May 15th, 2008 by Phil

Hypnotherapy has been used successfully to cure addictions, phobias, cravings and even mental disorders. Hypnotherapy has been used for thousands of years and has been scientifically proven as an effective therapeutic tool. Practitioners such as the world famous hypnotist and TV celebrity, Paul Mckenna have helped make hypnotherapy popular.

Hypnosis works by tapping into your subconscious and implementing gradual changes to thoughts and behaviors, through visualizations or affirmations. Hypnosis works because the mind cannot tell from reality and vivid imagination.

Positive changes can be made in a very short space of time. In fact, hypnotherapy has been used to treat insomnia with great success. Through relaxation and positive affirmations the subject can drift into sleep much more easily and experience deeper and restorative sleep.

Hypnotherapy believe it or not, can be performed without a hypnotherapist. In an ideal situation you would have a hypnotherapist by your bedside guiding you into sleep, however this would be rather impractical and expensive. Many people use hypnosis CDs to help them drift into sleep. Hypnosis CDs work very much in the same way as a hypnotherapist does.

There is another alternative however which may surprise you and that’s self-hypnosis. Just as the hypnotherapist works as the facilitator, you can become your own hypnotherapist. There is nothing complex about self-hypnotherapy, it only takes time and practice to slot into the practice.

Through regular practice you can guide your mind into deep and relaxed states, enabling you to drift off into sleep. Using positive affirmations and visualizations you can communicate with the subconscious mind and ingrain positive thoughts, behaviors and habits.

You can learn how to self-hypnotize and tackle more than just your sleep problems. For more information on how to self-hypnotize, visit How to Beat Insomnia.

April 3rd, 2008 by Phil

Chronic insomnia is also known as long-term or hyper-insomnia. Sleep studies show on average that 10% of adults suffer from this condition. Unlike transient and intermittent insomnia, chronic insomnia sufferers rarely experience a good night’s sleep.

In fact many chronic insomnia sufferers have suffered for years and even their whole lives. What many people do not understand is that it’s a very serious condition that affects the sufferer physically and mentally.

Being an ex-chronic insomnia sufferer myself I understand how frustrating this condition can be. I thought I was going to go insane at some point; not being able to fall asleep for hours, tossing and turning every night, waking up frequently and having a barrage of thoughts circling my head, it was a living nightmare.

I guess it wouldn’t have been so bad, if I didn’t ‘need’ to sleep. But I needed it so badly. I could barely function in the day, feeling like a total wreck. I was irritable, moody and exhausted. My confidence was completely wiped out.

I couldn’t stand looking at myself anymore, I looked awful and god knows what people thought about the way I acted and looked. Chronic insomnia was the bane of my life. I had tried everything I could think of – sleep medication, aromatherapy and even acupuncture.

It was only when I started treating chronic insomnia as the symptom rather than the cause that I started noticing that my sleep began to improve. I began focusing on treating the underlying cause, tapping into the subconscious if you will with mind-programming techniques.

I started using alternative therapies to tap into the body’s meridian energy system to unblock negative energies that affected my sleep. I realized that sleep could just be another learned process like walking and cycling.

I realized that I had reinforced negative habits and thoughts into my subconscious over the years and that I had sabotaged my own ability to sleep. I had brainwashed myself in believing there was no hope and I had built an internal fear factor of sleep.

For chronic insomniacs out there, there is hope. If you believe that someone can learn to be confident, if you believe someone can learn to overcome phobias, if you believe that people can change, then you already know that insomnia can be beaten.

Subscribe for my Free Newsletter on the right and you will receive a Free Insomnia Report and Brainwave Entrainment Audio for free!

February 27th, 2008 by Phil

Have you ever tried meditation, but gave up because you find it difficult to relax and empty your mind for even just 2 minutes?

You may have heard about the health benefits of meditation and how it can help with sleeplessness and insomnia. Some other health benefits include:

• Increase oxygen levels in your body.
• Increase in blood flow.
• Reduction in heart rate.
• Lowered blood pressure.
• Reduction in muscle tension.
• Increase in self-confidence.
• Increase in serotonin production.
• Improves mood and behavior.
• Reduces stress and tension.
• Strengthens the immune system.

