Aid For Insomnia |

When you care about someone suffering from a mood disorder, taking care of yourself can be a challenge. Mood disorders run the gamut from chronic and clinical depression to panic disorders and bi-polar disorder. In addition to the stress of caregiving, family members have the added burden of trying to avoid the “isolation factor” that is part and parcel of mental illness. It’s easy to see how this happens. Caregivers often believe nobody knows how they feel, or that things will never be ok. When you do have a morsel of time, you may be too down, feeling unsocial, or even tired to do the things you enjoy. Sometimes your only option is socializing with the person affected by mental illness, which may not feel like much of a restful break.

Since mental illnesses can be both chronic and cyclical, it is important to be kind to yourself, as the caring family member. You need to take care of yourself whenever you can – and even when you think you can’t. “Self Care” is a phrase widely used by personal coaches and refers to making your “self” a priority. This can be challenging for caregivers who frequently forget themselves as they care for the ill person.

Caregivers especially, are prone to thinking of themselves as an afterthought, if at all. Neglecting yourself over time can result in adverse consequences for the caregiver, including burnout, shame, increased stress, and anger, in addition to isolation. Being proactive to stay well is important to avoiding these consequences – even if the ways you express self care are minimal, they add up to keep you healthy. Here are some ideas for taking time for your “self,” to help you to keep on giving.

1. Relax your mind. For some people it might be listening to music, or meditation tapes, or even a book on tape (since reading may take more energy). You may want to purchase an MP3 player that allows you to manage the tapes easier than a traditional CD player. One of my favorite artists is Steve Halpern, who puts together some wonderfully relaxing music that I play from my computer or pop into the MP3 or CD player.

2. Relax your body. Massage, Reiki, facials, hot stone treatments — the list is endless. Try something new or go with an old stand-by. While it may feel like an overwhelming task, the simple act of making and keeping the appointment that’s just about you will be well worth the effort. If you just can’t get away, simple breathing meditations can bring deep relaxation.

3. Seek out your (funniest) friends. Staying connected with your friends is an essential form of self care. Friends know and accept our story, and help keep us going. Even if it is an effort, stay in touch and make plans to get together. It’s no secret how therapeutic laughing can be — so pick your funniest friends!! Or take in a funny movie together even if you don’t feel like laughing. It can be wonderfully contagious.

4. Take a break. “Respite” from your caregiving commitment can be invaluable. If money is not an extreme issue, try to get away even if only for a complete day and overnight retreat. There are wonderful places that cater to soulful restoration. Go alone or with a friend. But make a plan and stick by it. If you’re like me, once I “get there” I’m so glad I did!

5. Move your body. Again, it’s no secret that exercise makes you feel better. If you don’t run, workout, or ride, try walking — even walking the dog counts! Join a yoga class or Pilates. Get started, and slowly build up until you are doing it 3x per week. Keep at it to the best of your ability, without beating on yourself if you occasionally skip. Exercise that’s consistent is beneficial each time you do it – and also helps you maintain your health.

6. Express yourself. Writing in a journal can be cathartic and calming during stressful times. Putting those sometimes angry and negative emotions on paper gives your mind a break from holding onto them. Can’t sleep? Try journaling instead of turning on the TV or radio. Even stream of consciousness rambling can help you feel better while you slip into sleep.

In the end, there are no magic bullets in the challenging life of a caregiver. But there absolutely are easy yet powerful strategies for keeping healthy and being well. Go ahead, pick one of the things above and put it in your schedule for this week. Look forward to, savor it…go ahead now, you’ll be glad you did!

Sleep is the nature’s mechanism to restore vitality and vigor in our bodies. A good night’s sleep energizes and refreshes our mind. Many a scientists have discovered solutions to their problems while sleeping. Kekule discovered the structure of benzene hydrocarbon in his sleep. Our dreams help us to unwind and release our deepest subconscious fears.

A deep rested sleep results in a sharper mind and an active body. Sleep deprivation can have serious disorders. Sleep starved people can fall asleep almost anywhere. We have often seen people drop into their soups and sleep in comedy shows. However, the problem is more serious than this.

Individuals suffering from insomnia can fall asleep while driving which and be a major cause of road accidents. Sleep deprivation can lead to a weakened immune stem which can cause an increased susceptibility to colds and other serious diseases. Sleep deprivation causes mood swings and depression.

