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Alternative Treatments for a Restful Nights Sleep

Habitual sleeplessness is called insomnia. Chances are if you experience it, you don't need me to define it, and that fact that it is frustrating is an understatement. Insomnia affects one out of ten Americans and approximately 30 percent of healthy seniors. Insomnia can cause the inability to fall asleep at night, or cause you to wake up during the night without the ability to fall back asleep. Although insomnia itself is not dangerous, it often is a symptom of a more serious underlying medical condition.

Insomnia has been studied and it has been shown that 50 percent of insomnia cases can be attributed to depression and psychological disorders, such as anxiety, stress, or grief. Insomnia can also result from a wide variety of causes such as arthritis, asthma, apnea, hypoglycemia, hyperthyroidism, digestive system disorders, kidney or heart disease, muscle aches, Parkinson's disease or just simple physical pain.

Furthermore, it is known that certain drugs such as many of the commonly used anti-depressants, anti-seizure medications, appetite suppressants, beta-blockers for high blood pressure and the decongestant pseudoephedrine (found in most cold and allergy medications) contribute to insomnia.

So what can be done about it without drug intervention? One of the best treatments for insomnia is reflexology for a multitude of reasons.

Reflexology is the practice of applying pressure in a strategic manner to reflexes of the feet and hands, and even the face and ears. Reflexologists see the hands and feet as an open door to the bodies systems. Each section of the feet and hands correlate to a specific organ. By stimulating nerves on specific areas of the feet and hands, you can stimulate blood flow and eliminate toxin buildup in the corresponding organs and systems of the body. And because reflexology works to put the body in a state of well-being, it is beneficial to every system in the body. It helps reduce body tension and definitely brings a sense of relaxation.

You may be wondering if you will need to learn reflexology yourself or if you will need to pay for professional services. That is a personal matter of preference. If you are not concerned with the cost of getting professional services, more power to you. However, most people simply cannot afford the services on a regular basis. Furthermore, if you are suffering from insomnia, chances are you will need the therapy on a moments notice and late at night, so professional services probably are not the way to go, except for maybe getting you started on a routine. One of the most attractive things about reflexology is that it is simple to learn. Not to say that there isn't a technique that should be followed, because there is. However, of the many forms of massage and healing techniques, reflexology is probably the easiest and fastest form of therapy to learn. Many believe it is part intuitive and part learned skill. For me, it comes quite naturally. Whatever you decide to do, just remember that you are ultimately responsible for your health and it is high time we start accepting that responsibility. I do not believe drugs are the answer to our problems. Try a complimentary treatment such as reflexology and draw your own conclusions.