a)     Physical

b)    Mental

c)     Behavioral
2.     Sleep Apnea – serious condition where there is intermittent cessation of breathing during sleep, which forces the individual to repeatedly wake.  Sleep apnea can be linked to irregular heartbeat, heart attack, high blood pressure, stroke and SIDS.  These folks are usually under conventional medical care.
3.     Narcolepsy – a chronic sleep disorder in which people experience daytime sleepiness so excessive that they fall asleep at inappropriate times for a few seconds to 30 minutes.  Attacks occur in the course of normal daily activities like talking, eating, working and walking – even after a full nights sleep.
4.     Delayed Sleep Phase Syndrome (DSPS) is a condition in which people chronically stay up quite late, usually until 3-4 am and then sleep all morning arising about 10 or 11 am.  If DSPS sufferers have to wake earlier in the morning, they do so with great difficulty and experience daytime drowsiness and impaired performance, but still cannot go to sleep until the early morning hours.  Advanced Sleep Phase Syndrome is the direct opposite of DSPS.
5.     Hypersomnia – sleep disorder in which people sleep too much – either for prolonged periods at night or during the day.  Some people normally sleep longer than others – ten or more hours a day – but this does not necessarily indicate a disorder.

cyndiwins, Naturopathic Medicine http://balityinc.com/43/types-of-sleep-disorders/

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a.       Caffeine

b.      Sugar (hypoglycemia = uneven blood sugar levels = insulin rebound

c.       Drugs, alcohol and nicotine

d.      Food Intolerance – most common: dairy, wheat, corn and chocolate (histamine release)

2.      Environmental Factors – electromagnetic fields: from electric blankets to power lines.

3.      Mental/Emotional Factors

a.       grief,

b.      depression,

c.       anxiety,

d.      fear,

e.       excitement

Example:  Your digestive system is stressed and unable to digest protein, the amino acids that affect neurotransmission will not be available to your brain and you can become ill emotionally without having anything emotionally stressful going on in your life.

Stress and pent-up emotional issues can wreak havoc on the brain, deregulating brain chemicals and organs that are instrumental in procuring a good night’s rest.  Unmanaged daily stress can deplete your hormonal and nutrient reserves and create a vicious cycle of less sleep and more stress.

Unresolved psychological issues, such as deep-seated internal fears or relationship conflicts, can disturb brain chemistry and hinder deep sleep.

4.      Physiological Factors

1.      High nighttime levels of cortisone.  (hormone secreted by adrenal glands during periods of wakefulness activity)

2.      Stomach or bladder ailments, rheumatic disorder or nervous system illness, sleep apnea may be linked to obesity says Dr. John Hibbs, ND of Bastyr University.  Particularily if the patient also has heart disease or lung problems from chronic smoking

3.      Colon and Liver health – these organs remove externally acquired toxins and metabolic waste from the body.  If not working properly, the toxic body can produce food allergies, bacterial overgrowth and depletion of vitamins and minerals essential to inducing a good night’s sleep.

4.      Hormonal Imbalances – menopause andropause as estrogen and progesterone in women and testosterone in men shift and decline ~ psych, emotional and physical transitions = sleep disruptions.

5.      Lack of regular exercise – stress buildup – structural imbalances (esp. spinal)

cyndiwins, Naturopathic Medicine http://balityinc.com/46/causes-of-sleep-disorders/

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1. Types of Sleep Disorders
2. Menopause – take care of yourself
3. HeartMath: Power of Dialogue, Inc helps to reduce stress and re-learn the happiness.

The female sex hormone estradiol produced in the ovaries, turned on during puberty begins to decline between ages 40 – 44 as menopause commences.  Women’s bodies produce the most estradiol during pregnancy and it helps prevent breast cancer.  My point in telling you this is that we are talking about one hormone that stops at menopause, while our bodies continue to make all the other 29 estrogens.

Begin by remembering that menopause is a profound change in your life that shuts down endocrine glands to then reboot them.  We should not have our thyroid tested during menopause, as it is going to be off with the changes occurring.  Adrenaline stops circulation to the extremities, powerful energy circulates and when it gets to the thyroid let’s just say women are compelled to “speak the truth” or destroy the thyroid.  Forgive your friends,  forgive yourself and go take a nap!   As you read the seven herbal remedies below, be sure to reflect on their reasons for being based on the truths in the beginning of this paragraph.

