| Herbal supplements are a common adjunct to | | | | this makes people happy and relaxed. Enough |
| treating a disease, a disorder, or enhancing quality | | | | seratonin in a person's system will cause someone |
| of life. Although taking natural, herbal supplements | | | | to sleep. |
| can be effective as well as reduce costs, it is | | | | Because melatonin, tryptophan, and seratonin are |
| important to realize that they work similar to | | | | natural chemicals that can be found in humans, it |
| pharmaceutical medications and, more importantly, | | | | is important to use them wisely. Your body |
| can interact positively or negatively with them. | | | | dances careful balances between too many |
| Please keep in mind that when you are in doubt, | | | | hormones and not enough. Some research has |
| ask your health care provider. Supplements can | | | | shown that too much melatonin can prevent |
| be beneficial, but they must be used appropriately. | | | | pregnancy (but should not be relied upon as a |
| A common herbal remedy includes natural sleep | | | | contraceptive). |
| supplements. Our society, today, is very complex | | | | Taking too much can also lead to daytime |
| time and packed full of activities, events, and | | | | drowsiness. Most importantly, melatonin and |
| stress. Some businesses stay open around the | | | | tryptophan can interact with prescription |
| clock forcing individuals into a variety of unnatural | | | | medications especially antidepressants and blood |
| sleeping patterns. | | | | thinners. If you are taking any type of medication, |
| Also, the pressures of our lives whether it be | | | | it is best to contact your health provider before |
| children, family complications, paying the bills, or | | | | taking over the country herbal supplements. |
| making a living adds so much stress and pressure | | | | One more natural sleep supplement, which has |
| to throw off our sleeping schedules. It is only | | | | been used for centuries and is milder than other |
| natural that people have turned to sleeping aids. | | | | types of remedies is chamomile. Although it is |
| However, which natural sleep supplement is right | | | | available in capsules, it is often served as tea. |
| for you? | | | | However, there is not enough research to |
| Melatonin is a classic herbal supplement found in | | | | understand how chamomile enhances sleep. Like |
| many living organism including most animals and | | | | the other supplements, it is possible to take too |
| some plants, such as algae. Humans naturally | | | | much. |
| produce this hormone and it aids in our natural | | | | Some evidence shows that too much chamomile |
| sleep cycle (which is called the circadin rhythm). | | | | can lead to vomiting. Other research shows that it |
| During the day, melatonin is scarcely found in our | | | | too can interact with blood thinners and should be |
| bodies. Our bodies produce and release melatonin | | | | used with caution in individuals taking Coumadin, |
| causing us to become sleepy. It also lowers our | | | | Warfarin, Heparin, Lovenox, or similar type |
| body temperatures preparing us for sleep. | | | | medications. |
| Melatonin, as a sleep aid, is used primarily for | | | | Herbal supplements have been and will continue to |
| delayed or interrupted sleeping problems. Although | | | | be important aids to enhancing our lives. However, |
| it is not sold in most other countries, Melatonin is | | | | just like medications, it is important to know how |
| available over the counter in the United States. | | | | the herbs interact with your body and other |
| Another natural sleep supplement is tryptophan. | | | | prescriptions. When in doubt call your health |
| This may sound familiar to you. It is the same | | | | provider or local pharmacists, who will be more |
| chemical (actually an amino acid) found in turkey | | | | than happy to discuss these issues with you |
| that makes people sleepy after their Thanksgiving | | | | further. |
| meal. From tryptophan the body forms seratonin, | | | | |