Natural Awakenings Twin Cities November 2019

adults to combat stress,” Allen says, reminding
us to also check with a healthcare
professional to avoid contraindications.
Going for that extra cup of coffee
during the day or pouring a drink or two
in the evening are habits that only exacerbate
sleep issues. “Caffeine suppresses our
body’s ability to feel tired, not by giving us
energy, but by increasing the production of
adrenaline and suppressing the production
of melatonin. Alcohol, like some prescription
medications, can interfere with our
ability to fall asleep, sleep deeply and experience
dreaming states,” cautions Davies.
CBD oil derived from the cannabis
plant is an effective pain-reducer and helps
to regulate healthy sleep patterns. Cannabidiol
(CBD), which does not contain
THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), the chemical
substance in marijuana responsible for
inducing a high, is available as capsules,
inhalers and tinctures.
Learning New Tricks
Many sleep-seeking people are reaping the
benefits from cognitive behavioral therapy
People spend up to 10 hours
a day on electronic devices,
which directly impacts
melatonin production and
stimulates the fight-or-flight
response system in the brain.
~Jenn J. Allen
for insomnia (CBT-I). The American
College of Physicians recommends it as
the first-line therapy for insomnia ahead
of medication, citing that it improves
sleep and daytime functioning in 70 to 80
percent of treated persons, often without
supplemental medication. A meta-analysis
published in The Journal of the American
Medical Association in 2015 shows that
CBT-I can resolve insomnia for 35 percent
of people with sleeplessness linked to existing
medical and psychiatric conditions
such as fibromyalgia or PTSD.
CBT-I helps to change long-held patterns.
“CBT includes keeping sleep logs,
improving sleep hygiene, learning ways to
decrease anxiety and how to associate the
bed as a place where we sleep well, instead
of the maladaptive thinking that it’s a
place to toss and turn,” says Silberman.
CBT can also be helpful for chronic pain
and other physical problems when underlying
issues are treated in conjunction.
A good night’s rest is indeed possible.
Davies says, “In order to really change
our ability to sleep, we need a complete
cultural mindset shift that prioritizes sleep
and our need to rest.”
Marlaina Donato is the author of several
books and a composer. Connect at
AutumnEmbersMusic.com.
WAYHOME studio/Shutterstock.com
You CAN have a quality
night’s sleep again!
NO more CPAP! NO mouth pieces! NO risky surgeries!
Take Sleep Apnea Relief 30 minutes before bed and
you can wake rested, refreshed and ready for the day!
You too can join the thousands of
others who have taken their life back!
End the overactive nerves,
restless legs and leg cramps
in minutes with Leg Relaxer!
NO mess! NO menthol smell! NO chemicals!
Easy and convenient! Just roll on and go back to sleep!
Don’t let the CPAP
ruin another night!
Order online at MyNaturesRite.com or call 800-991-7088.
USE COUPON CODE NIC25 FOR 25% OFF YOUR ENTIRE ORDER!
18 Twin Cities Edition NAtwincities.com