5 Hair Loss Treatment Techniques That Work

Fortunately for us, balding is a condition that can be treated in most cases, but unfortunately, the sheer amount of techniques developed for this purpose can be confusing at best.

Obviously, treatment will also depend on what exactly causes the hair growth problems: for example, if one is suffering from some form of cancer and undergoes chemotherapy, he won't be able to fight the hair growth problems with regular treatment methods.

Let's take a look at 5 of the most popular baldness treatments, together with what different types of the condition they're best at working with.

1.Growth Stimulators - True, growth stimulators don't work against hair growth problems, but they can help you ease the growth/loss negative ratio so that your baldness does not become too visible too soon.

Although growth stimulators are not the best solution to your problem, you can use them in conjunction with another type of treatment that specifically works against hair loss, with great results.

2.DHT Inhibitors - Male pattern baldness is caused by a hormonal dysfunction in testosterone, which gets binded to 5-Alpha reductase, an enzyme that converts the hormone to DHT, or dihydrotestosterone.

When the level of DHT outweighs the level of testosterone in the body, hair loss is likely to occur. DHT inhibitors work against this binding process, stopping DHT from forming and cutting down baldness before it can occur. Used in conjunction with hair growth stimulators, DHT inhibitors are quite effective.

3.Anti Androgens - Another factor that causes baldness is the binding of testosterone to androgen receptors, a combination that damages the hair follicles and causes them to weaken. Androgen binding occurs further down the road, whereas 5-Alpha reductase binding is the first chemical combination that takes place in the hair loss condition.

Usually, a combination of anti androgens and DHT inhibitors works best, but if DHT can handle your hair loss problems alone, there's no need to go the extra mile and use this third treatment method as well.

4.Anti Inflammatory Treatment - Your scalp and hair follicles can get hammered by several factors, including itches, inflammations, flakes, scratches and rashes. All these can work together and thin down the hair follicle, eventually making it weaker.

Anti inflammatory treatments may include lotions for the scalp or special anti-dandruff shampoos that can eliminate these factors, allowing your hair to grow unhindered.

5.Super Oxide Dismutase - A hair follicle is virtually a foreign tissue from our body's point of view and as such, tissue cells will try to fight it out of the system using super oxide.

Usually, this super oxide isn't strong enough to cause hair growth problems but in some cases it may do so and you'll want to reduce it with the help of SOD's, or super oxide dismutase treatments.

Aside from reducing super oxide levels from your body, SOD's also positively affect hair growth, so basically they're a 2-in-1 package for people suffering from hair loss. Combined with an anti inflammatory treatment, SOD's can literally cure you of your condition.

All you needed to know about Swine Flu

All you needed to know about Swine Flu

Update 29th April: 150 dead in Mexico, WHO raises global alert to level 4

As swine flu crosses borders via flights, WHO has raised global alert to an unprecedented level 4. The first cases have now been confirmed in West Asia and Asia - Pacific regions on Tuesday, April 28th. The WHO has warned that the deadly swine flu virus first detected in Mexico can no longer be contained and a pandemic is not yet inevitable. . More than 150 people have reportedly died in Mexico till now and fifty cases, although non-fatal, have been reported in US till now. The swine flu has now spread to Israel too, while Canada, Spain and Britain have also confirmed cases.

Britain, France, Germany, Canada and US have issued travel alerts for Mexico, which relies on tourism as a main source of foreign currency. Hong Kong has said it has assigned a team to develop a test that will cut the time it takes to diagnose the swine flu strain from a few days to a few hours. Researchers in Hong Kong did play a big role in determining how to treat SARS.

Swine Flu has already killed 81(as on April 27th 2009) in Mexico, and is said to be spreading to US and Europe. WHO has marked it Level 3 out of a max 6, American health officers have declared a public health emergency and Asia has been put on high alert. Fears of a global flu epidemic has grown as new suspected cases appear across the world. The swine flu poses the biggest risk of a large-scale pandemic since avian flu surfaced in 1997, killing several hundred people.

So what exactly is this swine flu epidemic? How serious is it and is their some cure for it? Read on to find more.

What is Swine Flu?

