Sleep, sleep, sleep. My bed, my pillows, my blankets, clean sheets…. why do I love you SO much? Seriously nothing will trump my sleep. If I have a choice that is…. LOL. In the baby seasons and children, no one can avoid that but when out of that phase, not food, party or people will keep me from choosing sleep.
I would not call myself an early bird, or a night owl, I am neither. I like to go to bed and I do not like waking up early or to alarms. BUT this does not mean I sleep good. Boo. There are a lot of things that keep me awake and it takes me a while to fall asleep. My nights are inconsistent. This is why I block out such a large amount of time, because I do not know how the night is going to go.
Some nights it takes forever to fall asleep because my brain wont stop talking. Other nights I fall asleep quick but wake up in the middle of the night because I have to pee, and then can not go back to sleep because my brain is talking. Some nights are just emotional and I never fall into a deep sleep. A lot of night I get woken up by dreams. I then lay awake thinking of them or awake from the emotion they created because they feel so real. Whatever it is that keeps you awake, you. are. not. alone. The list goes on and on. What can we do for all of these different situations?
I am here to share with you some tips and natural remedies for SLEEP! (loud celebrating trumpets)
First, things first. Our sleep issues can be mental, physical, mental or spiritual. Lets go over some physical health issues that will cause you to not sleep. I get this information from Medical Medium, who I find to be reliable and sound minded. Here is what he says:
Misconceptions to NOT believe in:
- Your sleep disorder is caused by thyroid issues.
- You can not make up the sleep you have missed.
The Potential Causes of Sleep Disorders
Liver Issues
One possible cause stems from a liver that’s overheated, stagnant, or sluggish from toxins and a diet too high in fat or processed foods. *(Do the cleanse here) The liver could also be inflamed because it is trying to fight one or more pathogens (viruses and bacteria) that have nested in the liver for many years, even decades, and they are releasing neurotoxins and dermatoxins. Research and science have not yet discovered that pathogens releasing these toxins are the cause of many symptoms and illnesses.
When you go to sleep for the night, your liver shuts down operation and runs on autopilot. By around three or four in the morning (it’s different for everyone), your liver starts to wake up again and once more begins to process poisons, viruses, and debris (such as dead cells, including dead red blood cells.). If you have a sluggish liver, then as the liver tries to do its job at this time, it goes into subtle spasm.
How do I know if this is me?
Most of the time, it’s not anything you can feel, but for some people it’s enough to wake them up. This accounts for those nights when you fall asleep normally, then suddenly you’re up again in the early morning hours, and after a certain period of time, you’re able to nod off again. This can also explain those miserable nights of sleep where you drift in and out the whole time.
Sleep issues caused by something going on in the liver, tend to be present in someone dealing with a thyroid issue. Not because the thyroid is causing the problem but because thyroid issues are also caused by EBV. *This is something that is talked about in way more detail in the books Medical Medium and Thyroid Healing.
Viral Issues
Viral issues are one of the major causes of trouble with sleep. The Epstein-Barr virus, shingles, cytomegalovirus, HHV-6, and even some bacteria can poison our systems and keep us up at night. *(Do this virus & bacteria cleanse) That’s because viruses such as Epstein-Barr excrete neurotoxins, which can create the issues of not being able to fall asleep for hours, or waking in the middle of the night and not being able to fall back asleep. Viral-caused insomnia is often mistaken for a thyroid issue, because, as I said, it’s common to experience insomnia and thyroid trouble side by side. It’s not because an under or overactive thyroid causes sleep issues, despite what you may hear from other sources.
MSG and Toxic Heavy Metals in the Brain
If someone has MSG or toxic heavy metal deposits speckled throughout the brain, which is extremely common, these alone can keep a person from getting quality sleep. Mercury deposits are what cause OCD, Tourette’s, anxiety, depression, and 
much more, which, when coupled with a pathogen like Epstein-Barr Virus, can only make things worse because the virus is feeding off of the mercury and releasing more poisons, such as neurotoxins. Medical communities are unaware of just how prolific this virus is and the hundreds of symptoms and conditions it causes. I share the reasons why research and science have missed just how much EBV is responsible for in Thyroid Healing. They are also unaware that viruses feed off toxins like mercury, which allows them to strengthen and thrive and create further issues. *(To solve this, do the cleanse here)
Digestive Tract Issues
Some people have digestive sensitivities, which are actually connected to the nervous system because nerves are attached to every part of the colon. As food moves through the intestines, it hits those sensitive nerves throughout the night. Sometimes it is so subtle it is barely noticeable but it can be enough to disrupt your sleep. Even if there is no pain or gas in your gut, these digestive tract sensitivities may be related to your sleep disorder and you simply are not aware of it. *(drink 16oz of fresh celery juice, straight every morning and do the cleanse here)
Sleep Apnea
Sleep apnea can occur if you have a sinus problem or a post nasal drip. It can also occur if you are overweight and lying down, which may put pressure on the chest and throat, prevents proper breathing from taking place during sleep. The third kind of sleep apnea is a mystery to modern medicine. In this case, it is a neurological sleep apnea where the brain is sending out incorrect messages to the vagus and phrenic nerves using electrical impulses and neurotransmitters that are being weakened or interrupted by toxic heavy metals or viral neurotoxins.