Insomnia can often be caused by poor mood, stress, worry, anxiety, tension and low serotonin levels. What’s more a lack of deep sleep can reduce the body’s immune system leaving it prone to diseases and viruses.

Deep meditation can help relieve these underlying issues so that sleep comes easier. What’s more through practice of meditation your brainwaves will slow and may even produce waves in the Alpha and Theta range. Theta waves are associated with REM sleep. With practice you can learn to enter the Theta stages at will – your gateway to sleep.

Confused? Here’s a little More On Brainwaves…

The brain constantly produces waves that flow through its neural pathways which are called brainwaves. There are four brainwave patterns; Beta, Alpha, Theta and Delta. Each one is defined by a different set of frequencies measured in Hz (Hertz).

The following is a basic look at the four common types of brainwave patterns, their frequencies and mental states each pattern is associated with:

Beta Waves (13 - 30 Hz)
Commonly found during an active or waking state. It is also associated with busy or anxious thinking, active concentration, arousal and other mental sates such as fear, anger and worry.

Alpha Waves (7 - 13 Hz)
If you’ve ever been relaxed and at peace, perhaps sitting in a park, soaking up the sun then your brain was probably producing alpha waves. Alpha waves are associated with a tranquil state of consciousness, on the edge of deep relaxation and meditation.

Theta Waves (3 – 7 Hz)
Associated with deep meditation, dreaming and REM (Rapid Eye Movement) sleep. During this state your mind wanders where it will and you are in the prime state of creativity, visualization and imagery.

Delta Waves (1 - 3 Hz)
When your brain is producing delta waves you are in deep dreamless sleep or a deep trance like state. This stage is essential for repair and rejuvenation of the mind and body.

So What Is Brainwave Entrainment And How Can It Help?

Brainwave Entrainment is the practice of synchronizing or tuning one’s brainwaves to a desired frequency.

How It Works:

If you play a tone of say 96 Hz in your left ear and 102 Hz in your right ear, your brainwaves will resonate at the differential frequency – 6 Hz. Playing this set of tones will produce a frequency in the range of Theta Waves.

Because of this naturally occurring phenomenon the brain has a tendency to change its dominant EEG (electroencephalograph) frequency towards the frequency of the dominant aural stimuli, in effect ‘synchronizing’ the two hemispheres of the brain.

The use of Binaural Beats can achieve exactly this. When listening to binaural beats, each ear is sent pure sine waves of different frequencies. As I mentioned the brain will resonate at the differential frequency. We can create a range of desired frequencies using binaural beats.

How can this help? Well I guess it’s obvious now, but if we can create a set of tones which create a frequency of between 1 to 3 Hz, your brain can be entrained to resonate at the same frequency. If you look at the brainwave chart above, you’ll notice that Delta Waves are produced at that frequency. Brainwave entrainment can be very helpful in getting into deep meditative states.

Brainwave entrainment can be used for other purposes other than to aid and guide you through meditation. Using binaural beats can actually help with sleep and guide you into deep sleep states.

Many insomnia sufferers have experienced dramatic improvements in the ability to fall asleep through brainwave entrainment alone. It has even been used to effectively treat psychosomatic illnesses like depression. As well as improving mental and physical health it can also increase concentration, memory functioning and even creativity.

If you’re interested in giving brainwave entrainment a try, sign up for my Free Newsletter and you’ll get a free Brainwave Entrainment Audio worth $29 – Visit: How to beat insomnia

Alternatively enter your details in the Sign up box on this blog (top right). Don’t forget to confirm subscription to receive your Free Gift!

January 13th, 2008 by Phil

Do the big pharmaceutical corporations really have your health in mind or are they just after the billions of dollar’s they make each year. If you thought it was the first, then it’s time to wake and smell the coffee.

Grab a coffee and watch this now:

Quote from Dr Mercola: “For over 100 years conventional medicine has seized control of the US health care system and as a result we have over 800,000 people who are killed by interacting with this system. It is likely that over 50 million Americans have died prematurely from this abuse.”

