has minimal artificial ingredients and is in a form that is easily absorbed (such as a liquid supplement). Make sure your supplement also includes magnesium and vitamin D. They are both essential for calcium absorption.

    Tryptophan

    • Drinking some warm soy milk can aide in sleep. Not only does the warmth have a calming affect, but soy contains tryptophan, which is an amino acid that aides in causing fatigue. Eating foods in the evening that contain tryptophan can also be beneficial. These foods include turkey, figs, dates, bananas, tuna, nut butter and whole grain crackers.

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