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Insomnia

Over 32 million people in the US suffer from insomnia.  Sleep is a critical part of our health.  Lack of sleep not only impacts quality of life and work productivity, but it impacts our immune function, endocrine balance, and our ability to heal and detoxify.  Insomnia can be a very complex issue, and often the standard dose of SSRI’s (serotonin reuptake inhibitors) are not effective because the cause of sleeplessness is not a lack of serotonin. 
Some possible contributors to insomnia are:

• Poor sleep hygiene (not going to bed on time, too much distraction around the bed)
• Stress / Anxiety
• Neurotransmitter imbalance (low levels of Serotonin, GABA, melatonin, etc)
• Disrupted circadian rhythm
• Endocrine imbalance (adrenal / thyroid, estrogen, PMS, menopause)
• Too many stimulants during the day (coffee, tea, sodas)
• Side effects of prescription drugs
• Too much exposure to artificial lights at night
• Excess electromagnetic radiation
• Allergies (airborne or foods)
• Toxicity (heavy metals in particular)

There are as many “cures” for insomnia as there are causes.  Working with insomnia is one of the most important things I do because sleep is so central to good health.