Any new parent who has tried to get an infant to sleep knowsabout the secret spell of a swing.There's something magical about the rocking motion that a swing or even humanarms can provide to put a baby to sleep. It also explains why a ride in the caror a train can be equally as tranquilizing.
So why couldn't the same or a similar technique help an adult insomniac?
There is a technology that has been developed that may dojust that.
The device is designed to simulate the gentle, soporific swaying sensation that seems to bethe key factor in lulling babies (and adults) to sleep. And this can beachieved without the need for an actual bedroom swing to accommodate an adult (orasking your partner to do something impossible!).
It's about the size of an MP3 player and is connected to themastoid bone behind the ear using a sensor cable, which sends electric pulsesinto the vestibular system. This stimulates the balance centers in our middleear to create a gentle swaying or rocking sensation. If it sounds too good tobe true, or if you're already feeling sick at the thought of being artificiallyrocked to sleep as if lying on a sailboat, listen up.
The device was researched and developed in Australia by PhilipsHome Healthcare Solutions, and according to tests performed in sleep labsthroughout Sydney and Melbourne, it was found to decrease 67 percent of severe to moderate insomniacs down to a level of no clinical significance.
That's huge. That means the cure for some insomniacsmay be just a drug-free device away rather than another pill or strong-willedattempt at bedtimemeditation.
Though I'm not quite sure there's any substitute for a pieceof technology that, at the touch of a button, can make you feel like you'rebeing rocked to sleep like a baby, there are other low-tech ways to "rock"yourself to sleep. Try these threetechniques instead:
- A warmbath before bedtime.
- Listening to relaxing music with a good pair of headphones on after getting intobed.
- Keeping your bedroom cool, quiet and low-lit.
These strategies won't necessarily make you feel like you'reswaying, but you can add some visualization to conjure that rocking, swayingsensation. With your music playing,close your eyes and just imagine safely floating on a raft or inner tube whiledrifting in the ocean. It's actually not too difficult to visualize. And it might just take the "difficulty" outof falling asleep.
Sweet Dreams,
Michael J. Breus, PhD
The Sleep Doctor™