By Dr. Aviva Romm
The Importance of Sleep
Most of us need seven to eight hours of sleep each night for optimal daytime functioning, but at least 50 percent of Americans struggle with sleep problems- and these problems tend to get worse as we get older.As a physician, I am no stranger to sleep problems. Medical residency was a life filled with chronic caffeine stimulation, an endless to-do list, long hours in front of a computer screen, stress and late work hours with little (or no) sleep. During those years, even when I had time to sleep, I couldn’t. I felt miserable and was all too familiar with the effects of poor sleep on my performance, memory and mood-which was really scary as I was handling life-and-death matters at work. After medical training ended, it took me a few months of concerted effort to regain normal sleep…but I was able to, and here are tips you can us to get your sleep back on track, too.
When Your Sleep is Miserable, So is Everything Else…
Poor quality sleep is no joke. Not only is the night time miserable, daytime can be, too. When we’re tired we’re more irritable, depressed, our hormones are a wreck, we can’t lose weight, we can’t concentrate, our digestion is a mess, we get more zits, we get sick more often, make mistakes at our jobs…. We even get into more accidents. Seriously. And who hasn’t bitched (ok, telling’ it like it is, here!) at someone they love or a co-worker out of sheer fatigue? (When I was in medical residency? Ooh…guilty as charged!).Oh right, and then there’s the old DOUBLE WHAMMY: Laying there awake (yup, memorizing the ceiling), worrying about how lack of sleep is going to wreck your day tomorrow – and BAM – that makes it even harder to fall asleep!
As if all of this wasn’t bad enough, the really bad news is that poor sleep increases your risk of diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart attack! In fact, if you’re having trouble shedding pounds, fixing your sleep may be all you need to do!
But there’s good news! (Would I ever just bum you out? Of course not!!!)
I can tell you from 30 years of clinical experience – there are solutions!
Prioritize Your Relationship With Sleep
To win back your sleep, you have to invite it back into your bed! Woo sleep like s/he’s the love of your life and you’ve been on a break-up! I’m serious, ladies. Dote on your sleep habits every day. And not just at bedtime.Good sleep is a lifestyle habit. You have to make it a priority, not just at bedtime, but in the hours before bed. It may take a month or so before you see consistent results if your sleep problem is pretty bad, but it will be well worth it: Better sleep makes us happier, healthier and more relaxed in every way. And the evidence is really there that when you are happier and more relaxed, you are better for everyone and at everything you do. The following seven steps, practiced daily, will eventually help you sleep like a dream.
Regular outdoor exercise can help improve our ability to fall asleep.
The following 7 steps, practiced daily, will, over time, help you to sleep like a dream. In fact, one patient, who had not slept in years, just recently told me she is once again “sleepin’ like a baby” – and her whole life has been transformed as a result! It may take a few months for your body to adjust, so hang in there and keep at it! With persistence and loving attention, you and sleep can get back into a great relationship.
7 STEPS TO GREAT ZZZ’S
1. TURN YOUR LIGHTS DOWN LOW
While some lucky girls can fall asleep with a jackhammer going outside their bedroom window (actually, it’s mostly the men that can do this, eh?), the rest of us need a somewhat quieter ambiance. Unfortunately, if you have sleep problems, you may have begun to equate your bedroom with a place of misery rather than rest.Here’s how to create a sleep-promoting environment.
- Make your bedroom your sanctuary – your place of peace and respite.
- Use your bed for sleep (and sex) only.
- Keep your bedroom temperature comfortable or even slightly on the cooler side.
- Make your bedroom an electronics-free zone: no TV, computers, or other electronics in there – ever. (Small apartment? Get a room divider to separate your sleep and desk area.)
- Reduce ambient noise and light; a flax eye pillow or an eye mask and earplugs can work wonders!
- Paint and decorate your bedroom in restful colors (apparently purple and grey are very bad choices, blue is the best, and neutrals and yellows pretty good).
- Make sure you have a comfortable mattress, pillows, and bedding.
