Naturopathic medicine and insomnia

Naturopathic medicine and insomnia

Are you having trouble falling or staying asleep? Do you wake up still feeling tired and unrefreshed? If so, you might be suffering from insomnia!

Insomnia is defined as the inability to fall asleep, stay asleep, and/or waking up early in the morning. It can lead to fatigue, lack of concentration, irritability, anxiety, learning disabilities, and depression.

There are many possible causes of insomnia:

  • Stress
  • Anxiety
  • Depression
  • Hormone imbalances, such as menopause and pregnancy
  • Medications
  • Travel
  • Shift work
  • Chronic pain
  • Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)
  • Caffeine
  • Sleep apnea
  • Restless leg syndrome
  • Poor sleep hygiene

Naturopathic doctors are trained to identify the possible factors contributing to insomnia. After the cause or causes are identified, a safe and effective individualized treatment plan is given. This might include stress management techniques, correcting hormone imbalances, acupuncture, dietary and lifestyle recommendations, botanicals to help balance the sleep-wake cycle, or homeopathy.