Posts Tagged ‘insomnia’
Leg cramping at night is an inconvenient and at times painful condition that can often affect one’s normal sleep pattern. Chronic nocturnal leg cramps affects many older men and women and may also be accompanied with muscle twitching, numbness of the leg after the cramps ease and weaker leg movements. In severe cases, it may also affect normal walking and can be extremely inconvenient if you wake up at night to visit the toilet.
Stress and anxiety cause similar biochemical effects on the body due to the hormonal stress response. The activity of the hormones, adrenalin and cortisol, are released in excess when a person is stressed or anxious and this affects the body’s natural sleep patterns (circadian rhythm). These stress hormones cause a state of hyperexcitability, which may also be seen as irritability, restlessness, fear, depression or anger and sensitivity to stimuli like bright light, loud noise or strong odors.
Herbal remedies for insomnia are effective in both inducing and maintaining sleep and a natural remedy usually does not have the side effects associated with benzodiazepines and hallucinogenics (allopathic drugs) used for insomnia. Identifying the cause of insomnia is essential in treating the condition as other contributing factors like depression, anxiety, chronic conditions, use of stimulants or side effects from medication can cause insomnia.