Swine Flu was basically a respiratory illness found in pigs. It was caused by infection with swine influenza A virus and was till now known to occasionally affect humans. It was first discovered in humans in 1976 with the death of an army recruit in USA. However, never before had it taken such pandemic proportions. The swine influenza A (H1N1) virus which has infected humans in Mexico this time is an altogether new strain of the influenza virus. The new flu strain is a mixture of various swine viruses, bird flu and human viruses. This virus is resistant to the known antiviral medicines amantadine and rimatadine and is sensitive to Tamiflu and Relenza. Also, it is now being suggested that human-to-human transfer of the swine influenza A virus is happening.

Swine Flu Symptoms:

It must be kept in mind that swine flu can not be differentiated from other regular influenza just on the basis of symptoms. Also, the symptoms of the swine flu can vary according to the individuals infected by it. Generally, a flu is characterized by a sudden fever, muscle aches, sore throat and dry cough. Victims of the swine strain have suffered more vomiting and diarrhea. Some symptoms reported for swine influenza A virus infection include vomiting, diarrhea, muscle pain or myalgia, headache, chills, fatigue and difficult or laboured breathing (dyspnea). Conjunctivitis is rare but has been reported. Swine Flu needs to be taken very seriously as pneumonia and even fatal respiratory failure can occur.

Swine Flu Treatment:

The treatment for Swine flu involves the use of antiviral medications, such as Tamiflu, as soon as the symptoms are detected. Tamiflu can help slow the spread of flu virus if taken within 48 hrs of exposure. If you have flu-like symptoms mentioned above and live in an area in which swine has been found, you need to contact your doctor immediately. Try to act fast and don't wait till the symptoms become chronic. As of now, although vaccines are available to prevent swine flu in pigs, the human vaccine is still awaited.

How Tamiflu works:

1. Flu virus enters cell, creates many copies of itself.
2. Neuraminidase enzyme on surface of virus helps it to break fre from the cell.
3. Tamiflu acts as neuraminidase inhibitor, prevents virus copies from breaking free from infected cell to spread.

Who is at risk?

Although no direct evidence that any of the cases stemmed from contact with pigs has come up, those individuals who had recent direct contact with pigs or even within 6 feet of contact with pigs and are now experiencing the symptoms, can be placed in the high risk zone. It is believed that swine flu virus can spread through airborne particles containing the virus which are released when an infected person coughs or sneezes. However, it is not possible to get the swine flu from eating pork.

How has the Flu epidemic spread recently:

Since 2005 to this recent outbreak, just 12 cases of swine flu affecting humans were identified in US, and none of them were fatal. In 2009, the first case was reported in San Diego, California during spring '2009. While all deaths so far have been reported in Mexico, the flu is spreading in the US, and possible infections cases have been found in Europe and New Zealand. In Mexico, people have been staying indoors to avoid contamination. New York has confirmed eight school children with the swine flu virus, although the cases are still very mild. Another 11 cases have been confirmed in California, Kansas and Texas. 10 students from New Zealand, who just returned from a school party in Mexico, have also shown signs of the flu.

What's being done:

Considering that the world is already reeling under the worst recession in decades, a flu epidemic will surely deal another major blow to the economy. Countries have come forward with specific measures to check the growth of the flu. American health officials on Sunday, 26th April, declared a public health emergency after 20 confirmed cases. Authorities across Asia, who have in recent years, dealt with the deadly viruses like H5N1 bird flu and SARS, have started to screen travelers at airports and border check points for any flu-like symptoms. The World Health Organization has declared the flu of a type never seen before and a public health emergency of international concern. The WHO says that the flu can become a pandemic or a global outbreak of serious disease. It must be remembered that a 1968 Hong Kong flu pandemic killed about 1 million people.

The new flu strains can spread quickly as no one has natural immunity to them yet and a vaccine might take months to develop. So, for now take precautions and if you have respiratory illness or you have been to Mexico recently, then it's probably the time you went to your doctor for a checkup.
Phases of WHO Pandemic Influenza Alert:

As WHO raises the swine flu alert to level 4, we look at what these alerts basically mean.