It makes people irritable and causes them to cry easily. Sleep deprivation causes sleep apnea which can cause a stress in sex life also. It causes a strain in the marital relationships and many a times causes couples to have separate beds and bedrooms.

In today’s world sleep apnea has become as common as cough and cold. People give up sleep to earn more dollars. Long working hours, irregular eating patterns take their toll on the human body. When the problem gets out of hand, people resort to medications like Ambien to fall asleep.

Little do they realize that ambien causes serious side effects like hallucinations, confusion and behavioral problems. So next time, you reach out for that pill to fall asleep, think twice. After all, it’s your body and it needs its sleep.

Tryptophan: It is an amino-indolepropionic acid. It is essential and should not be omitted in the diet. It’s not synthesized in the body, but may be synthesized in the micro-organism, E.coli. It is neither ketogenic nor glycogenic. Though this amino acid is very essential for the body, yet it is inefficiently utilized in the body, and a large amount of tryptophan is excreted in urine.

The amino acids being colourless do not absorb visible light and ultraviolet light of a wavelength above 240 mm. The exception being aromatic amino acids which includes histidine, phenylalanine, tyrosine and tryptophan. The ultraviolent absorption of proteins above 240 mm wavelength is due to their tryptophan content.

The tryptophan gets converted to nicotinamide, which gets hampared in cases of Vitamin B-6 deficiency. The hereditary abnormality in metabolism of tryptophan causing deficiency of niacin, know as Hartnup disease is manifested in pellagra like skin rash, and mental deterioration, with excess tryptophan in urine 1 mg equivalent of niacin is generated for every 60 mg of trytophan. The tryptophan also forms secrotonin, a potent vasoconstrictor and stimulator of smooth muscle contraction. One 1% of tryptophan is normally converted to serotonin, but in malignant carcinoid (serotonin producing tumour cells in abdominal cavity) it could go up to 60%, affecting adversely production of nicotinic acid from trytophan, and causing negative nitrogen balance. Trytophan is obtained on eating whole grain bread, enters the brain and boosts levels of serotonin, the mood elevating brain chemical.

The tryptophan metabolites are excreted in urine and faces. Melanins are polymers of tryptophan catabolites. The tryptophan may undergo bacterial putrefaction in the intestine causing the formation of toxic substances, which then get detoxified in liver with acids.

Tryptophan works as a safe and effective food remedy for insomnia and emotional complaints. It is essential for blood clotting and digestive juices. It prevents early aging and its related effects on eye, hair, and teeth. It also acts as a natural painkiller. It slows down the rate of starch decomposition and thus prevents tooth decay.

Sources of Tryptophan: The rice sources for tryptophan is bajra, ragi, barley, soyabean, bengal gram, knoll-khol greens, spinach, agathi, colocasia, sweet potato, cauliflower, cashew nut, mango, papaya, egg, and milk.

The RDA for children is 3.3 mg, and for adults is 3.5 mg per kg. of body weight.

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Tongkat Ali (Eurycoma longifolia), also called Longjack and Pasak Bumi, is a tree that grows in Malaysia and Indonesia. The root of this tree has been used in these regions for many years as an aphrodisiac and to treat various sexual dysfunctions. Scientific research in recent years has shown support for the libido enhancing and sexual health qualities of this herb.

One of the original uses of this herb was as a malaria medication. Its use as an aphrodisiac and sexual function enhancer was a fortunate side effect of this original use. It was used for years without any knowledge of what brought about the improvement in sexual desire and function. Research soon looked at the possible causes for these positive results.

Tongkat Ali has been shown to increase the body’s natural production of testosterone, the male sex hormone. Testosterone is responsible for the development of the male sex organs and maintaining the health of those organs. It is also responsible for the male sex drive and secondary sex characteristics such as facial hair and enlarging of the larynx (resulting in deepening of the voice.) Females need testosterone as well, although not in as large a quantity as males. Testosterone is responsible for a healthy sex drive in women and increases the sensitivity of the erogenous zones. Both males and females need testosterone to help stimulate the metabolism, support fat burning, produce red blood cells and stimulate muscle growth.

Studies have shown that Tongkat Ali does have a libido enhancing effect on animals, and recently the same has been shown in human trials. The increase in testosterone brings about an increase in sex drive, improvement in sexual function, and reversal of some erectile dysfunction issues. One study found behavioral changes in rats that were given Tongkat Ali. Instead of roaming and exploring the cage like other rats, the ones given the herb stayed closer to the females. Ladies, this probably doesn’t mean that your man will join you in the kitchen for dishes or sit down for a nice heart to heart, but he may want to spend more “quality” time with you. Women who take this herbal supplement may notice an increase in libido as well, resulting in true “quality” time.

