The biggest drawback of not getting enough sleep is feeling exhausted and sluggish all day. In the last five years I have been focusing on three important factors to help me stay young, vital, and live to an old age. The first is to drink enough water all day. I stop at about 6 pm but get 64 fluid ounces/day . The next is to keep to exercise- I do not want to lose muscle mass. Perhaps the hardest for me as a physician is enough sleep. From years from medical school, to residency I never got enough sleep. I was one of those individuals who went to bed at at midnight and later and got up at 6 am. I was not getting enough sleep. In the last couple of years I get into bed at 8:30 and am sleeping by 9 am as I get up every day at 5 am. I feel great.
Many who have sleep issues turn to natural agents like melatonin Melatonin is a chemical naturally produced by the body during our wake cycle. When we have good dietary and lifestyle habits, our bodies make ample amounts of this chemical during the day and release it at night when it’s time to rest. For some we do not make enough melatoin. There is research to show that one teaspoon of honey makes our own melatonin increase. I have personally never felt taking melatonin helped me.
I rather use herbs, CBD and meditation to help me sleep. I now wear a sleep mask to make the room darker. I play water sounds to help me relax. I keep my cell phone away from me as I sleep. For me I use California Poppy, Lemon Balm, and Passion flower at bedtime The California poppy is a poppy with gentle sedative properties. It’s not a heavy hitter like its cousin, the Opium Poppy, which is used to make strong pain medicines like morphine. This poppy contains zero opium. But it does contain many of the same calming properties without the dangerous and mind-altering chemicals. I like Passionflower . It is also a natural sedative that can help with nighttime anxiety, increases GABA, and has been shown to help alleviate insomnia. Lastly I can turn to Lemon Balm- Melissa which is a mint herb Lemon balm, in conjunction with the other herbs in this blend, helps improve stress and mood while soothing the central nervous system and helping to improve the quality of sleep.
Please get enough sleep
Until tomorrow…