2. GET A HEAD START
Good sleep starts long before you hit the pillow. In fact, your daytime and evening habits can have a major impact on your ability to get to sleep at night. Start planning for a good night’s sleep hours before bed by:- Avoiding caffeinated beverages after lunch (if you’re super sensitive, this includes green tea – and chocolate, too)
- Avoiding alcohol, especially near bedtime
- Avoiding smoking or other nicotine intake, especially during the evening
- Avoiding daytime naps
- Exercising regularly for at least 20 minutes daily, but preferably more than four hours prior to bedtime
- Eating no later than three hours before bed and avoid foods that cause acid reflux (heartburn) if you suffer from it
3. POWER DOWN
Many of us live “tired and wired” – we’re dragging all day and then can’t sleep at night. Being “plugged in” to computers, email, and Iphones all day and evening exposes us to electromagnetic waves that potentially interfere with sleep, and also keeps us plugged into our endless “to-do’s” that prevent us from ever turning it all off and getting rest.This same tired and wired phenomenon puts stress on our adrenal glands, the hormones that pump out stress hormones, leading to some of the medical problems associated with insomnia.
If you are going to improve your sleep, this means powering down for a designated couple of stress-free hours before bed. Relaxation skills practiced once you get into bed can increase your chances of getting to sleep – and having it be restful. Audio materials to support meditation and guided visualization are available for free on the Internet and on downloadable IPhone apps (listening to these is the one exception to the ‘no electronics in the bedroom’ rule).
Additionally, there are a number of yoga sequences that can help you unwind your body and your mind prior to bed. YogaGlo, a fantastic website with a wealth of recorded yoga classes with well-known teachers, offers a selection of yoga classes to help you relax. Do a class an hour before bed, then take an aromatherapy bath to help you decompress before you sleep.
4. GOTTA’ HAVE RHYTHM
Human beings evolved with natural day and night cycles – also called circadian rhythms. These rhythms control the hormones, for example, melatonin, which influence our sleep-wake cycles. Getting up at the same time each morning, followed by physical activity with exposure to outdoor light (e.g., a walk outside) or even just sitting next to a window with the shades and curtains open, may be beneficial, even on a cloudy day. If you have severe insomnia, using a light box for 30-40 minutes upon waking each morning might help. A completely dark environment is recommended at night for sleep. Benefits usually take 2-3 weeks to become apparent and the practice may need to be maintained indefinitely.5. DO YOUR WORRYING BEFORE BED
I have my patients start a pro-sleep journal – any blank notebook will do. One hour before bed they write out all of their worries and concerns, including their to-do list for the next day. Doing this allows you go to sleep with a clearer head. Oh, and did I say vent in there, too? Never go to sleep angry. Even if you do sleep you’ll have rough dreams. After you’ve done your writing, read something inspirational for a few minutes. I highly recommend Tara Bennet Goleman’s Mind Whispering as a start. My patients tell me this whole practice works wonders. [Just don’t do it in your bedroom!]6. SOAK IT UP
A hot aromatherapy bath before bed can relax your mind and your muscles. Add 1 cup of Epsom salts and 5-7 drops of pure lavender essential oil to your tub of hot water. SOAK away your day’s troubles. Lavender promotes relaxation and sleep. This can be done nightly just prior to going to bed and is safe for pregnant and nursing mothers, too.7. HERBS AND SUPPLEMENTS
Herbs are my first go-to medicines. Botanical – or herbal – medicines are gentle, non-addictive alternatives to sleep medications. I use them, along with several nutritional supplements to help my patients sleep and they LOVE the results! You can combine any (or all) of these safely and the herbal extracts can be put right into your chamomile tea!As a rule I recommend not combining herbs and medications without the supervision of a physician skilled in the use of botanicals.
Lavela (lavender oil)
Fast becoming my favorite product for sleep and anxiety, Lavela is a proprietary lavender oil product so look for this brand. (I have no conflict of interest). It’s super easy to take – one pill about an hour before bedtime. It’s also helpful if you suffer with anxiety that keeps you awake, performance anxiety, or test anxiety. I’ve even had several patients come off of long-term benzodiazepines (you have to work with your doctor to taper off of these medications!).
