Describes how posterior pituitary gland deficiency causes insomnia. This is based on the work of Melvin Page D.D.S. For other original articles by Dr. Page that are not in his books check my website www.pittsburgh-dentist.com.

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Many people these days report feelings of uncontrollable anxiety, as well as depression. In fact, anxiety and depression are two of the most common mental conditions facing individuals today. From a broader social point of view, it is an interesting phenomenon.

After all, in privileged developed countries that have high standards of living, you would think that anxiety and depression rates would be low.

Not so! In fact, the opposite is true with many health professionals stating that anxiety and depression are part of the malaise affecting modernized societies across the world.

The problem of depression and anxiety is part and parcel of the failure of modern day materialism and consumerism. Despite having all the things we want and need, people everywhere are still failing to find happiness in their day-to-day lives.

And it isn't surprising really when you consider the costs of our material wealth. Too often these days people are spending more and more of their time working, and losing precious time with their families and friends.

Our urbane existences are hectic, fast-paced and individualized with little opportunity for meaningful social interaction. It's no wonder so many people feel anxious or develop depression. Thankfully, many people who suffer from these conditions are finding meditation a very effective way of treating the signs and symptoms.

1) Do you suffer from an anxiety condition?

But firstly, what are the signs of anxiety conditions? The symptoms of anxiety illnesses are varied and diverse that includes any one (or a combination) of the following problems:
- Breathing problems, or shortness of breath
- Hot flushes or cold sweats
- Numbness or tingling sensations.
- Heart arrhythmia, palpitations or chest pains
- Dizziness or lightheadedness.
- Morbid thoughts, or terror or sudden fear that something terrible will happen.
- A sensation of loss of control
- Agoraphobia
- Inability to socialize
- Avoidance of crowds or open spaces
- General tension and anxiety and an inability to relax most of the time.

2) Do you suffer from depression?

The symptoms that accompany depression include:
- Feelings of sadness, tension, confusion or irritability
- A diminished interest or pleasure in usual activities or hobbies
- Loss of energy, feeling tired despite lack of activity
- Unusually lowered or increased appetite, with corresponding weight gain or loss
- Over sleeping or insomnia or lack of sleep
- Listlessness, restlessness or feeling slowed down
- Decreased ability to concentrate or make decisions
- Feelings of worthlessness, hopelessness, or guilt
- Suicidal ideation

3) How meditation can help both anxiety and depression

Obviously if you experience anxiety or depression-related symptoms in an ongoing way, or in a manner that interferes with normal life, then the very first step is to see a doctor.

There is no doubt that medical attention and treatment is crucial to coping with anxiety or depression. That said, you can use meditation to help alleviate the symptoms and perhaps even cure yourself of both these life-affecting problems.

Unfortunately many people think you have to be part of a particular religion or spiritual tradition to meditate. Indeed meditation is too often associated with unconventional or offbeat eastern or new-age spiritual practices.

This is a common misconception that overlooks the enormous mental benefits that mediation brings to peoples lives every day. You certainly don't have to be a Buddhist or new-age hippie to get the benefits of meditation. In fact, for people suffering from either anxiety or depression, the great weight of medical research suggests that the relaxation techniques taught through meditation are invaluable for coping with the symptoms of both conditions.

4) How do I incorporate meditation into my day?

If you have decided to explore how meditation techniques can help your anxiety or depression, here are a few tips on including meditation into your day.

Start by telling your family that you are going to start practicing meditation every day, at a particular time during which you do not want to be disturbed.

Find a quiet space in your house, preferably a room that can be closed off, giving you maximum privacy and seclusion.

If you wish, you can play soft, relaxing music. Get comfortable either in a cross-legged position or by lying on the floor with your head supported by a pillow or bolster.

Close your eyes and systematically work through every muscle in your body, relaxing each one in turn. Start with your toes, then work up you legs, and so on, relaxing every single muscle so you feel loose, tranquil and as if you are melting into the floor. Even relax your jaw and eyelids!

Once you feel completely relaxed, focus on slow, deliberate breathing. With every in-breath think of a word (for example, "deep") and say to yourself inwardly. In the same way, recite a word inwardly when you exhale (such as "gentle"). Recite these two words as you inhale and exhale ("deep" then "gentle"; "deep" then "gentle" and so on) for approximately 20 minutes.

Control your mind by not letting it slip into analysis, planning or reflection. Simply focus on your breathing, and tune out all other thoughts. This is all it takes to meditate.

