Alternative therapies widely used to manage insomnia

The September 2006 issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine reports that alternative therapies are being used more often to help Americans manage their insomnia. A 2002 National Health Interview Survey found that more than 17% of those surveyed had regular difficulty in falling asleep over the past 12 months. They also found that 4.5% of those with sleeping problems (about 1.6 million people) used alternative and complementary medicine to help themselves fall asleep and stay asleep.

It's estimated that one in six Americans have difficulty falling asleep.

Relaxation exercises, such as deep breathing, visualization, and counting were commonly used, as were herbs and homeopathic remedies. Alternative methods were more common among younger people and among those who were more educated. About 60% of people who used alternative methods shared this information with their doctors.

People with anxiety and depression are five times more likely to suffer from insomnia. Sleep troubles tend to peak among 45-54 year olds, decline after that, but then rise again in those age 85 and older.

Insomnia can take a toll on your total health and well being, of course, but it also can have significant impact on the health and beauty of your skin. Too little sleep can leave you with undereye circles and dull skin. Frequent insomnia will result in greater stress, and may impact your skin's capacity to ward off environmental toxins. Too little sleep can also impact your immune system, making your skin less likely to heal when cut, bruised, or scraped.

Insomnia also impacts your likelihood to eat well and to exercise. When you are sleep deprived, your body tends to crave salty, fatty, and sugary foods (which all can have negative impacts on your skin) and being tired makes it less likely that you'll actually exercise, which further keeps your skin from being as healthy as it can be.

As you can see, sleep is very important for healthy skin. If you have trouble sleeping, be sure to explore if relaxation techniques might work for you. Talk with your doctor before using any herbs or homeopathic remedies. Getting regular, good sleep is a necessary first step to a good quality of life, and, of course, beautiful skin.