Check out his site www.mercola.com A truly awesome guy who knows what he’s talking about. I love coffee, but I try and avoid it (caffeine is a stimulant that can disturb sleep), so go grab yourself another drink, a herbal drink or better still a glass of fresh water and check out this next highly acclaimed video at www.mercola.com/townofallopath/index.htm

December 13th, 2007 by Phil

Insomnia medication falls into three categories- there are the over-the-counter products which can be easily bought. These often contain antihistamines. Then there are the prescription medications- benzodiazepines and antidepressants.

Using prescription or over-the-counter sleep aids to catch up on your sleep should be avoided. You should consult your doctor before taking sleep medication. You should also avoid taking them for more than 2 or 3 nights in a row, as prolonged use can cause ‘rebound’ insomnia.

Sleeping pills are generally bad news as they will break down your body’s natural sleep cycle and make sleep very difficult in the long term. It may also affect the amount of deep sleep you attain during the night as most major sleeping pills interfere with normal brain wave patterns. Without deep quality sleep the body skips the vital stages of sleep that are required for restoration.

You may find that you wake up feeling groggy, drowsy or tired this is because most sleeping pills take time for the body to break down. In fact sleeping pills do not improve daytime performance whatsoever; they only help tackle the symptoms. Even so, in studies it has been shown that insomniacs that rely on sleeping pills took on average 45 minutes to sleep. This destroys the belief that sleeping pills help you sleep faster.

Sleeping pills may help you get to sleep but with continual use your body will build tolerance, and you may find that you need to ‘up’ your dose to attain the same affect. Since they do not tackle the root cause of insomnia, many users become dependant and even worse ‘chronic users’. Taking sleeping pills is definitely not a long term solution to insomnia.

So if they don’t improve daytime functioning and they do more damage than good including; reducing brain activity in the day, affecting memory and judgment as well as being highly addictive, then why are they being relied upon by millions of adults?

Many sufferers feel powerless and simply do not know how to tackle insomnia effectively. An insomnia patient who seeks advice from their doctor week after week can leave the doctor feeling desperate to help and more likely to resort in prescribing sleep medication.

With only 10% of doctors rating their sleep knowledge as good in a recent survey, we can assume that the general public knows significantly less in terms of sleep education. Sleep medication can seem the only way to get a night sleep.

However insomnia medication is not a long term solution. They will only worsen the condition. With this in mind it’s best to seek alternative therapies and medicines.

November 3rd, 2007 by Phil

Here are some links to several sleep articles which I hope you’ll find useful:

How to beat insomnia

Insomnia Cures

Cures for Insomnia

Sleep Facts

Sleep Techniques

How Much Sleep Do I Need

Natural Sleep Remedies

Cant Get No Sleep

How to Fall Asleep

How to Sleep Better

Sleep Program

Insomnia Help

Causes of Insomnia

Natural Sleep Aid

Fall into Sleep

Sleep Help

Sleep Deprivation

Sleepless

Sleeping Pills

Fall Asleep

Sleep Problems

Sleep Aids

Sleep Disorders

Enjoy!

October 27th, 2007 by Phil

If you are interested in a natural sleep aid to help you fall asleep or a drug-free method of dealing with insomnia, then read on.

I’m sure you’ve heard about drinking warm milk to help you sleep. It’s not exactly a miracle solution and its effectiveness does vary. Milk contains amino acid that is converted to a sleep-enhancing compound which will help you relax and fall asleep. A caffeine and alcohol free beverage such as chamomile tea will also help you to relax in the evening before sleep.

Lack of Vitamin B will affect your sleep, so taking a supplement may help. A good product containing A-Z of vitamins and minerals is recommended to give you overall health benefit. It’s also advisable to check your iron level as women who are deficient in iron tend to have more problems sleeping.

If you are after natural sleep aids try Standardized Valerian extract which is a safe and non addictive sedative that works by calming the mind and body. Valerian is available at most pharmacies and is a natural remedy to aid sleep. Taken before bedtime it can ease nerves and calm the mind to help you drift off to sleep. Lemon balm and Hops, are also soothing remedies which can calm and relax the mind and body.