The testosterone enhancing qualities of Tongkat Ali are also of interest to the bodybuilding community. Testosterone is an important hormone in building muscle mass and strength. Testosterone production normally begins to drop off after thirty years of age. This leads to a slowing of the metabolism, loss of muscle mass, lower energy levels, and decrease in sex drive and function. With all of these issues related to decreased testosterone production it is no wonder people look for ways to keep testosterone levels up. Those interested in building more muscle mass are especially interested in boosting testosterone levels. The increase in sex drive is a welcome side benefit for most.

Many men and women with decreased sex drive or other sexual dysfunction issues seek help from their physician. One common treatment is to use testosterone replacement therapy. This involves injecting testosterone into the body to replace that which the body no longer produces. The problem with this approach is that the body reads the new level of testosterone and no longer strives to make its own. This approach does not correct the underlying problem of reduced production. Herbal supplementation that supports the body’s own production of testosterone, such as Tongkat Ali use, may help to correct this problem.

Herbal supplements generally are safer than pharmaceutical or hormonal therapies. However, Tongkat Ali does carry some possible side effects, especially with larger doses. These include restlessness, insomnia, anxiety and a slight decrease in immune functions. It is important to start out with small doses and only increase if no side effects are noted.

If you are looking for further information on Tonkat Ali or other medicinal herbs and herbal supplements please visit these links.

Steroids are group of compounds, along with corticosteroids, sex hormones, and cholesterol. Cholesterol plays an important role in formation of Vitamin D, bile acids, and steroid hormone. It is making cell membranes more rigid.

Type of steroids:

- Corticosteroids
- Anabolic steroids

Corticosteroids are produces in the brain adrenal cortex. The types of corticosteroids are the glucocorticoids and the mineralocorticoids. Corticosteroids type glucocrticoids are involved in controlling the quantity o glucose; the mineralcorticoids are fixing the body’s electrolyte balance.

Anabolic steroids types are synthetic and closely related to testosterone. Some athletes are using those substances to speed up their muscles development. Anabolic steroids types are made in several versions. The most popular are Oxymetholone (Anadrol), Stanozolol (Winstrol), and Testosterone Cyprionate (Depo-Testosterone).

The action of the anabolic steroid type is to bind the androgen receptor sites in an indirect manner; they are stimulating the protein synthesis. Muscle development is in this point hasten and enhanced; the muscles growth is influenced in the same way. Rigorous training will never bring the same gain in muscle endurance and strength. Anabolic steroid type is easily turning a normal person into a perfect athlete.

But the use of anabolic steroid type has some drawbacks. Hot flashes, depression, hypertension, increased irritability, chills, nausea, anorexia, anxiety, vomiting, mood swings, euphoria, and psychosis are some of the most common drawbacks.

The athlete using anabolic steroids has many disadvantages; some drawbacks can make his life really difficult. Is there a way to find if someone is using anabolic steroid? All athletic competitions should be done in fair conditions, giving to every participant the feeling that every athlete has the fairest forms possible. The only way to stop the anabolic steroid type influence in athletic competitions is to test the athletes; there are specialized firms that can determine who is using anabolic steroids. Anabolic steroid testing is available to all athletic programs; is it a wise precaution for all athletes, even professionals and avoid the side effect such as cardiovascular disease, cancer, decreased blood clotting ability, acne, virilization, immune system suppression, sterility, and insomnia.

Steroids are illegal in many countries all over the world. Anabolic steroid type was illegalized in 1988 in the United States; due to the black market steroids, there is still a possibility to see athletes or bodybuilders using steroids. The worst part of the anabolic steroid use is that they are addictive. The steroid delivery can be done using an intramuscular injection or oral ingestion.

Anabolic steroid type can cause each person to react differently to this drug. Different drug combinations can affect muscle and even bone growth. As people have different levels of the testosterone, their reaction will be different. Anabolic steroids can be used safely only when doctors prescribe these drugs to patients suffering from specific, rare diseases. Anabolic steroid can improve their health. But special attention must be given to minimize the side effects; doctors are usually using the lowest possible dosage.