Treating Insomnia the Natural Way: The Go-To Methods of Naturopaths

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By Jonathan Moore

Nothing can be quite so frustrating as insomnia. Many people hear the word and they picture someone miserably sitting up late because they can’t fall asleep. But that’s only part of the definition. True insomnia can also refer to a condition where someone can fall asleep, but their sleep does them no good.

This is truly maddening: I speak from experience. Luckily if you suffer from insomnia, there are a multitude of treatments that you can try. An M.D. will generally try giving you a low-grade anti-depressant, or even a trial of sleeping pills, but they may not work in every case.

In the naturopathic world, there are many, many options, and here I will list the most common. You can find most of these at any health food store.

5 htp- Probably one of the best and most successful treatments out there, 5-hydroxytrytohphan,  works by increasing the production of serotonin in the brain. This “feel good” chemical is responsible for taking the body into deep, restful sleep. Dosage can range typically from 50 mg to 150 mg. I might also add that in my experience with this substance, 5 htp doesn’t create the typical negative side effects associated with SSRI’s like Prozac, Paxil, etc. Be aware, however, that 5 htp may take up to 2 weeks to begin working.

Melatonin- Another in the first line of defense against insomnia, melatonin is a chemical that is produced naturally by the pineal gland, and it is closely related to sleep. It is often good to begin with a very low dose (.5 mg) as it can sometimes cause morning drowsiness and a hangover feeling.

Valerian root- Valerian has been used for millennia as an herb to treat insomniacs. In a low dose it can help create a feeling of peaceful well-being and deepen sleep.

Lavender- If you are looking to use lavender to combat your insomnia, it is first of all important to only get pure lavender essence oil, which is available at natural health stores. It is quite cheap and will usually last a long time. Some people leave a drop on their pillow at night as they go to sleep, however, the smell may be so intense that it actually interferes with rest. To really get maximize its effectiveness, run a warm bath and dab five or six drops into the water. The aroma will act as a powerful sedative and relaxant.

These are just a few of the first treatments available for someone looking to regain a good night’s rest. But in reality, you may have to do some out-of-the-box thinking to truly defeat insomnia. Insomnia can be as much of a mental/spiritual issue as physical. So, explore and reflect for yourself on what the best option would be.

If you’re looking for a more comprehensive list of treatments, check out Jacob Teitelbaum’s SHINE protocol for chronic fatigue. On this page, there is a ‘sleep’ section which is useful for anyone looking for ideas to combat insomnia, as it is one of the symptoms of CFS. His protocol can be found here: http://www.endfatigue.com/tools-support/view-treatments.html.

Also, if you’ve tried everything and you’re looking for a few new options, stay tuned for part 2 of this series. You may be surprised!