If you suffer from anxiety or depression, you can help manage your problem by simply incorporating the deep relaxation techniques of meditation.

What are the causes of insomnia and how can it corrected without the use of synthetic drugs?

Try a combination of valerian root and melatonin. Valerian smells, but works well, and if you take it and the melatonin together, you should be aboe to get some decent sleep.

If you've been having problems sleeping for awhile now, you might want to consider getting a sleep study done.

With the best preparation in the world before leaving home, and
having taken a few simple precautions during your flight, you
will inevitably suffer the effects of jet lag, unless you also
continue your "no jet lag" plan once you arrive at your
destination.

Here, however, we need to sound a word of caution. One common
problem with jet lag is that, for many people, the true effects
of jet lag are not immediately apparent and it may take a day or
two to "catch up" with you. In addition, the excitement of
arriving at your holiday destination, or for an important
business meeting, may also tend to mask the symptoms of jet lag.

So, if you arrive at your destination feeling like a million
dollars and throw yourself into your holiday or business
activities - beware! Jet lag will almost certainly creep up and
hit you on the back of the head just when you least expect it.

If your destination is in a time zone that is behind the time
back home it is often claimed that taking a nap as soon as
possible after your arrival is helpful. This is, however, not
advisable, unless you really feel that you cannot press on
without some sleep. If this is the case, try to take only a
short nap lasting no more than about thirty or forty minutes.
The best cure for jet lag, and its associated insomnia, is to
press on to the normal bedtime at your destination and, thereby,
to immediately begin the process of adapting your internal body
clock to its new environment.

If you arrive at a destination that is ahead of your home time
then try to sleep through as much of the night as possible, even
though your body still thinks that it's the middle of the day.
Here the use of natural remedies such as herbal teas, as well as
a warm (but not hot) bath, aromatherapy or relaxation and
meditation exercises can be extremely helpful in triggering the
body's natural sleep cycle.

Light also plays a very important role in reducing the effects
of jet lag and you should try to expose yourself to as much
daylight as possible during normal waking hours. If you arrive
during the day avoid the temptation to sit and rest in your
hotel room or lounge and get out and about in the daylight until
it's time for your normal evening routine.

You should also continue to pay attention to your diet. Eating
and drinking to excess is often a normal part of any holiday or
business trip, but try to avoid over-indulging in the first two
or three days after arrival. In particular, limit your intake of
such things as caffeine and alcohol, as well as other stimulants.

Finally, don't neglect your body's need for exercise. Taking
regular daily aerobic exercise for at least twenty minutes (even
if that's only a brisk walk back to your hotel rather than a
taxi ride) is an important part of any plan to cure jet lag.

Copyright 2005 Donald Saunders - http://help-me-to-sleep.co

If you now suffer from a vaginal yeast infection or a male yeast infection, you've probably searched the Web for a mild, natural cure. And you've probably landed on web pages that suggest a variety of antifungal herbs, such as oregano oil, grapefruit seed extract, black walnut, etc.

If so, you found web pages written by people who believe in a syndrome that the medical community does not acknowledge or accept as scientifically valid â?? called "systemic yeast infections," "systemic candidiasis," or "Candida overgrowth."

The folks who believe in this syndrome have a long list of symptoms that are supposed to be caused by having too much yeast in your gut. Genital yeast infections are included on the list, but there are over 30 other vague symptoms, too â?? including such things as fatigue, insomnia, digestive problems, and infertility.

In fact, if you feel less than perfect, these folks will blame it on Candida.

It seems natural, then, to assume that the remedies recommended for this general, systemic type of yeast infection will also work for your vaginal yeast infection or male yeast infections. However, there is no proof that this is true, and there are good reasons to believe that the antifungal herbs can actually make things worse for you.

You could even find yourself with chronic yeast infections, instead of the one irritating rash you've got now.

Why? Because the most common cause of yeast infections is the use of antibiotics. And the herbs listed above are mild antibiotics. They may kill off some of the yeast in your intestinal tract (which is not the yeast that's actually making you itch), but at the same time your beneficial bacteria population will also be damaged.

For this reason, the systemic yeast infection crowd always suggests that you start eating yoghurt or taking probiotic supplements â?? exactly the same recommendation you would get from your doctor to lower your risk of getting a yeast infection when you need to take antibiotics.

In other words, if the herbs have the killing power that's claimed for them, using the herbs will damage the bacterial population that is your body's first line of defense against yeast infections.

