1 in 6 Women Have Trouble Sleeping
Do you have trouble sleeping? Find yourself awake in the dark, in the middle of the night, or staring at the ceiling trying to fall asleep? It appears that you are not alone. In the years that lead into menopause – that could be 5 to 8 years – and during menopause, many women struggle with getting restful sleep or enough sleep. I am guessing this knowledge is not as comforting as possibly a solution to the problem.
Katie Couric, as part of her Ask Katie series, shares some information about how the problem can be related to the season of your life that you may be in:
Menopause and Sleep Loss.
Dr. Brightman and Katie discuss various ways to get a good night’s sleep – from keeping your cell phone out of your bedroom to sleep aids, both natural and prescription.
Personally, I prefer all things natural. My body doesn’t seem to ‘like’ meds and so I look for a natural solution whenever there is one. I also believe that stress and/or anxiety can definitely affect sleep. Exercise, stretching, relaxing, or something similar that you prefer – when done on a regular basis – can help A LOT. Also, I think that your diet can affect your restful sleep. That could be a topic for an entire article but is worth a little personal research if you think what you are eating can be keeping you awake.
Herbal Sleep Remedies
In terms of a natural supplement that can help you sleep, Shaklee’s solution is a combination of ingredients – just like all of their herbal remedies that are ‘complexes’. Shaklee finds ingredients that work together better than any one works on their own!
The main ingredient in Gentle Sleep Complex is valerian extract. It acts as a natural, mild sedative. Usage goes back to 2 A.D. and many healing properties are associated with it. Supporting ingredients are German chamomile and passionflower. All are safe to use and have no side effects.
Valerian Extract
Valerian can be used for nervous exhaustion, nervous dyspepsia (upset stomach), headaches, panic attacks, insomnia, and to improve your quality of sleep. It has also been used successfully with children who have behavioral disorders, are hyperactive or fearful.
Research and clinical studies show that Valerian has muscle relaxing properties, and can improve your quality of sleep as well as shorten the time it takes to fall asleep. Prescription meds can suppress your normal level of nocturnal movement, though Valerian will not change it. Sleep medications can also interact with other sedatives, including alcohol, and Valerian does not.
If you are frustrated because you are awake for extended periods in the middle of the night, or have trouble falling asleep, you might want to give a natural approach a try. You don’t have the worries of side effects and you are keeping you body as close to its normal rhythm as possible – while enjoying restful sleep.
To learn more about Gentle Sleep Complex, visit Herbal Sleep Remedies.