Sleep problems

Adequate sleep is essential for our well-being. What’s more,  a good night’s sleep allows our bodies to regenerate and keeps us youthful and fit. These processes are controlled by the hormone melatonin. This is produced in the pineal gland, especially in the dark. It is interesting to note that this can only happen when the body’s temperature sinks at night.

If we consider that body temperature is connected with food intake (we measure the energy content of food in kilocalories – a unit of warmth), it quickly becomes clear that the more we eat in the evening, the more we hinder this physiologically necessary reduction in body temperature.

What’s more: if we eat raw foods in the evening, the fermentation process necessary to metabolise these foods causes the body temperature to rise even higher. Eating raw food in the evening is not conducive to sleep and the associated recovery processes. Your first step should therefore be to eat your evening meal as early as possible and prepare it so that it is as easily digestible as possible. Do not eat any raw food.

A hot bath or hot shower before going to bed also helps regulate your body temperature. A liver compress (see… for how to do this) helps in the same way.

The amino acid tryptophan helps stimulate melatonin production. Taken as 5-HTP in the evening, it can help you fall asleep. Melatonin itself is also very helpful (only available from pharmacies and on prescription). Zinc and vitamin B6 are essential for converting melatonin and are therefore also beneficial to sleep.

Try a homeopathic remedy before resorting to sleeping pills. Isosedat, Zincum valerianum or a mixture of valerian, hops, oats and passionflowers are recommended.

Note: The body’s own melatonin production is influenced by electromagnetic fields. The more your bed is exposed to these, the less melatonin your body produces. Your bedroom should therefore be free of electrosmog.

This means that the television should be banned from the bedroom, or at least switched off completely (even better, pull the plug out of the socket). Do not sleep with your mobile phone close to your head; ideally you can keep your bedroom free of electrosmog by disconnecting it from the mains (mains isolation can be installed subsequently).