Pandemic Influenza	Activity	Meaning
Phase 1	Predominantly animal infections; few human infections	No viruses circulating among animals causing infections in humans
Phase 2		Animal influenza virus causes infection in humans, and is considered potential pandemic threat
Phase 3		Influenza causes sporadic cases in people, but no significant human-to-human transmission
Phase 4	Sustained human-to-human transmission	Verified human-to-human transmission able to cause community-level outbreaks. Significant increase in risk of pandemic
Phase 5	Widespread human infection (Pandemic)	Human-to-human transmission in at least two countries in one WHO region. Strong signal pandemic imminent
Phase 6		Virus spreads to another country in different WHO region. Global pandemic under way
Post peak	Possibility of recurring events	Virus spreads to another country in different WHO region. Global pandemic under way
Post pandemic	Disease activity at seasonal levels	Virus spreads to another country in different WHO region. Global pandemic under way

Herbal Dosages for Children

~ Herbal Dosages for Children ~

Infusions & Teas

If Adult Dose = 1 Cup:

Newborn to 2 Years ~ One dose equals 1/2 teaspoon.

2-4 Years ~ 2TBS.

4-7 Years ~ 1/4 Cup

7-11 Years ~ 1/2 Cup

(A nursing mother may also take an adult dose and the herbs will be transmitted to her baby through her breast milk, filtered and diluted to the appropriate strength.)

Tinctures

If Adult Dose = 1 teaspoon:

Younger than 3 months ~ 2 drops

3-6 months ~ 3 drops

6-9 months ~ 4 drops

9-12 months ~ 5 drops

12-18 months ~ 7 drops

18-24 months ~ 8 drops

2-3 years ~ 10 drops

3-4 years ~ 12 drops

4-6 years ~ 15 drops

6-9 years ~ 24 drops

9-12 years ~ 30 drops

Children's Remedies

Making Children's Remedies

Besides the differences in the amount of herbs used for making children's remedies, we need to consider taste, since the most wonderful of remedies do no good at all if they are met by a tightly closed mouth!

You can often make a remedy taste good by extracting the herbs into glycerin and blending in pleasant-tasting herbs such as fennel, peppermint, lemon balm, and licorice.

Honeyed syrups are also pleasant tasting, but are not appropriate for children under the age of one year.

Select the appropriate herbs and follow the suggested dosages for children

~ Glycerin-Based Tinctures ~

Properly made glycerin tinctures are plenty strong enough for children. Because of the sweet taste, kids will find them better tasting,and be more likely to take them.

Follow the instructions for making herbal tinctures and add in some pleasanttasting herbs. Fennel, peppermint, anise, lemon balm and cinnamon are all good choices for children.

~ Herbal Syrups ~

You can make your own herbal syrups by decocting the appropriate herbs and adding honey or glycerin. Syrups are a good way to go when you're using herbs that are not palatable as a tea and you don't have time to wait for a tincture.

~ Add 2 ounces of herbs of your choice to 1 quart of cold water.

~Simmer mixture over low heat until it is reduced down to 1 pint of liquid. At this point you will have a dark, thick tea.

~Strain out the herbs and return the liquid to the pot.

~Add 1 1/4 cup honey, maple syrup, or vegetable glycerin and warm them together just until blended.

~Pour into bottles, cap tightly, and label each bottle. Keep refrigerated.

~ Herb Pops ~

These are too cold to give to children suffering from cold imbalances like earaches, colds, or flus. But if you are trying to boost immunity and prevent infection in a healthy child these are a fun effective way to go.

~Prepare a strong infusion with the herbs of your choice.

~Mix with equal parts of fruit juice. Apple or grape juice work well.

~Pour into ice pop trays and freeze.

*note from editor: Each summer we pick all the blackberries and blueberries our freezer can hold. I put thefrozen berries through our juicer and use the juice for herbal pops that are extra rich in vitamin c and antioxidants.

~ Herbal Baths ~

Since the skin is our largest elimination and assimilation organ, herbal baths are a wonderful way for children to receive the healing properties of herbs.

Some suggest tying herbs in a bag and letting the bathwater run through it. But for a truly therapeutic bath experience make a strong herbal infusion, strain it and add the liquid to warm bath water.

Of course you can also add several drops of essential oil to bathwater, just be sure it's blended well and use herbs like lavender or rose. You wouldn't want strong herbs like eucalyptus getting in little eyes or mouths.

