More and more people are searching for how to relieve insomnia. The inability to go to sleep and stay asleep is affecting more individuals every year, and there are hundreds of reasons why this happens.

What Causes Insomnia?

Insomnia is not considered to be a condition in and of itself. It is considered to be a symptom of something else. The problem is that doctors can’t always determine what is causing a person’s sleeplessness.

Before you do anything to try and treat your sleeping problems, talk to your doctor about it. With a few tests they may be able to help you determine what is causing the problem and how you can relieve your insomnia.

If not, find out if there is any reason why you shouldn’t try to treat it naturally at home.

Melatonin and Other Supplements

The body naturally creates melatonin to make you sleepy. This process generally starts in the late evening, and this is one reason why having a regular time when you go to bed is important.

Your body remembers when it should start creating this chemical, and helps you to go to sleep on time every night. Melatonin is made into pills that you can take if you want to ease yourself into sleep naturally.

There are also herbs like Valerian Root that help people relieve their insomnia. While you shouldn’t use these too often, they are generally not habit forming. This makes them a better option than many sleeping pills.

Tea

You can also use teas made from herbs such as Valerian Root to soothe yourself and sleep. Passionflower, chamomile, and lavender are also popular tea options.

Many herbal teas, including chamomile, valerian root and lavender, are marketed as sleep aids. Many of the herbs they contain work by increasing or modifying specific neurotransmitters that are involved in initiating sleep.

Moreover, they may help you fall asleep faster, decrease nighttime awakenings and improve your overall sleep quality. Unfortunately, most of the current research used these herbs in extract or supplement form — not the herbal tea itself.

Given that herbal supplements and extracts are very concentrated versions of the herb, a diluted source like tea is likely to be less effective. Further research that involves larger sample sizes is needed to fully establish herbal teas and their role in improving sleep in the long run.

Aromatherapy

If you get a relaxing, soothing scent, aromatherapy can be a great help when you are trying to go to sleep. Tension and anxiety are some of the leading causes of sleeplessness and aromatherapy can help you to overcome these and relieve your insomnia.

Get some high-quality essential oils and place a few drops on a handkerchief. Tucking this into your pillow case will give you the benefit of the smell without overwhelming you.

Aromatherapy cannot cure insomnia or its root cause, but using calming and relaxing essential oils before your intended bedtime can potentially help you fall asleep faster and stay asleep until your intended wake-up time.

Of course, if you have an ongoing, serious sleep disorder, you should see your health professional to discuss your situation and gain treatment for the root cause of your insomnia.

If you suffer from occasional insomnia or sleep disturbances and want to try ideas that may help you fall asleep faster, consider the following aromatherapy tips:

Bathe Before Bed

Taking a nice warm shower or bath before you go to bed can help you to sleep in a couple different ways. The warmth can help to relax your muscles, encouraging tension to ease away and helping you feel more ready to rest.

Adding aroma to your bathroom gives you added help to relieve your insomnia. Try adding essential oils to your bathwater or lighting an aromatic candle in the room.

Once you are out of the shower or bath your body temperature will begin to drop slowly back to normal. This will make you feel sleepy.

Take advantage of this and get into bed. You may find it much easier to fall asleep as you cool off in the comfort of your bed.

Check Your Bed

Many people experience insomnia because their beds are uncomfortable. If it has been a long time since you turned or replaced your mattress, you may need to look into this option.

It isn’t always easy to relieve insomnia. Once you have dealt with it for awhile, you may think it is just something you have to live with. But with some natural remedies you may be able to achieve a good night’s sleep again and have an easier time enjoying your days.