Alternative Treatments For Insomnia
There are always alternative treatments for insomnia that could be used in isolation or to support more mainstream solutions. Alternative treatments for Insomnia include a range of options from diet, exercise, lifestyle changes and alternative therapies like acupuncture.
Acupuncture – As An Alternative Treatment for Insomnia
Acupuncture is used often in traditional Chinese medicine for the treatment of Insomnia. Acupuncture involves inserting extremely fine needles into the skin to stimulate specific points of the body. It is considered an alternative, drug-free treatment for many different issues, including low back pain, knee pain, neck pain and headaches. Some recent studies have shown acupuncture improves sleep quality, making it a great alternative treatment option.
Progressive Muscle Relaxation – As An Alternative Treatment for Insomnia
Progressive Muscle Relaxation (PMR) aids the release of built-up stress from your muscles. PMR is a type of therapy that involves tightening and relaxing muscles, either engaging them individually or in a specific pattern. If practised regularly, PMR can help to manage the physical impacts of stress on your body. Because PMR induces relaxation, it may also help give you a better night’s sleep.
Exercise – As An Alternative Treatment for Insomnia
Regular exercise can improve or deepen sleep in adults regardless of a sleep disorder. There are a few reasons why exercise can help; firstly, exercise is a great way to reduce stress and anxiety levels by the releasing of endorphins. This helps to relax and minimise the tossing and turning you might get when you head to be. Furthermore, it tires you out, which helps to increase your sleep drive. Regular exercise has been shown to improve sleep quality; however, it is recommended to stop exercising at least three hours before bed to avoid sleep interference.
CBD and Cannabis – As An Alternative Treatment for Insomnia
CBD is a compound in cannabis that doesn’t have the psychoactive effects that are found in tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). It is the THC that makes you feel high. Although CBD and cannabis may help you fall asleep faster, further studies are likely needed to know how CBD and Cannabis affect sleep quality and if there are any long-term complications.
Brainwave Entrainment – As An Alternative Treatment for Insomnia
Brainwave Entrainment stimulates the brain into entering a specific state by using high-frequency LED light. This light recalibrates brain activity and induces a specific or desirable brainwave state like relaxing, meditative, focused and clearer thinking. Simply put, brainwave entrainment pushes the brain into a particular state, adjusting or interrupting the brain’s response to certain situations. Basically, reprogramming how your brain processes and responds.
Brainwave Entrainment helps many people facing various mental health and happiness-related challenges, including PTSD, trauma, Depression, stress, anxiety, Insomnia and chronic fatigue. It effectively leads your mind into states you might normally find difficult to achieve, allowing you to experience what those states feel like.
Sleep Hypnosis – As An Alternative Treatment for Insomnia
Sleep Hypnosis is completed by a licensed professional, e.g. a doctor, psychologist, or another health care worker. They will guide you to what may look like a trance-like state. Once you’re there, they will suggest sleep-related changes that will work to change negative thoughts or habits related to sleep. These may include not being anxious about your sleep problems or practising better sleep hygiene.
Conclusion
When looking at alternative treatment options for Insomnia, there is a range of both lifestyle and therapy choices that can work together to help support both better sleep and better sleep patterns. If you are unsure about alternative treatments have an open conversation with your doctor, ask any questions, and let them know which alternative treatments you are using or looking into.