Non-addictive sleep aids

December 31, 6:03 AMPhiladelphia Health ExaminerThomas Hartmann

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photo: www.bachflowerpets.com

The National Sleep Foundation found in a recent survey that about half of working Americans suffer from some form of insomnia that interferes with their job. This huge national concern imposes not only on workplace performance but also highway safety, to say nothing of domestic bliss.

However, taking medication to resolve this problem only creates a new difficulties, since pills almost always have unwanted side-effects like addiction or medical complications.

Regular exercise and a steady circadian rhythm are the first lines of defense against insomnia. But what if the cause is deeper? What if a loved one has just died? What if an upcoming exam is causing stress? What if the emotional ties of marriage have been left dangling by a divorce or separation? Such emotional turmoil will not necessarily be resolved by taking an additional sort of defense, like homeopathic dosages of substances such as coffee or passion flower.

What one really needs in the middle of such nights is emotional calm. Really intractable problems call for good professional help, but effective psychotherapy or religious counseling takes years of regular visits with the right kind of person – hardly the right solution in the middle of the night.

Believe it or not, a solution can literally be found at your local health food store that can be kept in a dropper-bottle on your nightstand for just such times: the Bach Flower Essence Rescue ® Remedy or the new Bach Flower “hybrid” Essence, Rescue Sleep (also available in a non-alcoholic preservative, Rescue Night). Just a few drops or sprays from the bottle, every few minutes if needed, are all that is necessary for a quiet rest. Non-addictive, they do not interfere with any other medication.

Previous Examiner articles have introduced readers to the work of Dr. Edward Bach. More significantly, a scientific article, reporting a randomized double-blind controlled study, was published in 2007 validating the effectiveness of Rescue Remedy for the relief of high situational anxiety. It can be found on the website of Bach Flower Essence expert Alicia Sirkin, BFRP.

Upcoming: more non-addictive ways to alleviate stress.