Sleep is the simplest, most natural, and least expensive healing modality.

The body is an active chemical laboratory while we sleep. Healing is taking place as we sleep. It is the simplest, most natural, and least expensive healing modality.

Recipe for a good night's sleep:

Low Stress
High stress is probably the biggest disturbance to a good night's sleep. Working late, being upset about a close relationship, or too much mental activity will disturb anyone's sleep. Sleep experts suggest not doing email or computer work one hour before bed. Take a bath. Read something you enjoy. Watch an uplifting (but not too stimulating) TV show or movie. Make love. Give or receive a foot rub.

Good Diet
Do not to eat or drink caffeine in the evening. What helps most is to eat moderately and to abstain from eating about 3 hours before bedtime. More sensitive people will need to be even more sensitive to your diet. Alcohol before bed will help you to fall asleep, but will likely cause you to wake up earlier.

Balanced Lifestyle
Exercise moderately. Eat moderately. Go to bed at the same time each night. Intend to get 7 - 8 hours of sleep every night. If you have trouble falling asleep or wake up too early, sleep experts recommend that you get up and do something else. Go back to bed again when you feel tired. Lying in bed awake is very frustrating—especially when your mind is activated. If sleep is disrupted regularly, you’ll need to examine your sleep hygiene more closely.

Good Mattress
A good mattress needs to be supportive on the bottom and soft on the top. Sometimes people think that a firm mattress is better. If that were universally true, that firmer is better, then concrete would be best. Since we all agree that concrete is too hard for comfortable sleep and that we need something softer, the question becomes, "How much softer?"
The answer to that question is very individual. The Tempurpedic mattress offers a few mattresses with different degrees of softness. Our 100% pure, natural latex mattresses range from very firm to very soft pillow tops, with everything in between.
We cannot improve your sleep hygiene, but we can provide the mattress that is best for you.

Note:
Companies selling mattresses generally will lead you to think that the only ingredient to a good night’s sleep is a great mattress. We think that is preposterous, and a little self-observation will prove it.

Get yourself really jazzed up an hour before bed. Drink 2 cups of strong coffee about 30 minutes before retiring. Think of something you resent about your partner, and tell him (her). Now lie down and go to sleep on the most comfortable mattress in the world.

It all comes back to the question, “Who am I?” Ask the following questions:
 

• What kind of a sleeper am I?

• Do I toss and turn?

• Do I wake up stiff or sore?

• Do I have low back pain when I wake up?

• Do my extremities fall asleep?

• Do I like a soft bed?

• A firm bed?

• Do I have chemical sensitivity?

• Are my mattress and pillow constructed of ingredients that support my ideal health?

• Does the person next to me snore or toss so much that it interferes with my sleep?

• Do I have children or pets in bed?

• Is my diet or exercise routine or lifestyle supporting me in getting the best sleep possible?

• What is my bedtime routine?

Exploring these questions and asking for help are what make you an informed shopper.

If you are interested in learning about sleep, The Promise of Sleep by Dr. William Dement is the best introduction you will find.

Links:
www.sleepfoundation.org The National Sleep Foundation is an independent, non-profit organization dedicated to improving public health and safety by achieving understanding of sleep and sleep disorders.

www.prescriptionforsleep.com This group offers programs to help employees manage their sleep and also offer many facts concerning sleep and the work place.

www.aasmnet.org The American Academy of Sleep Medicine is a national organization for those working in the field of sleep disorders medicine.

www.mercola.com This site has a variety of health tips and occasionally offers advice on sleep.