Among the collapse of our financial institutions, mortgage foreclosures, the predictably outrageous price of gas, and the tossing about of those dreaded words 'recession' and 'depression' as though they were just a couple softballs on a Saturday afternoon, I think it is safe to say that Americans have begun to feel just a little nervous about the state of the nation - and their checkbooks. For some reason, and despite the fact that we are still punching our timecards day in and day out, all our little nests are quickly falling away from us as we watch the markets drop, and drop, and drop like so many untenable twigs. Some have already lost their homes; many are seeing their retirement savings slip swiftly away from them. The question is: What do we do when the universe throws us a curve ball for which we are so thoroughly unprepared? What do we do in the face of events which are utterly out of our control?
Given the American Psychological Association's recent findings that 8 out of 10 Americans report the current economic situation to be a significant cause of stress (up from 66 percent in April), it seems as though stressing out has become the latest trend. As a result, many of us are sacrificing our seconds of waking (and sleeping) to the ever-futile process of rumination. It's an innate reaction, a throwback to a primeval era when stress was actually beneficial to us. Unfortunately (or fortunately), it's also one of those beautifully complicated functions that, today, is rarely very helpful. In fact, science has proven time and again that stress is actually quite harmful; leading, in the short term, to insomnia, depression, fatigue, and the common cold (among other issues), and in the long term, to conditions such as heart disease, chronic high blood pressure, and cancer. Stress threatens our immune system which in turn threatens our well-being on every level.
Although many of us can't do much to banish our current economic ails into the ether, there's quite a bit we can do to eliminate the health problems which often go along with them. So let's focus on the first thing to go - our sleep. Insomnia is an incredible albatross; not only does it make us feel tired, groggy, foggy and a little like we've got sand in our eyes and iron in our boots, it can also make us irritable, depressed, anxious, and moody.
Unfortunately, conventional pharmaceutical treatments, while effective, also carry many unpleasant side effects. As a result, most people are a little gun-shy when it comes to popping a pill. We all remember those unfortunate sleep-driving incidents; no one wants to wake up at 3am to find his - or herself speeding down the wrong side of the highway at 70mph. Not only is it a waste of precious gas, but it's likely to be quite frightening too. Thankfully, there are natural options, and while it's hard to be certain which treatments actually work, referring to an alternative medicine website like rVita.com, which outlines the efficacy of alternative therapies such as chiropractic care and green tea for various conditions such as pain, diabetes, and depression according to scientific trial data and user feedback information, can be quite helpful. In this vein, various clinical trials have proven many alternative therapies to be beneficial for the treatment of insomnia. Here are five of the most popular, clinically supported treatments:
Music Therapy: If you are one of the many people who enjoy listening to music, then Music Therapy may just be the treatment for you. In essence, Music Therapy involves the listening to, or playing of, music for therapeutic purposes. In the case of insomnia, listening to 45 minutes of music at bedtime (not punk rock now, but the calming, sedative kind) has been shown to reduce the time it takes to fall asleep as well as improve sleep quality and minimize all those nasty daytime symptoms of poor sleep. Music Therapy has also been shown to be beneficial in the treatment of anxiety and autism among other conditions.
Melatonin: Melatonin is a natural hormone that aids in the regulation of sleep/wake cycles. Although the majority of clinical trials have been small and brief in duration, the weight of scientific evidence suggests that it does, in fact, lead to improvements in the quality and duration of sleep. Melatonin is generally taken by mouth, 30 to 60 minutes prior to sleep. It can be purchased at almost any health food or vitamin store and has also been studied in children.
Ayurvedic Medicine: An ancient Indian whole health system of medicine, Ayurveda had been around for over 5000 years. In a study performed by researchers at UC San Diego, it was found that a traditional Ayurvedic treatment for insomnia consisting of herbs such as ginger, licorice, and pepper, helped people get to sleep and stay there. In addition, there were no reports of sleep-driving, sleep-eating, or any other strange and disconcerting side effects among individuals who participated in the study.
Valerian: Valerian root, a natural sedative which has been used medicinally for over 2000 years, is yet another well-studied option for those who just can't seem to get any rest. To date, several studies have shown that taking valerian nightly improves one's quality of sleep while reducing the time it takes to fall asleep. Valerian can be taken orally or as a tasty tea at bedtime. Chamomile tea is another yummy and effective option.
5-HTP: A naturally occurring amino acid, 5-HTP, also known as 5-hydroxytryptophan, is associated with sleep and mood regulation. To date, several studies have examined, and verified, the efficacy of 5-HTP in the alleviation of insomnia symptoms. As an added benefit, 5-HTP has been shown to be as, or more effective, than several common anti-depressants in the treatment of depression.
As a last word, I would like to quote the great poet and philosopher Virgil and mention that "the greatest wealth is health." I think it's incredibly important to remember just how precious good health really is. In the end, feeling good, feeling energetic and healthy, having the ability to play with your children, take a swim or a hike or a walk around the park, are far more precious commodities than anything we can ever lose, or gain, on the stock or real estate markets.
References
1. rVita: Alternative Medicine
2. Stress a Major Health Problem in U.S., Warns APA
3. Prescription sleeping pills: What's right for you?
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7. Hui-Ling Lai, Marion Good. Music improves sleep quality in older adults. J Adv Nurs. Feb 2005 (Vol. 49, Issue 3, Pages 234-44).