The National Heart Lung and Blood Institute states that sleep apnea is a common condition involving long periods of suspended breathing or shallow breaths while you sleep. If you have sleep apnea, you may have breathing pauses that last from several seconds to two or more minutes. Pauses in breathing may occur more than 30 times in one hour. Before using herbs to help treat your sleep apnea, ask your doctor about the possible benefits and risks of herbal supplementation.
Sleep Apnea
According to MayoClinic.com, there are two principle types of sleep apnea: obstructive and central. Obstructive sleep apnea, the most common type of sleep apnea, occurs when your throat muscles relax. Central sleep apnea occurs when there is dysfunctional communication between your brain and the muscles that govern your breathing. If you have sleep apnea, you may experience excessive daytime sleepiness, headaches in the morning, insomnia and abrupt awakenings. You may also snore loudly at night.
Herbal Treatments
According to Phyllis A. Balch, a certified nutritional consultant and author of "Prescription for Nutritional Healing," sleep apnea affects about 12 million adults in the United States. Approximately 50 percent of these individuals are overweight. Herbal treatments that may help treat your sleep apnea include California poppy, hops, kava kava, lemon balm, passionflower, skullcap, Valerian root, chamomile and catnip. Avoiding caffeine, alcohol and nicotine four to six hours before bed may also help treat your sleep apnea.
A Commonly Used Remedy
Catnip is an herbal remedy commonly used to treat sleep apnea. Balch notes that catnip has mild sedative properties, helps calm and tone your nervous system and promotes a restful night's sleep. Catnip has been used to treat many health problems, such as anxiety, colds, flu, inflammation, pain, stress and intestinal gas. According to the University of Michigan Health System, catnip may be most effective in treating insomnia -- including insomnia caused by sleep apnea -- and cough.
Additional Information
In addition to herbs, certain sleep habits may help reduce your sleep apnea. Consider going to bed only when you are sleepy, maintaining a regular sleep-wake cycle, sleeping in a dark, quiet room that is set at a comfortable temperature and engaging in physical exertion on a regular basis, but not within two hours of your usual bedtime. It is important for you to get a good night's sleep, as a lack of sleep can promote illness and premature aging.
References
- National Heart Lung and Blood Institute: Sleep Apnea
- MayoClinic.com: Sleep Apnea
- "Prescription for Nutritional Healing"; Phyllis A. Balch, CNC; 2010
- University of Michigan Health System: Catnip