Aromatherapy is an age old art and is the use of essential oils from aromatic plants to promote a healthy, balanced lifestyle. Essential oils may be blended together to create your own personal blends. Through inhalation the essential oil can be absorbed into the bloodstream stimulating the production of relaxing hormones such as endorphin and serotonin.

Lavender, rose and Chamomile all have soothing and relaxing qualities. Essential oils can be used in several ways, such as vaporization and massage. Try adding a few drops in your bath to help ease away tension. Alternatively try scented candles and incense in the evening which can also help relax, and calm the body and mind before sleep.

As well as trying some of these natural sleep aids, try and improve your sleep habits and ensure that you are getting up and going to bed the same time everyday, including weekends. Put into practice the following:

* Every morning expose yourself to sunlight for a good few minutes to increase your serotonin levels. This will help wake you up.

* During the day ensure that you eat healthily and participate in some light exercise.

* Try to deal with stress and worry. If you feel that you are not coping, take a break or talk to someone.

* Leave your troubles at work. Try and relax when you get home.

* Unwind in the evenings and avoid stimulants such as caffeine

* Listen to some relaxing music and dim lighting to increase your melatonin levels which will help induce sleep

* In bed, try relaxing progressively from your head to your toe. Remember it is not a time for worry or thoughts.

If you suffer from sleeplessness, consider a natural sleep aid, but more importantly improve your sleep habits and pay attention to your emotional levels in the day.

September 22nd, 2007 by Phil

Learn hypnosis, EFT and NLP and much more. You can beat insomnia and attain deep refreshing sleep every night. Please watch the following video or visit How to Beat Insomnia

Please add any comments!

September 22nd, 2007 by Phil

Just last week I witnessed an odd sight at one of my schools I work at. A class of 3^rd graders were circling the school building in wheelchairs. I was keen to know what was going on, but as my Japanese is very poor, the best conclusion I came up with was that they were planning to visit a home for disabled people. I guess the teachers wanted the students to experience what it was like to be in a wheelchair.

Minding my own business and without knowing how it happened, I was drafted in to supervise the students. It looked interesting and fun, so I headed down to join them. As I was walking down towards the gymnasium, I noticed a blockage at the hallway back-entrance.

They seemed to be having a problems getting past over the steps at the entrance. Looking around and seeing that there weren’t any teachers to help, I began helping the students lift their wheelchairs over the steps. After the 15^th wheelchair had passed I realized I was in for a long slog. I noticed that the first group of students that came through were circling back round and I could just about make them out in the distance ‘Oh dear, I thought’.

Having suffered from back problems in the past, I was already feeling an uncomfortable twinge in my lower spine. As you can imagine when the whole ordeal was over (total of 90+ wheelchairs passing through) my back wasn’t feeling healthy in the slightest.

A few hours later I could barely sit down without giving a yelp of pain. I got home and slowly collapsed on the bed ‘Why do I do these things?’ I thought. Anyway my wife came home wondering why dinner wasn’t on the table and why I was in bed. I told her what had happened, so she went down to the local drug store to pick up some painkillers.

The next day I was still in agony, luckily it was the weekend so I didn’t have to go to work. Not speaking much Japanese, I asked my wife to call the local Chinese medical practice to book an appointment to see an acupuncturist. So she did and they said I could go down in the afternoon.

I had to get my wife to drive me down, even though it was just a couple of blocks away. Inside, I was greeted by the doctor who took us into a pungent smelling room full of grounded medicinal herbs. We sat down and the wife explained the situation. I took off my shirt and was asked to lie down on a narrow bed on my front side.

The doctor then began placing the needles into my lower back. Having a slight phobia of needles I winced a little as he careful pushed the needles into my back. He continued this for a while. I began to relax knowing that in about 30 minutes he would be twisting each needle to stimulate the points further. That in my experience is the most painful part, although it isn’t all that painful after the first experience.

