Remedies for Insomnia

The inability to sleep is not a disease in itself, nor is it often due to a disease.

'A soft bed is enervating, not restful. The body sinks into the debilitating bedding while the circulation is interfered with and the skin is unable to throw off its impurities in a natural way, for it should be remembered that breathing is done through the pores as well as through the lungs. In such a bed in which the body sinks too deeply the tissues and muscles be-come flabby and weak, and the effect of any exercises that may have been taken during the day in the hope of building up the strength, are duly neutralized.

'Insomnia is one of the most nerve-harrowing complaints that afflict humanity. Though it is not of itself dangerous, it often accompanies or indicates serious diseases.

'Extreme mental activity will induce insomnia. Want of exercise, sedentary habits, and the internal functional derangements produced by these are frequently contributory causes.

'During our sleep the heavy flow of sensory impulses to the brain is reduced to a relative trickle, and the mind has a chance to rest and relax.'

'Calcium feeds the nerve ends which conduct the stimuli, in the sleep cycle, between the sleep center in the brain, the nerves, the muscles, and the blood stream, and then back to the brain. When this cycle is operating efficiently, with lactic acid in the blood sending the calcium forward to the sleep center of the brain, it's impossible for the conscious mind not to sleep at regular intervals.'

The hours between ten P.M. and five A.M. are the best for sleeping; the vitality is lowest at this time.

Habits of posture during rest or sleep frequently prohibit free circulation and tense the nerves. When muscles are cramped or tensed, the subject is more susceptible to noise and irritating vibrations. Internal organs, cramped, twisted, or pressed upon, cannot function efficiently during sleep. The posture should be easy, on the side or back, the legs not drawn up too much and the arms not over the head. Always relax and test your relaxation. It is impossible to obtain the full benefit of sleep with inflexible muscles, a rigid spine, or tensed nerves.

Du ing sound sleep all conscious endeavors cease The vital organs do only enough work to keep the body alive. The breathing is lighter, the circulation is slower and in sound sleep there is no conscious thinking. This letting up in the great activity of body and mind gives an opportunity for the millions of cells, of which the body is composed, to take from the blood what is needed to restore them to normal. During the day many of these cells become worn and weary. At night they recuperate. Hence undisturbed sleep is very important.

It is not well to eat immediately before re-tiring. The sleep following a late meal is generally interrupted, and there is not that feeling of brightness and clearness of mind next morning.

Fear, anger, worry, stimulants, too much food, constipation, impure air and too warm clothes are some of the causes that produce dreams. Like other habits, dreaming is difficult to overcome, once it is firmly established. The cure consists in correcting other bad habits and in not thinking about the dreams. A sleep that is much disturbed by dreams s is not as sound as it should be and consequently not as refreshing as normal sleep. The conscious mind is not completely at rest and the subconscious mind is running riot. Normal sleep is complete unconsciousness. This is the sleep of the just and must be earned.

'Sound sleep is dependent on relaxation of mind and body. Those who live the day over after going to bed do not go to sleep quickly or easily. This habit should be overcome. Do business at the business place, during business hours. There are days so full of cares that the night does not bring mental relaxation, but those who have begun early in life to practice self-control find these days growing fewer as the years roll by. When they learn their true relationship to the rest of humanity, to the universe and to eternity, they are generally willing and able to let the earth rotate and revolve for a few hours without their personal attention, hey realize that worry and anxiety waste time and energy.'

Soothing sleep always comes to people possessed of a controlled mind in a healthy body.That is where meditation is important and relevant.

'Insomnia in Health and in Disease.-Insomnia in one form or another accompanies nearly every disorder of the health, but it occurs also in individuals who are entirely well. In the majority of instances it is a state of mind founded in fear and apprehension. But frequently it can be ascribed to a direct and immediate physical cause, indigestion for instance.'

'From earliest times alcohol has been used to facilitate sleep. That it produces drowsiness in some, wakefulness in others is well known. It is at best but a temporary care-killer and save when taken in small quantities, highly injurious to the human race. Its use to combat insomnia is fraught with danger.'

'During the day, life flows out from us at every muscular or mental effort. During the night, it flows in with every sleeping inhalation. And we do not live by days or years, but by the margin between what we expend of our vitality during the day and what we gain during the night.'

An old lady who lived by the shore,
At length got so used to the roar
That she never could sleep
Unless someone would keep
A-pounding away at the door!

'The progression from light to deep sleep marks a gradual diminution of the functions of the brain.'

'Overeating has relation to insomnia only in that it causes indigestion and disease of the arteries.'

'When the activity is not there in the mind, the mind relaxes and goes into sleep. If you do something to goto sleep, you will be at a loss, then sleep will be impossible. Doing is not needed at all.'

'If you get into bed and find yourself too jumpy or tense to fall asleep, don't lie there and work at it. Sleep resents being directly attacked-it becomes like a mirage, increasingly elusive the more you grab for it. Get up.....Go to the kitchen and have a glass of milk.....Take a hot bath. Get back into bed only when you feel ready to go to sleep. And you will.'