Adrenal Issues
Another potential cause for sleep issues occurs because of a high stress lifestyle that pumps adrenaline into your bloodstream all day. Adrenaline keeps you up until very late and then by the time you wake up in the morning you are exhausted.
Lets talk about SOLUTIONS!
There is light at the end of the tunnel! Now that we have talked about the physical reasons you might not be sleeping and what to do about that- know that it will take time to heal those things as you do the cleanses. In the mean time you can try these ticks and tips and see if you can find something natural to help you sleep while you detox and get healthy.
They say we need about 8 hours for good health and our bodies to function. This does not just depend on the amount of time that we sleep but the quality of the sleep. We need a certain amount of time of actual REM cycle to release and heal. The best time to sleep that will amplify your healing is 10pm to 2am.
These solutions and tips cover the other reasons we may not be sleeping-emotional-spiritual-mental. And will aid in those who’s reasons are physical.
- Cut out bad habits. Caffeine, stress, cell phones, wifi, bright light, sugar and lack of exercise are some of the factors that affect the quality of our sleep. Some are more sensitive to caffeine than others, so get to know yourself and what affects you. Start cutting those bad habits out before bed. Some turn their wifi off at night and it makes a huge difference for their kids sleeping.
- For people who have a lot of emotions and anxiety. DO look into breathing techniques. Put one had over your heart and other over your stomach and be aware of it rising and falling. I always start with 3 cleansing breaths- meaning: All the way in and all the way out, 3x. You can also do the 4,7,8 technique. Breathe in for 4 counts, hold it for 7, and out for 8.
- For those who have a brain like mine that wont shut up. Have a note pad and paper near by to write all the last minute thoughts down. Remember: tomorrow is another day (keep saying this in your head). Wha
t did not get done today, can be done tomorrow. Write it down and let it go. - Ear plugs. Oh my. NEVER as me to give up my ear plugs. I found ones that do not hurt myears and I sleep with them every night. They are in my purse, my car, my luggage for travel and extra to share 🙂 I found that the ear plugs block SO much tiny noises that add to the loudness. I can also hear my own breathing and focus on that and it calms me. It helps just shut my brain down and know that I wont get woken up so easily. These are the best ones I found: Ear Plugs.
- Honey and Salt. You can try making this recipe, honey is naturally good for insomnia. I wrote a post separate for this HERE.
- RelaxMax. Ok this one worked for me. I have a highly sensitive nervous system. If you want to know what that is or if you might have it, check out the post Highly Sensitive Personality. You can also get DNA testing done at 23andme, look for sales around holidays and get the health package option. For a list of all the testing options check out this article- DNA weekly. I do not take this one very night, just on nights where I am more “wound up”. And man, I sleep fast and sleep deep. It works for be because
of my genetic make up. You also should look into supplementing a magnesium, which helps you sleep. - Essential Oils. This one has a lot of options you can do and explanation of how to use them, so I wrote a separate post for it here: Essential Oils & Sleep.
- Meditation. This one helps relieve stress and it is good to do during that day so that by the time the end of the day comes you are not so wound up. You can also do meditation to help you fall asleep. Pick a mantra like “I am peace” or “be still” and say it over and over. First out loud, then in your head until it fades away. While you are doing even breathing- 5 counts in and 5 counts out. Check out the other post for more in depth information.
- Weighted Blankets. These are great for those who have high emotions, lots of ups and downs to help them feel grounded and safe. You buy the weight of blanket according to your weight. Make sure to look up what you need for you. Here is a good brand I have or you can also make one yourself. This is also a great options for kids, see the research HERE.
- Foods for sleep. There are certain food that help you sleep. You can try eating: Cherries which have natural melatonin, asparagus helps provide GABA, spinach, celery, licorice root, and wild blueberries. These foods are in the Thyroid book or the book Life Changing Foods.
Let me know if you try any of these or share your secrets of what you do and have found to work! It is such a vast subject, and so important that we find solutions for our needs. Happy sleeping 🙂