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| There are many problems associated with sleeping pills, not the least of which is that over a period of time the body becomes resistant to them. They do not promote delta sleep, the deepest level of sleep from which true rest and healing are derived. What is more, they add stress to the liver for they must be metabolized and then excreted. |
| We average about one hour less sleep per night than people did just eighty years ago because we tend to go to bed later than people did before the advent of artificial light. This could be a major contributor to the increase in cancer, a factor that has not yet been seriously considered. We now know, for example, that many people with cancer, particularly breast and prostate, have lower levels of melatonin, a neurohormone secreted by the pineal gland, especially in response to darkness. Melatonin has been linked to the regulation of circadian rhythms, such as the wake/sleep cycle, as well as to many other important endocrine functions. |
| It is important to consider the possibility that you are not getting enough sleep; then consider which solutions are compatible with your lifestyle. One solution might be to go to bed earlier when you feel tired. It's okay to miss the late news once in a while! Another helpful approach is to take a camping trip. When there are no light switches, life becomes simpler for a time. Become aware of the environment, the darkness, the moon, the starsthis is the natural environment that puts us in touch with our natural rhythms, not the environment where work shifts continue throughout the night in buildings flooded with fluorescent light. |
| There are many natural ways to enhance sleep: |
| Melatonin and 5-hydroxy tryptophane (5HTP) both raise seratonin levels naturally, leading to restful sleep. |
| Avoid eating protein before bed. Instead, eat complex carbohydrates, such as oatmeal or a banana, because they help to convert 5HTP to sleep-inducing seratonin. |
| Aromatic baths and hot Epsom salt baths are very soothing and can help one to relax before going to bed. See chapter 8 for more information and directions. |
| Massage, especially following a relaxing bath, will induce sleep, sometimes when all other therapies, including drugs, have failed. |
| Herbs can be especially helpful. Some of the most effective are passion-flower, kava kava, oatstraw, skullcap, and, for those with poor cerebral circu- |
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