Chamomile
Peter Rabbit’s mama knew just what to give Peter to help him sleep! Chamomile tea can be sipped throughout the evening in the hours before sleep – up to 2 cups of a strong brewed tea (use 2 teabags per cup or 2 TBS of loose herb) and steep for 10 minutes with a lid on the cup. Just remember to pee before bed or you’ll be waking up from a sound sleep! Alternatively, you can use the tincture, 40 drops 1 hour and again 30 minutes prior to sleep.
Passionflower
This herb has been used traditionally to promote sleep, and some evidence shows that it can actually improve sleep quality – thus it can help you stay asleep and feel more rested when you wake. It is also useful in the treatment of anxiety disorders. A typical dose is 40-60 drops of the tincture (or 320 mg in a capsule) up to 3 times daily. It can be taken an hour before sleep and again right before sleep at this dose. Limited data suggests safety in pregnancy but I would avoid it during the first trimester and not use for extended periods of time during pregnancy.
California poppy
California poppy is widely used by herbalists for its sedative effects. It is quite strong and should not be taken during the day or before driving. It is also a gentle analgesic and muscle relaxant. A typical dose is 20-30 drops before bed.
Hops
With a long traditional history as a sleep herb, this mildly estrogenic herb is a common beer ingredient and is wonderful for promoting deep sleep. I recommend the tincture (alcohol extract) to be taken in doses of 30 drops, 1 hour and again 30 minutes before going to sleep. It’s too strong for daytime use, should not be combined with alcohol, and should not be used if you suffer from moderate to severe depression or have a history of estrogen receptor positive breast cancer.
Ashwagandha
An herb with roots in Ayurvedic medicine, this herb is specific for the “tired and wired,” and as such not only helps sleep in the short run, but helps relieve “adrenal fatigue” and burnout when taken for at least 3-6 months or longer. It improves cognitive function, immunity, and stress resilience as well. The dose is 1 to 6 grams daily of the whole herb in capsule or tea form. The tea is prepared by boiling ashwagandha roots in water for 15 minutes and then cooling, or adding 1 tsp. of the powder to hot water or warm whole milk and steeping for 10 minutes before drinking. The usual dose is 3 cups daily. Tincture dose is 40-60 drops 3 times daily. There is no known safety data in pregnancy; I recommend it as safe during breastfeeding.
Melatonin
While not effective for everyone, individuals with sleep latency syndrome and those with melatonin deficiency may get moderate improvement from taking 1-3 mg in the hour before bed. Menopausal hot flashers may also get some relief and sleep from this remedy. This dose is considered safe for a duration of up to several months at a time. Not recommended during pregnancy.
5-HTP
5-Hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP), a product of the amino acid tryptophan, is converted into serotonin in the brain. Serotonin helps to initiate calm and sleep and reduces nighttime awakenings. A typical dose is 100-300 mg three times daily. Not recommended during pregnancy.
Calcium and Magnesium
A combination calcium (800 mg) and magnesium supplement (400 mg), or magnesium alone if you are avoiding calcium supplementation due to cardiac disease, can promote relaxation and sleep. They can also help if restless leg syndrome or muscle cramps interfere with your sleep, and can be helpful during pregnancy.
Relaxing Sleep Tonic by Herb Pharm, and Sleep and Relax Tea by Gaia Herbs are two reliable over-the-counter products you can find in most stores. Muscle Cramp/Tension formula by Pure Encapsulations is another excellent formula that combines the recommended herbs along with calcium and magnesium.
When to See Your Doctor
If sleep troubles persist after 3 months of trying these tips, or if you have other medical symptoms, please talk with your primary physician who can evaluate you for sleep disorders, sleep apnea, and medical problems that can interfere with sleep, for example, depression and fibromyalgia. There are a number of medications that can be used to treat insomnia, however, many are addictive or have significant side effects, and so trying a natural approach first, if there are no associated medical problems, is a healthy choice. Sleep apnea must be treated with appropriate medical care in addition to the options above.Sleep well,
Dr. Aviva Romm is a Yale-trained physician specializing in integrative medicine for women and children, a midwife, an herbalist, an award-winning author, and the creator/owner of WomanWise, on-line courses dedicated to vitality and optimal health for women and children.
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