*Tips For Getting Children to Take a Remedy

Teas & Infusions

~ Stir a little honey into warm or cold tea

~ Mix the herbal tea with a little apple juice

Tinctures

~ Dilute tinctures in fruit juice or your child's favorite drink

~ Try glycerin-based tincture flavored with fennel

Capsules & Powdered Herbs

Generally kids aren't able or willing to try swallowing capsules until around age 6 or 7. Until then

~ Mix powdered herbs or capsule contents into applesauce or blend into a smoothie. The trick is not to alter the flavor too much. With a bit of practice you'll get good at this!

Anti Anxiety Herbs

If you have ever had a panic attack, you don't want another one. The "fight-or-flight" response in your body is involuntarily turned on and your nervous system signals your adrenal glands to start pumping out stress hormones to get you ready to either run away or turn and fight.

Your muscles tense, your heartbeat speeds up, and your breathing becomes more rapid. You might feel like you are smothering, claustrophobic or you may experience an urgency to get away. On top of that, you may get hot flashes, sweating, and/or chills and trembling, plus numbness, tingling sensations, dizziness, and nausea.

You become overwhelmed by an extreme sense of fear and impending disaster and you lose your ability to think calmly and clearly while experiencing a distorted sense of time and a feeling of unreality.

In the face of a physical threat, accident, or natural disaster, this type of response is normal and can be life-saving. But panic attacks that occur unexpectedly in the presence of normal events can be debilitating. They may happen with no forewarning, at any time of the day or night, and last several seconds or more than half an hour.

The triggers for panic attacks are unpredictable. Most panic attacks are set off by some minor or major stressor. But panic attacks also can be triggered by changes in emotions, or as a response to certain drugs, foods, allergies (including hidden food allergies), hypoglycemia, and illnesses.

A panic attack is an example of an acute anxiety disorder and can affect teens to middle-agers and beyond. Women are reported to experience panic attacks twice as often as men but some believe that is only because men are more reticent to report panic attacks.

Recent studies point to a complex set of causes and panic attacks are regarded as a treatable psycho biological condition (i.e. having both psychological and biological causes). Successful resolution of panic attacks requires an integrated, multi-modality approach.

Even though panic attacks are not a simple condition and there are no simple answers for their successful resolution, herbal therapy can be useful as part of an integrated, multi-modality approach.

When you experience anxiety, your body releases a set of neurotransmitters called catecholamines, which stimulate your central nervous system and activate your sympathetic nervous system. Sometimes your sympathetic nervous system (the high alert part of your nervous system) can get stuck in the "on" mode leaving you in an ongoing state of anxiety - a fertile ground for panic attacks.

A class of anti anxiety herbs called nervines helps to turn off the sympathetic nervous system by gently facilitating the functioning of the parasympathetic nervous system - the part of the nervous system that prompts relaxation - helping us to wind down and come off "high alert".

It is a good idea to experiment with different anti-anxiety herbs before you are in a crisis or panic situation. Try out several herbs in varying doses. Start with a low dose and increase if needed so that you will know how the herb affects you and how to use it when you need it.

Some effective herbal nervines to consider using:

Oatstraw (Avena sativa) - the green milky tops of oatstraw provide a wonderful soothing, nourishing and gentle herb for frayed and stressed nervous systems. Oatstraw has a restorative effect on an exhausted nervous system reliably strengthening the whole nervous system after prolong stress. Oatstraw has both an immediate effect (useful when experiencing extreme nervousness and anxiety) and a more long-term restorative effect. Oatstraw is well tolerated by even highly sensitive people and is used for nervous debility, stress, weak nerve and energy force, anxiety, depression, exhaustion, and general fatigue.

German Chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla/ Matricaria recutita) - an all time favorite -because it works. Chamomile tones the nervous system, relaxes your muscles and calms nervous digestion. It has mild sedating properties and is not as strong an herbal sedative as valerian or passionflower. However, chamomile is a great option for anxiety in children or teens and for anxiety associated with mild sleep problems. If you are allergic to ragweed, asters, or chrysanthemums you are better off choosing another anti-anxiety herb.

Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis) -has mild sedative properties and is useful in conditions of nervous agitation with sleep problems and digestive complaints. Lemon balm is especially useful for over-anxiety that causes digestive problems such as nausea, bloating, and colic like pains. Traditionally lemon balm was used to lift the spirits and encourage longevity. Lemon balm is a relaxing tonic for anxiety, restlessness, irritability, and mild depression and its actions will quiet the racing heart that often accompanies anxiety. It has mild anti-thyroid effects and is best avoided by people with hypothyroid problems.