It would be in your best interest to skip the herbs altogether, and eat the yogurt. Some people with genital yeast infections also put the yogurt directly on the infected area, to get the beneficial bacteria right where they're needed. There have been no studies that prove that this works, but thousands of people swear by it, and it certainly can't hurt.

The "systemic yeast infection" web pages also recommend fairly complicated Candida diets, and there is one aspect of these diets that you should follow â?? if you're suffering from a vaginal or male yeast infection you should stop eating sugar and white flour, at least until the symptoms and rash are gone.

Sugar has mild antibiotic properties and yeast loves it. It won't hurt you to give it up for a week or so.

If you want a natural, soothing yeast infection remedy, apply a mild vinegar solution to the affected area. One safe way to do this is to put a cup or more of apple cider vinegar in hot bath water, and then get in for a nice relaxing soak. Or you can sponge your genital area with a vinegar solution, if a relaxing bath doesn't appeal to you for some reason.

Ladies, do not use a vinegar douche if you have the symptoms of a yeast infection â?? if you've guessed wrong and actually have a bacterial infection instead, you could cause permanent damage to your reproductive organs.

(Yeast and other fungi really don't like vinegar, so if you ever have athletes' foot or nail fungus, remember this remedy and give your tired feet a good soak in a tub of warm vinegar solution. It may smell funny, but the fungus will almost always disappear without resorting to more expensive and invasive medications from the drug store.)

So stay away from antifungal/antibiotic herbs if you have a vaginal or male yeast infection, stop eating sugar and white flour at least until the symptoms are gone, and try soaking your rash in a nice warm vinegar bath.

If these mild and safe home remedies don't work in a few days, it's time to get yourself to a doctor. No home remedy is guaranteed to cure every yeast infection.

And it's important to remember that a self-diagnosis is not always right â?? your home remedy might not be working because you don't have a yeast infection. If you itch for some other reason, you need to know what really is causing your symptoms so your doctor can help you get rid of it before it does any lasting damage.

Vitamin B5 is also known as pantothenic acid. Its name is derived from the Greek word pantos meaning "from everywhere," as small quantities of pantothenic acid are found in nearly every food.

In its functional form, vitamin B5 gets combined with another small, sulfur-containing molecule to form coenzyme A (or CoA). This conversion allows vitamin B5 to participate in a wide variety of chemical and organic reactions. Coenzyme A is needed to carry out various metabolic functions, and for the generation of energy in the form of ATP from fats, carbohydrates and proteins.

Roger J. Williams, the discoverer of pantothenic acid suggested that Vitamin B5 might be helpful in the management of certain medical disorders, such as rheumatoid arthritis.

Functions of Vitamin B5 â??

* Vitamin B5 is also known as the anti-stress vitamin at times. It is one of the eight water soluble B complex vitamins.

* Vitamin B5 helps production of the cellular antioxidant glutathione, and is therefore an essential vitamin for all life forms.

* Helps in the break down carbohydrates, proteins and fats for energy - thus a stamina enhancer.

* This vitamin plays an important role in production of adrenal hormones in the adrenal glands.

* Vitamin B5 helps to produce neurotransmitters, cholesterol required for proper nerve and muscle performance.

* It is also responsible for haemoglobin production and metabolism of toxins by the liver.

* It plays an important role in cell division, DNA reproduction and RNA transcription.

* It regulates the formation of stress hormones and hair pigmentation.

Deficiency of Vitamin B5 â??

It is an unlikely that an adult will have a deficiency of vitamin B5 because of the availability of B5 in many foods, plus the fact that it is also produced by our intestinal bacteria.

However, a deficiency of Vitamin B5 causes fatigue, muscle weakness, personality changes, psoriasis, and headache. Vitamin B5 is often used to treat the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis, edema, swelling, pain, and stiffness in joints.

Pantothenic acid is also recommended to prevent stress and relieve insomnia, arthritis, food intolerance and teeth grinding.

Oral application of pantothenic acid helps relieve many skin problems and cure wounds.

Who are at risk of Vitamin B5 deficiency?

* Women who are on birth control pills are recommended to take extra doses of Vitamin B5.

* Smokers and alcoholics also fall under this category.

* People undergoing stress, prone to allergies or eating too many refined foods might develop a shortage of this vitamin.

Symptoms of Vitamin B5 deficiency â??

· painful & burning feet

· skin abnormalities

· numbness and poor coordination

· abdominal and muscle cramps

· vomiting

· anaemia

· insomnia and depression

· stunted growth

· restlessness

Most of these symptoms and signs get resolved with external administration of pantothenic acid.

