A Guide to Natural Insomnia Treatments - Alternative Health Techniques for Better Sleep

This section introduces you to natural insomnia treatments as practiced by qualified health practitioners. Most of these require outside expertise from health professionals. You will find some tips on how to find a good practitioner in the article section below.

If you are looking for a complete do-it-yourself approach, please see the Insomnia Self Help section and the Insomnia Tips section.

I have used alternative health practices to rid myself of many different ailments for over 15 years now, ever since I first discovered the techniques I'll be discussing here.

Natural Insomnia Treatment #1: Acupuncture and acupressure. If you have chronic insomnia along with a chronic pain syndrome, acupuncture might be your first choice of natural treatment for insomnia.

Scientific studies have supported the effectiveness of acupuncture for a variety of health issues. Learn more about acupuncture for insomnia in this article.

My experience with acupuncture was an immediate and profound relaxation effect as soon as the needles went in. It was a response I'd never had before or since with any other type of treatment. However, it may take a number of visits for a complete cure of insomnia. If you combine acupuncture for insomnia along with the self-help tips, you could do very well.

Natural Insomnia Treatment #2: Herbal medicine and homeopathy. Some people have excellent results with herbal remedies for insomnia. My own results were mixed. However, I only used self-treatment. If I had to start over, I would probably consult with a professional herbal practitioner or naturopathic doctor.

I have used homeopathic remedies often for sleep, and sometimes had as good results with a homeopathic remedy as I did with a sleeping pill, only without the side effects. However, it was not as reliable and didn't work almost as often as it did work. If you are serious about trying homeopathy as a natural cure for insomnia, I recommend visiting a professional homeopath. The best results come from someone who knows what they're doing.

Natural Insomnia Treatment #3: Nutritional counseling, plus vitamins, minerals and other supplements that are known or believed to help you sleep better.

While nutritional supplements are readily available in any health food store, I recommend consulting with a qualified nutritionist or naturopath or other trained health practitioner rather than self-treatment with supplements. There's nothing like professional advice and someone to go to with questions and concerns.

Natural Insomnia Treatment #4: Natural hormonal balancing. Some women with menopausal, perimenopausal, or PMS-related insomnia or sleeping problems find relief with natural hormonal treatment. Again, you can find natural progesterone cream and natural phytoestrogen supplements in any health food store, but it's always good to consult with a alternative health practitioner who is experienced in treating women's health issues.

Natural Insomnia Treatment #5: Yoga. The gentle full-body stretches and breathing patterns taught in a basic yoga class can be very beneficial for insomnia.

Doing yoga for insomnia is, in fact, one of those "no-lose" propositions. The right kind of yoga when done right, can give you a wonderful feeling of relaxation and more peace of mind.

If you think yoga is too advanced, you can try Tai Chi or Qigong. Some people have found great relief from each of these practices.

Natural Insomnia Treatment #6: Hypnosis. Hypnotherapy can provide excellent long-term relief for insomnia and chronic insomnia.

Just make sure your hypnotherapist is truly qualified. There is a fairly low barrier to enter this profession, so ask people you know for references, and have a list of questions to ask the hypnotherapist before you commit to treatment.

If possible, find someone who has been trained in Ericksonian hypnosis--it is the most effective form of hypnosis available.

What about hypnotizing yourself? Explore the question "Does self hypnosis work for insomnia?" in this article.

Natural Insomnia Treatment #7:Massage therapy. Many people choose massage therapy to deal with pain and find it profoundly relaxing and an effective natural treatment for insomnia as well. Massage therapy helps decrease stress hormones and balance the central nervous system. These are two areas that are nearly always out of whack when you're suffering long periods of sleeplessness. If you're interested in pursuing this treatment, visit Massage-Therapy-Benefits.net for some excellent information on the types of massage available and the benefits of treatment..

Natural Insomnia Treatment #8:Cognitive-behavioral therapy or CBT. This is the most recommended and most effective psychological treatment for insomnia. Once you know the way cognitive-behavioral therapy works, you can do self treatment. It's not difficult, but you will need to read some good books on the subject to get to know the process. You can also start with this article on cbt - insomnia and this article about cognitive behavior therapy for insomnis.

You can also go to a counselor who can help you devise a good program to follow, but make it clear that you want to cure your insomnia using cognitive-behavioral methods, and make double sure that they practice CBT the way it's supposed to be done.

Before seeking out any expensive alternatives, try the free 10-day self-help tutorial, one of the best natural insomnia treatments around.

For more info on herbal remedies for insomnia, try this article.

To learn more about acupuncture for insomnia, click here.

Find out more about homeopathy as one of the natural cures for insomnia here.

Does self hypnosis work for insomnia? Good question -- see more here.

Cognitive behavior therapy for insomnia can be quite helpful.

Return to the Insomnia-Free homepage.