Skullcap (Scutellaria laterifolia) -tonifies and relaxes the nervous system and is useful for anxiety of all types especially anxiety and irritability that is hormonally based such as premenstrual syndrome. It is a sedative nervine and has mild anti-spasmodic and anti-hypertensive effects. Skullcap is a great herb to use when your anxiety is accompanied by a runaway mind that is stuck on worry. It is tolerated well by most people and has few side effects.

Valerian (Valeriana officinalis) - one of the most well known anti-anxiety herbs, valerian is a potent herb whose active ingredients, valepotriates, bind to benzodiazepine receptors in the brain (similarly to the drug Valium). The use of valerian does not, however, result in dependence or the development of tolerance but instead tones the nervous system.

Valerian can be used to improve the sleep quality and relax both the skeletal and smooth muscles. Valerian should not be used for those with chronic exhaustion, adrenal fatigue, thyroid disorders, and depression as it may increase anxiety, worsen present symptoms, and/or result in excessive restlessness in these conditions.

Passionflower (Passiflora incarnata) - a strong calming, anti-spasmodic herb that is good for severe daytime anxiety. Passionflower is also a good choice for middle of the night waking terrors, nightmares, and the onset of sudden anxiety feelings. It acts as a central nervous system depressant giving a calming, relaxing and anti-anxiety effect and is specific for anxiety related to insomnia, muscle tension, restlessness, and nervousness due to worry, overwork, hysteria, or excessive excitement. If you are taking an MAO inhibitor, you should avoid taking passionflower except under supervision.

Get Information on PureCalm for Anxiety & Panic Attacks

Stress Relief Tea

Here is a simple herbal tea mixture that I have found effective in my private practice working with women having mood and energy problems.

Mix together equal parts of the following dry herbs:

~ Oatstraw

~ Lemon Balm

~ Skullcap

~ Nettles

~ Orange

~ Chamomile

Use 1-2 teaspoons of the mixture and steep covered in 8 oz. of boiling water for 5-10 minutes.

The use of herbal nervines as part of an integrative program can help restore a sense of calm and well being, soothe distress, stabilize a confused and overwhelmed energy system, and foster clear thinking.

If you are taking anti-anxiety and/or anti-depressant medications or other medications, have a diagnosed condition or illness, are pregnant, breastfeeding, elderly or very young it is important to consult a knowledgeable health care practitioner before using herbs. Consult a licensed physician for diagnosis and treatment of any medical conditions.

Copyright (c) 2007 Mary Ann Copson

Mary Ann Copson is the founder of the Evenstar Mood & Energy Wellness Center for Women. With Master's Degrees in Human Development and Psychology and Counseling, Mary Ann is a Certified Licensed Nutritionist; Certified Holistic Health Practitioner; Brain Chemistry Profile Clinician; and a Health, Wellness and Lifestyle Coach. Reconnect to your physical, emotional, mental, psychological and spiritual natural rhythms at http://evenstaronline.com

Natural Ways To Deal With Insomnia

Up in the Night?

Natural Ways to Deal with Insomnia

What is Insomnia?

Insomnia, or the inability to fall or remain asleep can take many different forms and has multiple causes. We can identify two main types of insomnia. Sleep-Onset Insomnia (problems falling asleep, also called Initial Insomnia) Sleep-maintenance insomnia (waking during the night and early in the morning) Many people have a combination of these two types of insomnia. Insomnia may also be chronic (nearly every night) or intermittent (occasional insomnia).

It is estimated that over 50% of adults suffer from some sort of insomnia. While we all have occasional nights when we struggle to fall asleep, nothing can describe the frustration of battling to go to sleep night after night!

What is Healthy Sleep?

In order to understand the causes of insomnia, we need to have a look at how the sleep cycle works.

The amino acid L-tryptophan (found naturally in certain foods) is converted during digestion into 5-HTP and used in the manufacture of a neuro-transmitter called serotonin. Serotonin, in turn, is transformed into a sleep hormone called melatonin by the pineal gland in the brain. The pineal gland only becomes active after dark. By regulating levels of melatonin, our bodies create the 'sleep-wake cycle'. Of course the process is more complex than this and there are other things that could contribute to sleep problems. However, sufficient production of serotonin and melatonin is crucial in promoting and maintaining healthy sleep.

