People suffering from insomnia often choose natural remedies for treating their insomnia. Such remedies include herbal remedies, such as chamomile tea or lemon balm, are usually harmless for most people. However, it should be duly noted that just because a natural remedy is labeled “natural”, it does not equate to being safe. Herbal remedies are not regulated and some contain conventional medicines.
Herbal remedies such as valerian root, kava kava, chamomile, lemon balm, St. John’s wort and passion flower have been used as insomnia cures for years. Please note the effectiveness and safety of these remedies has not been formally documented nor researched. Existing studies completed on herbal remedies are often hard to interpret. Since they are not based on standardized studies like those done for prescription drugs as prescribed by regulatory bodies such as the FDA.
Some insomnia sufferers take melatonin to help them sleep. Melatonin is a hormone produced in the brain by the pineal gland, from the amino acid tryptophan. Synthetic melatonin supplements have been used for a variety of medical conditions, most notably as an insomnia cure. Melatonin is the best studied natural remedy for insomnia, although in the U.S. it remains unregulated. Evidence on its effects as an insomnia cure remains unclear. Studies have found that although many people fall asleep faster with melatonin, it has no effect on prolonging total sleep time or lessening daytime sleepiness.
It should be emphasized that melatonin is classified as a dietary supplement and not as a drug, so its quality and effectiveness is uncontrolled in the U.S. (The United States is the only developed nation that does not regulate this substance.) Since Melatonin is a powerful hormone, it can produce major side effects, many of which are still unknown, on all parts of the body. The bottom line is that people who take melatonin as an insomnia cure are experimenting on themselves. Keep in mind that natural remedies are not regulated by the FDA and their quality is not controlled. In addition, any substance that can affect the body’s chemistry can, like any drug, produce potentially harmful side effects.
Natural remedies are not regulated by the FDA and therefore their quality is not controlled. Additionally, if body chemistry can be altered by a given compound, then the potential for serious side effects is present. Even if studies show natural remedies have a positive effect, it is important to note that the tested substances are not always the same ones available to the public. Also, herbal remedies were sometimes found to contain standard prescription drugs.
Whether natural or chemical, one should not be compelled to use drugs as insomnia cures. Natural therapies can be used to help provide an insomnia sufferer a good night’s sleep without the use of drugs.
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