FitSugar

What Do You Know About Natural Sleep Aids?

Leta Shy — Tue, 19 Apr 2011 04:41:10 PDT

Few things are quite as annoying as lying awake late in the night wishing you could just go to sleep. But remedies to help you sleep don't have to be found at the pharmacy. Many natural sleep aids have been shown to help some people catch their Zs. Think you know what they are? Take our quiz on natural ways to help you sleep!

Take the Quiz

Valerian Root: Nature's Valium

FitSugar — Tue, 10 Apr 2007 08:45:00 PDT

Valerian Root may smell like disgustingly stinky feet, but it's great for relaxing the body and the muscles. It has been used for centuries in Europe and Asia as a sedative, and is believed to help you fall asleep faster, and improve the quality of your sleep. The Greeks also used valerian root to treat digestive problems.

It's a hardy perennial flowering plant with heads of sweetly scented pink or white flowers. It is dried and used in herbal supplements such as tablets, capsules, tinctures, teas, and liquid extracts. Many Herbalists, Naturopaths, and Chiropractors recommend taking valerian root to relieve tension headaches, insomnia, anxiety, or for muscular pain because of its ability to act as a muscle relaxer.

What else is great about this amazing herb? Although valerian root has been referred to as "nature's Valium," it is not at all addictive. It's not recommended to take more than 15g a day. Though side effects are rare, some people who use valerian root for long periods of time may develop headaches, insomnia, or feel irritable, which are similar side-effects experienced with prescription sleep-aids.

Fit's Tips: If you are taking valerian root for muscle pain, it won't knock you out and make you feel totally spacey like most prescription muscle relaxers, but it is recommended that you take it at bedtime because it'll calm you down and help you fall asleep, that is why I love Extra Sleepytime Tea - it is fortified with valerian root.

How to Tune Up Your Circadian Rhythm For Spring

Heather Dale — Wed, 09 Mar 2011 03:00:16 PST

Do you ever find yourself in a healthy pattern of going to bed and waking up at the same time each day? I love it when this happens because it means A) I don't need an alarm clock since my body is waking up naturally and B) that I'm following the same sleep schedule on the weekend, which makes me feel well rested and ready to conquer my weekend errands and activities.

The reason we feel so great when we're on a regular sleep cycle is because we're setting our circadian rhythm - the tiny master clock structure in our brain that is filled with nerve cells and is the pattern of sleep and awake cycles, affected by light. What's interesting to note is that people who live in complete darkness (hello - Reykjavik in the Winter!) are still able to adjust to a 25-hour clock with regular sleeping and waking patterns. Here's what the natural daily circadian rhythm looks like.

Keep reading to learn some tips and tricks for getting your circadian rhythms back on track this Spring.

Got a Headache? Try a Natural Remedy

FitSugar — Mon, 05 Apr 2010 03:47:13 PDT

If you've got a headache, the easiest thing to do is reach for a bottle of ibuprofen or aspirin and pop a few pills. But over-the-counter cures aren't always the best option; you shouldn't take ibuprofen while drinking, for instance, or maybe you're worried about interactions with other drugs.

Thankfully, there are plenty of natural remedies for headaches. Some of these are tried and true, while others are unproven but have people who swear by them. If you've ever had an awful headache, you know that sometimes you'll try anything. So if you've used these or any other natural remedies, chime in and let us know what worked! To see five natural remedies to try,

Acupressure. If you feel a headache coming on, try applying pressure to the Union Valley, the area where your thumb meets your palm, using your opposite thumb and forefinger.
Almonds. Eating a handful of almonds could help fend off an acute headache. These nuts contain salicin, which is a pain reliever similar to aspirin.
White willow bark. Another salicin-rich supplement, white willow bark has been shown to reduce pain and inflammation.
Valerian root. Often called "nature's Valium," this herbal remedy is used to treat headaches, insomnia, and muscular pain.
Yoga. Certain poses - namely, forward bends and reclining positions - may help relieve tension headaches. Check out this eight-pose headache-targeting sequence next time you're hurting.

Beyond Moderation: The Hangover

FitSugar — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 03:00:25 PST

I have heard it said that the best cure for a hangover is to drink in moderation, but there are times when we all go a bit overboard . . . like New Year's Eve. If you had a few drinks too many, let me explain what is going on with your body and offer a few suggestions to help your get over your hangover.

Symptom: Dehydration
Your throat and mouth are dry due to dehydration, which is caused by the diuretic properties of alcohol. The dehydration also affects your muscles, making them feel weak.
Cure: Drink plenty of water, all day long! I have found Nuun tablets help too.

To see why your stomach feels off and what you can do about it,

.
Symptom: Sour Stomach
The excessive alcohol irritates the lining of the stomach, causing nausea and sour stomach. The inflammation delays digestion, which in turn contributes to the feelings of nausea.
Cure: Take some Alka Seltzer or eat mild foods like bananas (which also help with dehydration).

Symptom: Irritability
Your liver gets backed up trying to metabolize all the alcohol, so you might be experiencing symptoms of hypoglycemia (that's a fancy term for low blood sugar), meaning you are highly irritable and moody.
Cure: Eat some food and drink some juice. Foods high in fructose are thought to speed up the body's ability to remove the alcohol from your system.

Symptom: Jangled Nerves
Your central nervous system becomes chemically overexcited, causing sensitivity to light, sound, and touch.
Cure: Rest with an eye pillow and soothing music.

Symptom: Headache
Blood vessels in the brain dilate, and that is what is causing that throbbing headache, which is only exacerbated by your dehydration mentioned above.
Cure: Take some OTC (over the counter) pain medication, but avoid ones containing acetaminophen, like Tylenol, because it may cause liver damage. If you take some form of ibprofen, make sure to not take it on an empty stomach, since it can upset your tummy and harm the lining of your stomach.

Symptom: Sleepiness and Sleeplessness
Your pituitary gland becomes confused and releases the wrong amounts of the hormones that regulate sleep. So while you may want to sleep it off, your sleep pattern is severely disrupted.
Cure: Try some Sleepytime Extra Tea fortified with Valerian root to help you sleep.

The only real cure for a hangover is time. Physical activity can help, too. Take a walk or jog and sweat a bit to help get the alcohol out of your blood. Fear not, the aftereffects of your partying should only linger for about 24 hours. Tomorrow is another day.