Nux Vomica Supplement For Insomnia

Nux vomica is a homeopathic remedy for insomnia. Homeopathic medicine is based of "like cures like." In an attempt to treat symptoms and stimulate your body's immune response, infinitesimal amounts of a substance are given that, in larger amounts, would cause the same symptoms in a healthy person. Homeopathic medicine is not intended to replace conventional medical treatment. Consult your doctor before taking nux vomica for insomnia.

Homeopathic Preparation

Nux vomica is made from the poison nut tree, which contains the deadly toxin strychnine. Beneforce.com notes that nux vomica is prepared for homeopathic use by chopping and steeping the nuts, leaves and bark in alcohol to obtain a mother tincture, then diluting it until virtually none of the original substance remains. This process renders the strychnine harmless; homeopaths believe that a memory, or "essence," of the original substance remains behind and retains healing properties.

Nux Vomica Personality

Homeopathic practitioners take the patient's personality traits into account when prescribing remedies. Beneforce.com notes that the person most suited to the nux vomica remedy is driven, ambitious, critical and aggressive. Impatience and impulsivity also can indicate a need for nux vomica. Blue Shield Complementary and Alternative Health says that people who feel particularly tense and fatigued in the morning may benefit from nux vomica.

Insomnia

Homeopaths also take factors that worsen or improve symptoms into account before prescribing a remedy. According to Beneforce.com, intolerance to cold is an important indication for nux vomica, as is irritability. If insomnia is worse in the early morning hours, and aggravated by chilly bedrooms, smoking, alcohol and coffee but improves when the patient is in a warm room, this is another sign that nux vomica may be the right remedy. Blue Shield Alternative and Complementary Health adds that the nux vomica remedy may be useful for people who tend to experience sleeplessness after over-indulging in food, alcohol or stimulants.

Efficacy

There is little clinical evidence to support that nux vomica, or any homeopathic remedy, is effective to treat any specific condition. The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine points to the difficulty of studying substances that are in the highly diluted state necessitated by homeopathic preparation, but says there is some observational and anecdotal evidence indicating that homeopathy does work for some. Blue Shield Complementary and Alternative Health concurs, saying that there is some evidence showing that homeopathic remedies may have helpful effects.

Safety

According to the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, homeopathic remedies -- if taken under the supervision of trained professionals -- are generally considered safe. Blue Shield Complementary and Alternative Health advises consulting your physician before taking any homeopathic remedy.