An hour later the doctor pulled out all the needles and I sat up feeling wonderfully relaxed. My back still twinged, but I knew that something was working. My wife made another appointment for the next day, which I managed to get to on my own.

It’s now Thursday and my back feels as right as rain. Having undergone acupuncture treatment before I know how effective it is, but it still surprises me each time. When I first tried it I was a complete skeptic, in fact I was expecting zero results. I was a skeptic because I didn’t understand it, but once I did, it made sense.

There’s no real mystery behind acupuncture although there are still many skeptics out there doubting its role in modern medicine. In fact acupuncture is a practice which has been around for thousands of years.

Acupuncture works by stimulating the meridian system in the body by using well placed needles on the meridian points of the body. The placement of the needles depends on the problem area. These meridian points are connected by energy channels. By stimulating the body’s acupressure points we can affect the energy flowing through those meridians and even redirect the flow to heal other areas.

If you would like to know more about acupuncture, take a look at this amazing site: www.tcmdirectory.com

Don’t forget to subscribe to my blog if you want the latest updates!

September 19th, 2007 by Phil

Natural sleep remedies are increasingly popular among insomnia sufferers as they are generally non-addictive and safer compared to prescribed sleeping pills. In this article I will mention a few natural sleep remedies that are widely available on the market and explain some of their benefits and usage.

Please note that although natural sleep remedies are perceived as being safer than sleeping pills, they should still be taken with caution and should not be taken unnecessarily. It is recommended that you consult your doctor before considering taking any natural sleep remedies.

Natural sleep remedies may contain natural ingredients that may interfere with prescription medication or may not be suitable for you. Seeking medical advice is a must before considering taking any sleep aids or remedies.

Prescribed Sleeping pills on the other hand are generally bad news. Sleeping pills will break down your body’s natural sleep cycle and make sleep very difficult in the long term. It may also affect the amount of deep sleep you attain during the night as the chemicals in most major sleeping pills interfere with normal brain wave patterns.

You may find that you wake up feeling groggy, drowsy or tired. Other Side effects include urinary retention, blurred vision, dizziness and palpitations. Sleeping pills may help you get to sleep but with continual use your body will build tolerance, and you may find that you need to ‘up’ your dose to attain the same affect.

Here are some natural sleep remedies to consider: Standardized Valerian extract is a safe and non addictive sedative which works by calming the mind and body. It has been used for centuries and again is widely used. Valerian is available at most pharmacies and is a natural remedy to aid sleep. Taken before bedtime it can ease nerves and calm the mind to help you drift off to sleep. Lemon balm and Hops, are also soothing remedies which can calm and relax the mind and body.

If you are suffering from mild depression, this could be the cause of your insomnia. St John’s wort, is fast becoming a popular herbal remedy, it is widely available and is used to treat mild to moderate depression. As with all medicines it is recommended to consult your doctor for advice. It may be a natural remedy, but it may not be right for you.

To cope with fatigue and to boost your immune system, try Ginseng. Ginkgo Biloba is also widely available and can help improve memory, concentration and increase oxygen flow to the brain.

Although side effects are rare when taking natural sleep remedies, you should stop taking them immediately and seek medical advice if you experience anything unusual. To be honest it is best not to take anything at all. Instead pay attention to your sleep habits (also referred to as sleep hygiene). Your daily routine, habits, diet and emotional levels all play a part in how well you are able to sleep.

It’s far more effective to tackle the cause of insomnia rather than the symptoms alone. Here are some simple steps you can take to improve your sleep:

• Get up and sleep at the same time everyday.
• Wind down an hour or so before you sleep.
• Relax with some soothing music or chamomile tea.
• Leave your work at work!
• Expose yourself to sunlight in the day.
• Ensure that your bed is comfortable and supportive.
• Ensure your bedroom is quiet, dark and not to warm.
• Talk about your problems and don’t let your emotions build up.
• Remind yourself that bedtime is for sleep and not a time to worry.

I hope you find these simple tips useful.

Taking natural sleep remedies may aid sleep, however you may also want to consider alternative therapies and practices such as acupuncture, hypnosis and reflexology.