What causes insomnia?

There are many potential causes of insomnia, including sleep apnea, snoring, bladder or prostate problems, stress or depression. People who are over 60 years old and women going through the menopause are more prone to insomnia, probably due to decreased levels of melatonin in the brain. Other causes of insomnia include 'restless legs' syndrome (RLS), magnesium or iron deficiency, hormonal imbalance, shift work and excessive consumption of caffeine or other stimulants. Insomnia is also a side effect of some prescription anti-depressant medication.

It is thought that more than 50% of all cases of insomnia are linked to psychological causes, including depression, anxiety and stress.

Sleep-onset insomnia is generally linked to environmental factors (e.g. noise, extreme temperatures, environmental change, etc), anxiety and stress, fear of insomnia or nightmares, pain, alcohol and caffeine.

Sleep-maintenance Insomnia is often associated with depression, sleep apnea, nocturnal myoclonus, Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS), hypoglycemia, pain, drugs, alcohol and environmental factors.

What is the best way to treat insomnia?

The Conventional Medical Approach Doctors usually prescribe antihistamines (e.g. Nytol, Benadryl) or a class of drugs called benzodiazepines (e.g. Valium, Lorazapam, Alprazolam, etc) to treat insomnia. While these drugs may be effective in the short term, they can both cause serious long term problems, including addiction and disturbance of normal sleep patterns. Benzodiazepine addiction, in particular, can develop very quickly and using benzodiazepines for longer than a week or two may result in a lifetime of dependence. Using strong drugs to fall asleep often means that the body's natural sleep cycle is disturbed and the ability to fall asleep naturally is lost. The person often needs to take stronger and stronger medication in order to fall asleep at night. Grogginess in the morning is not uncommon.

Restoring Healthy Sleep the Natural Way

Sleep is like a barometer. When someone consistently struggles to sleep, this is a sign that something is wrong and needs to be investigated. Perhaps there are problems at work or in a relationship. Perhaps there is a depression that needs to be treated. Maybe there is a serotonin or a magnesium deficiency which needs attention. Maybe there is another condition which is causing the sleep problem. Simply taking strong drugs to fall asleep is not enough and can further complicate the picture.

Fortunately it is possible to treat insomnia in a natural and more holistic way, resulting in a long-term solution which does not damage your health or lead to addiction.

There are many different 'natural' remedies on the market. Not all of these are as 'natural' as they claim to be. Others are not very effective due to inferior formulation or failure to take a more detailed and scientific approach to the treatment of insomnia. Unfortunately this has meant that many people have given up on finding a healthy, natural approach to insomnia.

Insomnia can seriously affect your sense of well being and also your ability to cope.

Modern research has shown that in order to treat insomnia effectively, one first has to determine the type of insomnia one is dealing with as well as what is causing the insomnia and try and correct this so that a healthy sleep pattern can be re-established. Each person is different and has different needs. Recommending a natural remedy is only a part of the solution.

Use the following guidelines to determine thebest approach for you...

A. For people who are healthy but suffer from intermittent sleep-onset insomnia, not more than twice a week:

Some people suffer from intermittent sleep-onset insomnia caused by stress, worry or an overactive mind. This can be very distressing while you struggle to 'switch off' and fall asleep, knowing that you have to wake up and function in a couple of hours. Sometimes occasional insomnia becomes so bad, that it can develop into chronic insomnia due to the association between bed and stress. There are many herbs which can induce deep relaxation naturally, thereby helping you to drift off to sleep without strong drugs and preventing the development of more chronic insomnia. A combination of herbal and homeopathic ingredients offers a natural solution to help you fall asleep naturally and wake refreshed in the morning.

Useful Natural Remedies:

Avena sativa - used by herbalists to treat nervous exhaustion and insomnia and also as an effective nerve tonic.

Scuttelaria laterifolia - has a long history of effective use in the treatment of acute insomnia and stress. This herb is also useful in the treatment of epilepsy and nerve pain.

Passiflora incarnata - research has demonstrated the effectiveness of this relaxing herb in the treatment of anxiety and stress. It is also particularly useful for the person who lies awake worrying due to stress or overwork!