Vitamins B12, folic acid and biotin are required for proper use of vitamin B5 in the body's biochemical activities. In addition, vitamin C somewhat helps prevent B5 deficiency.

Dosage of Vitamin B5 â??

Since deficiency of pantothenic acid is rare, so there is no recommended daily intake for this vitamin. Pantothenic acid is mostly included in B-complex multivitamins. The RDA for men is 10 mg and women is 8 mg.

Normal daily intake of pantothenic acid for adults is 4 to 7 milligrams. Vitamin B5 should be taken with water, preferably after eating.

Pantothenic acid does not usually cause any side effects, but pregnant and lactating mothers should be careful to consume only the normal daily intake.

Vitamin B5 can be found in multivitamins, B complex vitamins, or sold individually under the name of pantothenic acid and calcium pantothenate. It is available in a variety of forms including tablets and capsules, and must be taken under medical supervision.

Dietary sources of Vitamin B5 -

The term pantothenic acid is derived from the Greek word pantos, meaning everywhere. Vitamin B5 is widely distributed in plant and animal food sources, where it occurs in both bound and free forms.

Pantothenic acid is richly found in peanuts, liver, kidney, cauliflower, mushrooms, seeds and other nuts, pumpkin, mushrooms, legumes, sweet potato, milk, soya, cheese, egg yolk, fish, chicken, wholegrain bread and cereals, and bananas. The richest sources of the vitamin are the ovaries of cod and tuna fish.

Breakfast cereals are also a good source if they have been fortified with pantothenic acid.

Do not add soda to the water used for cooking vegetables - it will destroy the pantothenic acid.

Vitamin B5 storage â??

Vitamin B5 is relatively unstable in food, and significant amounts of this vitamin can be lost through cooking, freezing, and commercial processing.

Vitamins are easily destroyed and washed out during food preparation and storage. Store vitamin supplements at room temperature, in a dry place that is free of moisture.

If you have not investigated the use of natural remedies for a wide variety of typical health problems, you are missing out on what could be your best, healthiest, and most effective options. Natural remedies are healthier for you than prescription drugs, they have far fewer nasty side effects, and are almost always significantly less expensive than prescription drugs, even after your health insurance co-pays.

For example, although there are many over the counter and prescription medicines available for heartburn relief, natural remedies for heartburn may be just as effective and cause fewer side effects. With the introduction of products that can hurt our bodies just as much as they help us, the popularity of natural herbal remedies parties is growing.

If you read the side of the bottle for traditional medications, you will see a list of the possible side effects, like â??will cause drowsiness and diarrheaâ?. Well of course this medication will cure your headache, because you will forget all about your headache when you fall asleep on the toilet!

If you have never used natural remedies, you may want to start slowly so you can begin to see the benefits. You may want to begin to incorporate the benefits of natural health into your everyday life by stocking your medicine cabinet with herbal remedies, replacing non-natural brand-name products. But like anything else, natural remedies are good for what they are designed to cure or prevent, so make sure, just like with traditional medications and drugs, that you understand the ailment that you are treating. For example, you cannot apply skin lotion to your elbow and expect it to resolve your migraine problem. Is that an extreme example? Not according to many of the calls taken by the professionals in this industry, believe it or not!

Yes, there are many cures, prescriptions, OTC (over the counter) or natural for something as common as acid reflux, but every person is different in the sense that some or all remedies might not work, or m ay lose their effectiveness after many uses. In the end, for some people, it may not be enough to avoid personal acid reflux triggers or use a natural remedy. As you use natural remedies, keep in mind that one particular remedy may not work for you. But the beauty of natural remedies is that if one does not work for you, there are a dozen others that can, in the same sense that if one prescription antibiotic does not work for you, there are many others that may.

Thousands of years ago, the people of the earth understood our bodies to a surprising level. They understood the need to keep your body in chemical balance. For example, it was important to them to use only natural remedies, and people have been using rhubarb as one of the natural remedies for heartburn and indigestion, which is still used by native Americans today. Also one of the best natural gum disease remedies known today is tea tree oil gel.

Another example is that vitamin D is one of the best natural gum disease remedies easily available. Overall, given its absence of toxic reactions and its effectiveness at promoting high-quality sleep, valerian root remains one of the best natural remedies for insomnia. Herbal remedies play an important role in the natural ways to overcome insomnia, and they are much better for you and far less chance of becoming habit-forming than their prescription counterparts.

