Insomnia has been around for ages. Humans have been recording sleeplessness as a ‘problem’ for a very long time. When something as important as sleep is being taken away from a person it is always a cause of concern. Even though it was being addressed as a problem, the real reasons behind it are not very clear even today. We do have a long way to go before we understand all the science behind the reasons for insomnia in various people.

But even though we have had problems understanding the reasons behind insomnia, we humans wasted no time in trying to find cures for it. Natural remedies have been practiced for a while but the artificial ones came about with the advancements in technology. Sleeping pills, in particular, became extremely popular and doctors to date prescribe them to patients with insomnia.

But are sleeping pills good for us?

Are they better than the natural remedies that we have with us?

Can’t we completely replace sleeping pills with natural remedies?

Let’s answer all these questions with the information we have gathered.

Sleeping pills

Sleeping pills technically come under the category – sedative-hypnotic. This category is basically a class of drugs that makes the user sleepy or help the user to stay asleep. Some common sedative-hypnotics that sleeping pill users would be aware of are – benzodiazepines, barbiturates, and other types of hypnotics.

• Benzodiazepines

Benzodiazepines are basically anti-anxiety medications. These medications help people sleep better. The short-term use of these medications has not caused any side effects but the same can not be said for the long-term use.

A major drawback witnessed during the long-term use of these medications which include Ativan, Xanax, valium, and others is that they are highly addictive. Other than that they also cause problems with attention span and memory retention. 

• Barbiturates

These are strong sedatives that attack the central nervous system of the user to help induce sleep. These medications are so strong that the compound is now used more for anesthetic purposes. Only patients with the most severe cases of insomnia have been prescribed this drug. 

While barbiturates are also addictive in long-term use they cause many other complications. They can cause changes in behavior, extreme mood swings, and other problems along the same line. One main problem is that an overdose of this drug can be fatal.

Common side effects of sleeping pills in general

While we have discussed the main types of sleeping pills and have also addressed their drawbacks, there are many other kinds of sleeping pills available. Sleeping pills on the whole are known to cause a variety of problems.

Not everyone faces the same problems of side effects so you can never be sure which one you might face till you do not try them yourselves. But if you have some particular condition like Asthma or other lung problems then your doctor might be able to predict the side effects that you will face.

Common side effects of prescription sleeping pills such as Ambien, Lunesta, Rozerem, and Sonata include:

• Tingling sensation in the hands, arms, feet, or legs
• Appetite destabilization
• Constipation
• Diarrhea
• Heartburn
• Sudden drowsiness
• Dry mouth
• Gas
• Headache
• Dizziness
• Memory retention problems
• Shorter attention span
• Stomach pain 
• Shaking of hands and other body parts
• Weakness

Alternatives of Sleeping Pills / Natural Remedies

It is obvious by now that taking sleeping pills is an effective way of fighting insomnia but they end up harming our body due to their many side effects. Many people have given up sleeping pills to adopt natural remedies to fight insomnia due to these side effects. Natural remedies do not have such hazardous drawbacks, but on the other hand, have many other advantages. 

• CBD

While Marijuana may still be banned in a lot of states, cannabidiol is being widely used all over. CBD is basically the compound found in Marijuana minus the THC which is the actual agent behind getting the user ‘high’. CBD can be taken in many forms like CBD cream, CBD tincture, CBD edibles, and so on. The correct dosage can lead to a peaceful sleep. It also helps with stress, anxiety, depression, and so on.

• Meditation

Since long before medicine was invented to fight insomnia, meditation was commonly practiced to calm the mind. In particular, mindfulness meditation is known to help with not just sleeping problems but a whole range of problems that humans deal with. It helps with concentration, boosting immunity, stress, anxiety, and so on. 

In a study in 2011 researchers found out that practicing mindfulness meditation in the correct manner can very easily correct sleep patterns and help fight insomnia.

• Yoga and exercise

Yoga took the world by storm around the year 2005. Though its popularity in the Asian countries was always there, it stemmed from western countries during this time. 

Just like meditation, yoga also helps correct sleeping patterns and fights insomnia. 

It is better to have a trained yoga instructor guide you for the correct form of the exercise.

Normal day-to-day workouts or any other form of exercise can also be helpful if you do not wish to practice yoga. The idea is to get into a routine and make sure you use the energy in your body. While it is not always certain that it will help, you can talk to a physician and narrow down the possibilities. 

Yoga and exercise both help in fighting insomnia but also have positive effects on things like blood pressure, stress, anxiety, breathing problems, and so on.

• Lavender Oil

Lavender oil, if taken orally, has shown promising signs in fighting not just insomnia but also depression, chronic pains, anxiety, and so on. 

Users have reported having one of the best sleeping after using lavender oil. It comes with no such side effects and is being used widely all over the world.

Natural remedies are slowly being adopted to overtake the use of sleeping pills when it comes to fighting insomnia. Due to the many drawbacks and hazardous side effects, the use of sleeping pills is slowly taking a backseat all over the world.

What are your favorite natural sleep remedies?

Share your thoughts and comments with us.

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