Coffea C30 - a homeopathic remedy known for its effectiveness in treating headaches, insomnia and restlessness. People who are over stimulated due to worry or excessive work will benefit very much from the addition of Coffea to the formula.

Nux Vomica C30 - also used homeopathically for the treatment of irritability and insomnia, Nux Vomica will also help the tense, ambitious, perfectionistic person who cannot sleep due to worrying about unfinished business or unresolved emotional issues.

Native Remedies makes a wonderful sleep tonic for this kind of insomnia called Serenite Plus

What Else You Can Do:

~ Make sure you have regular exercise.

~ Learn stress management and relaxation techniques.

~ Avoid alcohol, caffeine and other recreational drugs, especially close to bedtime.

B. For people who suffer from chronic insomnia (more than twice a week) and who struggle to fall asleep as well as remain asleep (sleep-maintenance insomnia)

Chronic insomnia is often linked to low serotonin levels caused by depression, anxiety, dietary deficiencies, chronic illness, prostate problems, menopause or being over the age of 60. Insomnia may be almost a nightly battle and you may also wake up in the middle of the night and early morning. People who suffer from chronic insomnia and fall into any of these categories, will need a little extra help. Inducing drowsiness may help initially, but would not be a complete solution.

Useful Natural Remedies:

Hypericum perforatum - a herb which is widely used as a natural alternative to the prescription drugs for depression and anxiety. research supports its effectiveness in stabilizing levels of neurotransmitters responsible for mood, sleep, concentration, libido and general feelings of well being.

Schizandra chinesis - also known in Traditional Chinese Medicine as Wu-wei-zi - is an effective adaptogen, increasing the body's ability to cope with stress and improving overall systemic functioning. Schizandra is also known to have a range of other benefits, including liver protection, anxiety reduction and improved immune system functioning.

Calcium lactate - a mineral essential for regular sleep patterns

Magnesium lactate - a deficiency in magnesium is known to be linked to insomnia

Vitamin B6 - often deficient in people who are under emotional or physical stress, the addition of Vitamin B6 to the daily supplements has been shown to assist with the treatment of chronic insomnia.

Native Remedies makes a wonderful holistic formula for chronic insomnia called Serenite-LT

Everyone experiences this from time to time, but when it happens more often than not for more than a few weeks, the condition is considered chronic and an underlying cause should be identified because it could be a sign of a medical disorder.

It is estimated that about half of all cases are attributed to psychological disorders such as grief, stress, depression, stress and anxiety.

In such cases herbs can be quite helpful, not only in helping to get some sleep, but in nourishing the nervous system as well.

CALIFORNIA POPPY Promotes sleep.

CHAMOMMILE Tea has mild sedative properties.

HOPS Tea is used to promote sleep and ease indigestion.

KAVA Relaxes muscles, sedative properties.

LEMON BALM Promotes sleep.

PASSIONFLOWER Relaxes muscles, promotes sleep.

ROOIBOS Tea promotes sleep and eases pain from inflammation.

ST. JOHN'S WORT Prolongs deep sleep cycle.

SKULLCAP Tincture promotes sleep.

VALERIAN Promotes sleep.

OAT STRAW Soothes and nourishes the nervous system.

A lack of calcium and magnesium can result in frequent night waking.
See what herbs contain these nutrients.

Note from editor: Sleeplessness can sometimes be related to hormonal imbalances that wreak havoc with the nervous system.

If this seems to be the case for you try a daily infusion of Nettle, Oatstraw and Lemon balm. This combination provides important minerals like calcium and magnesium is very soothing for frayed nerves and promotes a restful night's sleep.

Sometimes insomnia responds best to a combination of herbs working synergistically.

If you are not in a position to make your own remedy for insomnia here's a suggestion for a formula offered by Native Remedies. They offer an herbal formula called Serenite, which combines Lavendula Augustifolia,best known for its calming properties and as a tonic for the nervous system,Melissa Officinalis (Lemon Balm), a general nervous system restorative and digestive calmative, Passion Flower, a sedative used to relieve anxiety and nervousness, and Humulus Lupulus, a sedative and restoring tonic for the central nervous system.

Many people find great relief from insomnia with this combination of herbs, and this is a company we can wholeheartedly endorse due to their excellent quality and fast, dependable service.