You owe it to yourself to keep yourself as healthy as possible, and you should be encouraged to try natural remedies and herbal remedies. You will likely find that they are better and you will feel better as a result.

I've been going through some stress lately and it's been hard for me to get to sleep. Sometimes I can't get my mind to shut off. Any advice?

LizzieP, I'm sorry that you're having a tough time sleeping! I know how frustrating it can be to be tired all day long, and then get to your cozy bed–and not be able to fall asleep!

Have you tried listening to soft music, like sounds of the ocean? That can sometimes help.

Sometimes I'll "trick" my body into falling asleep by creating "dreams" while I'm still awake. I'll think about being in a hot air balloon, drifting up and away. I don't put any pressure on myself to falli asleep, I just use imagery.

Other times, I try a hot cup of milk with honey.

An hour before bed I try to relax and calm my mind. It might sound a little selfish, but I make that "me" time. Even though I may not be stressed at the moment, I make this time special for me, and I'll listen to music or read, or type Yahoo! Answers!

If all else fails, see if a doctor can prescribe something such as Ambien CR or Lunesta. I had to quit the Ambien because it made me sleep walk too much. Lunesta works wonders for me though. I have had terriffic luck.

Natural medicines such as Melatonin and Valarien did not work for me, but they do work for others.

Sometimes taking a hot shower or bath can be relaxing.

Try not to think about what stresses you out, if it is possible. Tell yourself that it's not going to get solved or fixed tonight, and there's no use thinking about it anymore (till tomorrow).

I would also suggest that you try other ways of combating your stress, if it is possible. Keep a journal, go for a walk, pick up a new hobby, or talk to someone. I have found these useful.

Good luck to you, and I hope it helps.

Know that I'll be keeping you in prayer.
God Bless,
Chris

Aside from the things previously mentioned in the earlier article, here are other things to consider to fight insomnia.

IV. Sleep Restriction Therapy

For some insomniacs, it is hard to fall asleep first with their minds racing. They may be in bed for 10 hours but stay asleep for 5 hours. In this type of therapy, patients are advised to reduce the number of hours they spend in bed to hours they spend in sleeping, until those hours are increased. For more information, go to your nearest sleep center.

V. Melatonin For Insomnia?

Another popular insomnia relief is melatonin, a hormone released by the pineal gland.

Melatonin levels are high during nighttime, and low during daytime. It is stimulated by darkness and is suppressed by light. Advertised heavily on the internet, it is believed to be an effective insomnia cure, especially since it is naturally produced in the body and is responsible behind the body's circadian rhythm. People think that as they get older, their melatonin levels decline. But how effective it really is remains to be thoroughly studied, as findings so far are mixed.

In one small study, however, it was found out that melatonin may help night shift workers sleep during the day. Dr. James K. Wyatt of Rush University Medical Center and his colleagues at Harvard Medical School assigned a group of people free from sleep disorders to be put on a 20-hour sleep-wake schedule, simulating a traveler crossing four time zones eastward every day. They were asked to take 0.3 or 5 mg of melatonin or a look-alike placebo pill 30 minutes before each scheduled sleep period, which lasted for 7 hours.

People who took melatonin had longer sleep time during the day when the body doesn't normally produce it, compared to those who took placebo, the study found out. But when they were given melatonin at night when the body produces its own melatonin, no added benefits were discovered.

Another factor that consumers must consider before buying melatonin is the fact that it is not FAD-approved. Its safety is not guaranteed, and its production is not closely monitored. Available forms in health stores may contain other substances and are untested for long-term use.

VI. Sleep Medications

So the abovementioned tips don't work, what now? Sleep medications may be your last resort when sleep is still elusive, but you should exercise caution. Don't view them as your main weapon against insomnia, because you will fail. While there are many of them in the market that seem promising, thanks to their companies' clever marketing strategies, sleep experts advise you to take them only in small doses, and only when all else fails. They are not for long-term use. Check for your doctor's advice before taking any drugs for possible interactions with other medications. They are habit-forming. Quit slowly or else you will suffer from rebound insomnia, the kind that will worsen when you stop taking them.

VII. Conclusion

While you may be experiencing sleepless nights, your insomnia can still be cured. Just go to a sleep center, ask for advice, and who knows, you'll be sleeping soundly again.

http://www.naturalcuresforinsomnia.org/cures-for-insomnia/the-valerian-insomnia-cure | How to use Valerian as an Insomnia Cure. For Insomnia Valerian acts as a medium sedative and is a natural cure.

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