• Do you wake up feeling un-refreshed?
• Do you have trouble falling asleep at night?
• Do you toss and turn throughout the night?
• Do you wake up in the night and can’t get back to sleep?
• Do you drink coffee throughout the day?
• Do you frequently drink alcohol in the evening before bed to unwind?
• Do you watch television in bed or stay up late on the computer?
• Do you feel wired at night?
• Do you crave stimulation?
• Do you feel stressed out and anxious?
• Do you wake up in the night feeling hungry?

Poor sleep is one of the most common and most challenging problems faced by many people in today’s society. There are often many contributing factors including stimulants, anxiety, poor sleep hygiene, hormonal imbalances, hypoglycaemia, mineral and vitamin deficiencies and increased urinary frequency.

Pharmaceutical treatments for insomnia are often habit forming and cause grogginess the next morning. If you are suffering from sleep disruption, consider getting to the root cause and finding long-term healthy solutions.

Melatonin

Melatonin is a hormone that is produced primarily in the brain by the pineal gland during the night as we sleep. It is also produced in the gastrointestinal system, where is acts to relax the smooth muscles and possibly increase blood flow.

Melatonin plays a key role in regulating sleep and diurnal cortisol patterns so that we wake up feeling refreshed and energized. In addition, melatonin supports immune balance, is a powerful antioxidant, analgesic and may have a role in estrogen receptor function. It is frequently used for insomnia, night shift workers, jet lag and in cancer treatment. The antispasmodic effect of melatonin the gastrointestinal system may also be beneficial for conditions such as Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS). Melatonin may also be beneficial for prevention and treatment in migraine headaches as an analgesic effect.

Botanical Medicine

Herbs can have a profound calming effect on the nervous system, causing gentle relaxation to help induce a restful sleep. Herbal complexes are prescribed for the individual depending on the severity and frequency of insomnia.  

Please contact the clinic at 250.590.5221