There’s nothing like a poor night of sleep to set you on the wrong foot for the day to come.
While there are a lot of great natural insomnia cures out there, sometimes you just don’t have the time or the ingredients necessary to make them work.
And although pharmaceutical solutions may help, they end up taking a huge toll on your health and wellness in the process. People with sleeping problems want to relieve insomnia naturally, if possible.
The Problem With Sleeping Pills
Most sleeping pill sold on the market aren’t just used to cure insomnia.
Benzodiazepines like Xanax, Valium, Ativan, and Librium are anti-anxiety medications while barbiturates are used in anesthesia.
These drugs bring about sleep by inducing drowsiness. However, they have a high risk of dependency.
Newer drugs like Lunesta, Sonata, Ambien, Rozerem, and Belsomra are less addictive but they have their own set of risks.
Common side effects of sleeping pills include :
- Burning or tingling in the hands, arms, feet, or legs
- Changes in appetite
- Constipation
- Diarrhea
- Difficulty keeping balance
- Dizziness
- Daytime drowsiness
- Dry mouth or throat
- Gas
- Headache
- Heartburn
- Impairment the next day
- Mental slowing or problems with attention or memory
- Stomach pain or tenderness
- Uncontrollable shaking of a part of the body
- Unusual dreams
- Weakness
Additionally, sleeping pills can cause severe breathing problems in people with asthma or other respiratory conditions. They can even cause “parasomnias”, unusual behaviors that occur while sleeping and that you have no control over, like sleepwalking.
Some people may experience an allergic reaction to sleep medication, including blurred vision, chest pain, swelling in the throat, and anaphylaxis.
Go Nuts for Nutmeg
When you’re having a hard time sleeping, don’t reach for your sleeping pills, reach for your pantry instead.
Nutmeg, a common spice that every baker keeps on hand, is a natural sedative that helps manage insomnia and improve sleep quality. Simply inhaling it for a few deep breaths is enough to lull you into sleep.
All you need is to measure out 1/8 – 1/4 of a teaspoon of the spice and mix with a bit of honey to form a paste. Eat it straight from the spoon and swallow with a bit of water, if necessary. It will give you the ability to relieve insomnia naturally.
Nutmeg can have hallucinatory effects if taken in large doses, so make sure not to exceed this amount and to only take it once a day at most.
If you are currently taking other medications, consult your doctor or naturopath before taking nutmeg.
