My Favourite Natural Sleep Remedy

Sleep issues are at unprecedented levels, and everyone has their own rituals or remedies to help them get to and stay asleep. Here i share my natural sleep remedy with you in the hope that if you struggle with sleep this may just change that.

Disturbances in sleep are most often linked to biochemical reactions due to a high level of stress hormones that flush through our system between approximately 2 a.m. to 4 a.m. The spike in our hormones dramatically affects our ability to remain calm, which is why it interrupts our sleep.

Dr. Vitiello, director of the University of Washington in Seattle, carried out research that found low levels of sodium cause blood volume to decrease and the sympathetic nervous system responds by activating to compensate. The sympathetic nervous system activates adrenalin and triggers the fight or flight response that then makes it difficult to get to sleep, and also remain asleep.

This can be easily rectified with a very simple little mixture which consisted simply of honey and salt.

Mix together:

• 1 tsp of pink Himalayan rock salt (which contains around 80 minerals and elements that aide our bodies with recovery),
• 5 tsp of organic raw honey that supplies the cells in our bodies with energy.
• Mix and keep in a small glass jar by the side the bed.
• Approximately 20 minutes before you want to sleep put a small amount ¼ tsp of the mixture underneath your tongue and allow it dissolve naturally.

The mixture of honey and salt allows the body and mind to de-stress naturally by regulating hormones, so that by the time you are ready to sleep you are already in a peaceful, harmonious and restful state. They both work to sustain the body so that we do not wake up hungry during the night.

Honey:

Honey provides a stable amount of liver glycogen to the brain, which aids healthy sleeping. If we do not have enough liver glycogen stored, our adrenal glands are triggered to respond by pumping out adrenalin and cortisol, which are both stress hormones.

Honey is believed to be a remedy that has been used to promote sleep for thousands of years. The reason honey is so beneficial is that it contains tryptophan which produces serotonin, which promotes relaxation. When we are in the dark serotonin converts to melatonin, which promotes restorative sleep.

Melatonin assists with our sleep/wake cycle as it works in schedule with darkness and light. When our melatonin levels are balanced, we will fall into sleep easily and stay asleep naturally during the dark and wake when light gradually enters the room.

A recent study conducted at the University of Sydney analysed the concentration of Manuka honey and how certain substances in its composition can inhibit problematic bacteria, boost immunity and improve blood circulation. In 2008, two independent laboratories finally identified the substance that stunts pathogen growth — methylglyoxal. In addition, the phenolics in Manuka honey have been proved to function as antioxidants and diminish restlessness during sleep, as well as lower stress levels. Moreover, these phenolics also enhance cellular function, balance out hormones and help detoxify the liver.

Salt:

Although many of us believe that salt isn’t good for us, the right salt and a healthy balance of it provides us with a vital nutrient that stabilises metabolism. Our metabolism needs to be healthy to ensure that it is able to absorb fuel and transform it to energy. Salt has anti-stress and anti-excitatory qualities; therefore a healthy supply of salt helps us to remain calm and balanced as it reduces our stress levels.

We often crave salt without realising that it eases anxiety and promotes our overall well-being, though unfortunately we reach out for processed quick fix products that contain table salts which offer little or adverse health benefits. When we replace refined salts with unrefined salts such as Himalayan, Celtic or Real salt, we will immediately notice an increase in energy levels, a reduction in stress levels and a clearer emotional and mental state. I opt for pink Himalayan salt because it contains over 80 minerals and trace minerals that lower cortisol levels and promote high-quality deep sleep.

Consuming honey and salt at bedtime should make sleep deprivation a thing of the past. It should result in you sleeping straight through the night, waking up refreshed and energised

To learn more about sleep, the reason why we need it, the neuroscience, the causes of sleep issues and other ways to help optimise your sleep – check out our full Sleep Blog.