According to a 2005 report prepared for the U.S. Department of Health, as many as 70 million Americans regularly experience difficulty sleeping. This is roughly one in five people across the country, though in most cases the difficulty is...
Kola nuts are common ingredients in soft drinks, alcoholic beverages and candies. The kola nut also has numerous uses as a digestive supplement and herbal medicine and is effective at suppressing hunger, working as a diuretic, or treating...
Insomnia has two layers—trouble falling asleep and trouble staying asleep. In general, people experience transient bouts of insomnia throughout their lives. The causes vary, such as stress and worries, too much caffeine or too much...
Depression is a name for several related mood disorders, as defined in the American Psychiatric Society's "Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, 4th ed., Text Revision" (DSM-IV). When identified as depression, it usually means major depression, a...
A 2010 survey published in the "European Journal of Public Health" indicated that the use of alternative medicine is increasing. These treatments focus on natural ways of solving physiological and psychological problems. According to a 2010 report...
In layman's terms, bipolar disorder is often described as "mood swings." This statement is accurate but must be defined more specifically. The Mayo Clinic explains that bipolar disorder is characterized as mood swings that range from depressed to...
Around 58 percent of Americans experience insomnia-like symptoms each week, reports the National Sleep Foundation. These symptoms include waking without feeling refreshed, having trouble staying asleep and not being able to fall asleep quickly. If...
Fatigue and sleepiness do not mean the same thing, although sleepiness can occur because of fatigue. Fatigue best describes a tiredness that pervades mood, muscles and psychological outlook. "Dorland's Illustrated Medical Dictionary, 31st ed.,"...
If you go to bed or wake up in the morning with tense muscles, chances are your sleep quality is not up to par. Finding the right balance of activity and exercise can help you to sleep more soundly. While you should not exercise vigorously at...
Tryptophan is an amino acid and a component of the proteins you eat and the proteins in your body. Because you use tryptophan to synthesize the neurotransmitter serotonin--involved in feelings of relaxation and well-being--you may experience a...
More than 100 types of sleep disorders have been discovered, says MedlinePlus. People can have trouble falling asleep or staying asleep. They may be unable to sleep at consistent times of the day or may assume strange behaviors while sleeping....
Other than not smoking, exercise is the single most beneficial thing you can do to keep your body in optimal shape. A regular exercise program improves cardiovascular fitness, respiratory health, mental health, and brain function. If the exercise...
Sleep disturbance is widespread and has many causes, such as stress, dietary factors, trauma or illness. Poor sleep leads to sleep deprivation, which can have serious health consequences, including weakened immunity and hormonal disruption. Some...
Stress is among the risk factors for stroke, and though it doesn't rank as high as hypertension, high cholesterol and diabetes, there is no doubt that it can take a toll on your health. When you are experiencing life stress, you may liken your...
Caffeine is a powerful drug that acts as a central nervous system stimulant. Caffeine is one of the most widely used drugs in the world and is found in coffee, chocolate, tea, kola nut and over-the-counter medications. Caffeine can affect the body...
"To sleep: perchance to dream" isn't only a quote from "Hamlet," but it is also the elusive goal of insomniacs around the world. Over-the-counter and prescription drugs can be effective in helping you fall--and stay--asleep, but they often come...
Passion fruit tea contains many of the chemicals found in the passionflower plant. The aboveground parts of the passionflower are used as a medication, infusion, tincture, food additive and as a tea. Passionflower tea is often used to treat pain,...
New "superfoods" seem to be reported in the media on an almost daily basis. The 21st century buzz word can be seen everywhere, even though the stated benefits of these so-called miracle foods may lack adequate research. The properties of cherries,...
Many factors can cause the inability to fall asleep and stay asleep, also called insomnia. Some insomnia may be caused by external factors, while some may be due to illness or lifestyle choices. Choosing natural remedies for insomnia may prevent...
Red wine is beneficial for decreasing your risks of lung cancer, heart disease and Alzheimer's disease, plus it could help you fall asleep. People frequently ingest alcohol as a sleep aide. A survey published in "Sleep" in May 1999 found...
Primary insomnia is characterized by a distinct difficulty in falling asleep, even in the presence of marked fatigue. Primary insomnia sufferers will also find themselves waking up intermittently throughout the night for no apparent reason....
Sleep problems can be diagnosed by recognizing and identifying a set of specific symptoms. Daytime fatigue is an obvious symptom and is almost universal for sleep disorders. Each sleep disorder, however, has its own unique set of symptoms....
At the end of a long day, yoga stretches can help you relax and relieve built-up stress. Fitness Magazine reports that doing eight minutes of yoga in bed may allow insomniacs to fall asleep easier. Mild inversions and restorative poses can calm...
Doctors prescribe Ambien, zolpidem tartrate, to aid insomniacs in getting restful sleep. The sedative is classified as a controlled substance and hypnotic medication that affects brain chemicals that interfere with sleep. Ambien can help those...
Bach flower remedies correlate with an emotion or frame of mind and therefore address the underlying reason for your sleeplessness. Consider the reasons for your insomnia, and then choose the remedy that seems to fit. Combine up to seven flowers...
Tossing and turning as you try to fall asleep each night can make bedtime upsetting. A study performed by the National Sleep Foundation found that as much as 58 percent of respondents had at least one symptom of insomnia a few nights a week. By...
Individuals who have difficulty with sleep - either falling asleep, staying asleep or waking early - may benefit from consuming a high protein bedtime snack one to two hours prior to bedtime. Bedtime snacks should be high in protein, and contain...
The term "yoga" means "to yoke," and refers to the practice of united the mind and body through controlled breathing exercises, physical poses and meditation. While the practice of yoga is divided into different styles, from the vigorous Ashtanga...
Melatonin is a naturally secreted hormone that helps manage your day and night cycles. At night, your body naturally produces more melatonin helping you sleep. Synthetic versions of the hormone are purported to help insomniacs and those suffering...
