Finding a Natural Sleep Aid

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Today, there are literally millions of people who suffer with insomnia. Insomnia can affect any of us for a variety of reasons, but whatever the reason lack of sleep can affect every aspect of your daily life. Thus we need to find an effective sleep remedy. As a result, many people turn to the use of sleep aids to help them combat insomnia and get to sleep at night. The only problem with sleep aids is that many over-the-counter products can be habit forming, which is dangerous. However, choosing to use natural sleep aids can be safe and non-habit-forming.More people are beginning to turn to the use of natural sleep aids for various reasons. Natural remedies for sleeplessness have been about for centuries, it’s only in the near past that conventional America have begun to become more interested. If you are having trouble sleeping, then it might be worth the time to do a little analysis into some natural techniques to help relax you and let you achieve a normal sleep pattern. Drugs can only supply a brief solution and don’t let you reach the root of the difficulty.

A good way to relax yourself naturally is to take a warm bath. Try soaking in a warm tub an hour before bed. That may help ease the stresses of a long day and help make you feel tired. Adding relaxing smells, for example lavender oil, to the warm water can also help in relaxation too. Chamomile tea is another one of the excellent natural sleep remedy solutions you can use to achieve a restful sleep. Some people also choose to place a small cachet of chamomile under their pillow as the scent of this dried flower can be very relaxing as well. Finding a natural sleep remedy is now much easier than ever.

Another great option to consider in the way of natural sleep aids is that of sleep tracks. This sleep aid has been proven to help people fall asleep and stay asleep, and it is essentially a way of “entraining” the brain by listening to tracks every night which use a rhythm to help train the brain so you will be able to fall into a much deeper sleep. With Sleep Tracks you can try the product on a trial basis, and if it does not work, return it and get a total refund. Either way, there are a lot of different options for you to try if you are one of the millions suffering with insomnia.

The information contained here is provided for your general information only. SHD does not give medical advice or engage in the practice of medicine. SHD under no circumstances recommends particular treatment for specific individuals and in all cases recommends that you consult your physician or local treatment center before pursuing any course of treatment.

Comments (0) Jul 14 2009

Sinus Headache Symptoms: The ABCs of Sinus Headaches

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Before you read this article please know that you should always contact your physician before taking any medical advise online.

What It Is

Sinusitis is currently one of the most common sicknesses in the world. Millions of people suffer from the sinus headache. However, for those afflicted with this condition, sinus headaches have become a problematic symptom that they can definitely live without. These headaches can become severe and usually go hand in hand with a stuffy nose.

Everyone can be a victim of sinusitis and if one is unsure if he is indeed experiencing headaches caused by this illness, it would be best to pay the doctor a visit. Physicians will perform a physical examination on the patient, including an analysis of his nasal congestion and discharge. If needed, some will need to undergo more tests. Once diagnosed, there are loads of over the counter remedies that will help relieve sinus headaches. However, there are also other alternatives that patients may also want to look into.

Natural Remedies

The first natural remedy on the list has to be rest. The sinuses need to be relaxed and this is best done through sufficient sleep and rest. Patients can also make use of doctor-prescribed neck and head exercises to facilitate the flow of air in the sinuses. Alternating hot and cold towel compress on the forehead can also be helpful for some. There are also some claims that eating spicy foods help relieve the pain of sinus headaches. People with sinusitis symptoms need to do the proper research.

Other, more unconventional alternatives are also available such as herbs. Some alternatives, are the key to sinus headache relief. Stay true to the sinus remedy that works best for you and you will be well on your way to your own sinus remedy.

Comments (0) Jul 08 2009

Natural Remedies for Diabetes Management

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Studies show that gymnema sylvestre, cinnamon, chromium and cloves are all well-proven natural remedies that lower glucose levels thus assisting the control of Type 2 diabetes. In addition they also lower LDL cholesterol and triglyceride levels naturally.

Cinnamon is a natural remedy for blood sugar control.

During the early stages of testing a new chromium supplement, Agricultural Research Service chemist Richard A. Anderson, Ph.D. and his colleagues were attempting to disrupt some volunteers’ blood sugar control by feeding them a low chromium diet that included apple pie. Surprisingly, these volunteers’ blood sugar remained under control. Subsequent test-tube studies showed that cinnamon in the pie was boosting insulin activity, as chromium does, and thus controlling blood glucose. The spice turned out to be the “best thing we ever tested” for that purpose, Anderson says. (Science News Online 1/5/2004; Vol. 165, No. 18).

