I sleep very badly. I’ve tried a lot of remedies to help me – hot milk, keeping warm, exercising, lavender – but none work. Can you help?
Rumana of Rumana Health says:
Not sleeping well can be an indication of the nervous system being over taxed either through poor nutrition or too much stress and anxiety.
Minerals like calcium, magnesium and potassium have a positive effect on the nervous system; foods high in these are green leafy vegetables, nuts, seeds and pulses. Nettle tea is rich in minerals which will help to feed the nervous system too.
I would avoid all stimulants such as tea, coffee, sugar, alcohol or caffeinated drinks and stop eating or drinking late at night.
Taking a herbal supplement with valerian, passionflower or hops will help as well as Vitamin B6.
Lastly consider what’s going on in your mind at bedtime. Are your thoughts buzzing around continuously? Managing your thoughts is essential and you can do this by reading or meditating. If there are things on your mind which you need to work through then perhaps you can talk them through with a friend or consider addressing specific issues with a counsellor or life coach.
