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Sleep is important
for our body because it helps to maintain the body’s circadian
rhythm (the body’s internal clock). It is also the time period where
our brain can rest. If we get fewer than 7 hours of sleep per night,
our sleep pattern become unstable. In addition, our brain will not
release chemicals necessary for hormone balance. Therefore, not
enough sleep can leave you hormonally imbalanced.
Sleeping medications
are one of the top prescriptions written for women today. Bear in
mind that any drug that is available by prescription only is a
synthetic drug. Not only can it be addictive, but may likely cause
other harmful effects to your body. In addition, you may sleep
through the night, but your sleep may be dreamless as it is
artificially induced, indicating that you are not entering the
all-important REM stage. This is not to mention the after-effects
that many women feel the next morning – a groggy, “hung-over”
feeling.
Prescription sleeping medications are rapidly addictive to many
women.
NATURAL
PROGESTERONE CAN AID SLEEP
Women in peri-menopause
and menopause often need progesterone to stabilize their sleep
patterns. Women may experience insomnia or lack of sleep because
their progesterone levels are low. Conversely, an
“estrogen-dominant” condition may overly stimulate the brain causing
insomnia.
Low levels of
progesterone also increase anxiety and depression that can affect
your sleep habits, as serotonin is a sleep-inducing hormone which is
not manufactured correctly in a depressed person.
It is a fact that
during ovulation the levels of progesterone are at its peak and thus
women tend to feel sleepier. During peri-menopause, when
progesterone levels are fluctuating, using natural progesterone may
help you get a good night’s sleep.
During and after
menopause, progesterone levels fall to almost zero. If you are
producing estrogen in your fat cells and/or absorbing xenoestrogens
from the environment, the abnormal estrogen/progesterone level may
cause chronic insomnia.
Again, natural progesterone has helped many women obtain a good,
deep night’s sleep.
Other ways to
help establish a good sleep pattern
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Try to sleep and
wake up at the same time each day to regulate your internal
clock.
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Increase daytime
exercise.
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Avoid caffeine.
If you can’t eliminate it, try to stop consuming it after noon.
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Try to make your
sleeping area dark and cool.
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Turn off all
lights and screens, even avoiding glow-in-the-dark alarm clocks,
or turn these clocks toward the wall before retiring. Complete
darkness helps your body produce melatonin properly. Melatonin
is the “sleep” hormone.
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Avoid alcohol
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Melatonin
supplementation may be very helpful.
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A supplement
containing valerian and hops taken at bedtime can help induce a
restful sleep
HOW TO USE NATURAL
PROGESTERONE
The physiologic dose
(approximately 40 mg. per day) is as follows:
Use ¼ teaspoon twice
daily (of a cream containing 480-500 mg. of USP progesterone per
ounce). Women report that applying the nightly dose to the back of
the neck or just below the ears results in restful sleep patterns.
Apply nightly dose at least 1 hour before bedtime.
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