Since then Dr. Anderson and colleagues have confirmed the blood sugar lowering properties of cinnamon and its ability to lower triglycerides, LDL cholesterol and total cholesterol in test tube and animal studies as well as in a number of human trials. Details of these studies and human trials are outside the scope of this article.

Richard A. Anderson said: “If you can improve insulin function the cholesterol goes down, triglycerides go down, glucose goes down, and all this goes towards the alleviation of type 2 diabetes,” He cautioned, however, that consumers should not simply start dousing their food with cloves and cinnamon [at high doses]. He noted, for example, that cinnamon in powder form is rendered ineffective by contact with saliva, and its lack of solubility in water can result in an unwanted build up of the spice in the body. (HealthDay News 5/4/06).

There are some simple ways around this including buying cinnamon capsules.

Clove is a natural remedy for blood sugar control.

Dr. Alam Khan, Agricultural University, Peshawar, Pakistan, a former postdoctoral student and Fulbright Fellow in the Anderson laboratory, reported on the first study of the effect of cloves on insulin function in humans at the Experimental Biology 2006 meeting, in San Francisco. (Medical News Today 9/4/2006).

At the end of the study, regardless of the amount of cloves consumed, all those who ingested cloves showed a drop in glucose, triglycerides and LDL (”bad”) cholesterol levels. Blood levels of HDL (”good”) cholesterol were not affected among the clove eaters. Those who did not ingest cloves experienced no changes. (HealthDay News 5/4/2006). More details of this study can be found at the author’s website.

Gymnema is a natural remedy for blood sugar control.

Studies show that Gymnema sylvestre helps control both type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes. Gymnema is a well-proven treatment for diabetes, and it has been used for this purpose for over 2,000 years and has proved to be very effective in type 1 diabetes.

It is best known for its apparent ability to lower blood sugar levels. Results from case reports and studies in humans and animals suggest that it may work in several ways to help control both type 1 and type 2 diabetes. It is possible that gymnema sylvestre may even prompt the pancreas to develop more beta cells - the source of insulin. It may also make body cells more responsive to the insulin that is available. (DrugDigest).

The first scientific confirmation of the effects of gymnema on glucose in human diabetics was in 1926 when it was demonstrated that the leaves of Gymnema reduced urinary glucose. (K.G. Gharpurey, Indian Medical Gazette 1926; 61: 155).

A number of trials have been carried out demonstrating the properties of Gymnema sylvestre, the details of which are beyond the scope of this article.

Chromium is a natural remedy for blood sugar control.

Scientists believe that insulin uses chromium as an assistant (technically, a cofactor) to “unlock the door” to the cell membrane, thereby allowing glucose to enter the cell.

More than 15 scientific studies support the safety and role of chromium in improving insulin function and glucose metabolism in people with type 2 diabetes and related conditions. “There is strong scientific evidence to suggest that supplemental chromium picolinate may improve insulin sensitivity, blood glucose control, and cardiovascular risk factors in adults with type 2 diabetes,” according to Dr. Kaufman, former president of the American Diabetes Association and specialist in pediatric endocrinology. (PRNewswire-FirstCall 15/2/2005). Details of these studies are outside the scope of this article.

Science News Online reported in April 2005 that Robert DiSilvestro and Emily Dy of Ohio State University showed data at the Experimental Biology 2005 meeting in San Diego indicating that only the picolinate form of chromium is absorbed well by the body. The report stated that according to Robert DiSilvestro about 40 percent of chromium picolinate was absorbed by people taking chromium supplements in one experiment. DiSilvestro added that absorption of other forms of the mineral in supplements ran as low as 1 percent and only about 10 percent of any form of chromium in foods is typically absorbed. (Science News Online 16/4/2005; Vol. 167, No. 16).

Additionally, an animal study conducted at the U.S. Department of Agriculture and published in the Journal of the American College of Nutrition found that chromium picolinate was better absorbed by the tissues (e.g., liver and muscle) than chromium nicotinate and chromium chloride. Absorption into the tissue is important because for a mineral to be beneficial, it must survive the digestive tract and reach the bloodstream. Otherwise, minerals pass through the body, leaving it void of necessary nutrients. (Medical News Today 7/2/2007).

Disclaimer: The information and opinions in this article are for information purposes only and is believed to be accurate and sound, based on the best judgment available to the author. Readers should consult appropriate health professionals on any matter relating to their health and well-being. Readers who fail to consult appropriate health authorities assume the risk of any injuries.

Comments (0) Jan 17 2009