1. A daily quart jar of Stinging Nettle Tea (Urtica dioica) made with 1 oz of the dried herb is recommended to rebuild the adrenals, support the kidneys, and build the nervous system to allow for deeper sleep. (indepth article on Sleep – this website)
2. Oatstraw Tea (Avena sativa) to provide the minerals often found missing from our foods.  Oatstraw is a full-body tonic and a natural antibiotic.
3. Linden (Tilia europaea) a floral herb used in colonial America “to charm the brew” or top off a tea infusion.  For menopause it is used to reduce muscle tension, for anxiety and even to calm heart palpitations. [ 1/2 oz in a quart of water]
4. Cooling hot flashes, relieving anxiety/rapid heart beat, estrogenic, and integrating the nervous system – are all signatures for Red Clover (Trifolium pratense). Fragrant oval flowers from red to purple with three-lobed leaves linked to the Trinity.  Old herbal notes say that the leaves of red clover tremble and stand up against a storm or tempest, and it met a tempest of controversy in the 1940?s in the USA when it was successfully used in natural cancer remedies.  Studies document Red Clover’s toxin-binding properties and its ability to resolve skin disorders – I digress, on purpose.
5. Motherwort (Leonurus cardiaca) taken in a tincture [5-10 drops to a dropper full] the tincture relieves one of a bitter tea.  The Latin name cardiaca comes from its value as a heart tonic.  It contains calcium chloride which calms the heart and eases palpitations. (sounding familiar?)  In China motherwort tea is used for menstrual disorders, to tone the liver and improve vision as it contains vitamin A and Tannins.
6. Sage (salvia officinalis) has antibiotic properties to help fight infections, is high in nutrients to help tone the body, and it helps to prevent premature aging with antioxidants that keep free radicals from damaging tissues and cells.  You’ve probably already guessed, Sage is great for hot flashes as it lowers blood sugar levels. Sage is a stimulant for sluggish livers which could mean you are experiencing headaches, fatigue, and reduced immunity.  If part of your discomfort includes nasal congestion, the steam from the tea water can be inhaled to clean sinus passages.  And finally,

Inspirational Tea

If you are confused about a problem that needs solving, or a tough decision you have to make, try a cup of sage tea.  it has the unique ability to clear the cobwebs and bring clarity.

Veering from the herbs for just a minute, a discussion on Menopause wouldn’t be complete without the mention of Maca.  I initially discovered Maca in a whole food optimizer drink where it was included to replenish the adrenals.  Since women often have adrenal fatigue with menopause, that alone would be good reason to try it, but there is more.  Scientists have discovered that the secret behind Maca’s effectiveness is its ability to regulate, support, and balance the hormonal systems of both women and men.  As an adaptogen, Maca raises the body’s state of resistance to disease through physiological and emotional health.

” Whenever possible, I prefer to use Maca therapy rather than hormone replacement therapy because HRT actually ages the body by diminishing  the hormone producing capability of the glands.  Maca has proven to be very effective with menopausal patients in eliminating hot flashes and depression and in increasing energy levels.”

Dr. Gabriel Cousens, MD, Patagonia, AZ

cyndiwins, Naturopathic Medicine http://balityinc.com/251/enopause-take-care-of-yourself/

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1. Causes of Sleep Disorders
2. Types of Sleep Disorders
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Two glasses of water (filtered), one glass with one-half of a lemon squeezed into it.

Breakfast:

One piece of fresh fruit (at room temperature), such as apple, pear, banana, grapes or citrus.  Chew well, mixing each bite with saliva.

15-20 minutes later:  One bowl of cooked whole grains – specifically millet, brown rice, amaranth, quinoa, raw buckwheat or buckwheat.

Flavoring may be two tablespoons of fruit juice for a sweeter breakfast taste, or use the “better butter” mixture mentioned below with a little rock salt or tamari for a deeper flavor.

11:00 a.m. One to two cups veggie water, saved from steamed vegetables.  Add a little sea salt or kelp and drink slowly, mixing each mouthful with saliva.

>Lunch (Noon – 1 p.m.):

One to two medium bowls of steamed vegetables; use a variety, including roots, stems, and greens – e.g., potatoes and yams, green beans, broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, beets, asparagus, kale, swiss chard and cabbage.  Chew well!

3:00 p.m. One to two cups veggie water, saved from steamed vegetables.  Add a little sea salt or kelp and drink slowly, mixing each mouthful with saliva.

>Dinner (5 – 6 p.m.):

Same as lunch.  (change vegetables for taste variety).

>Evening & Bedtime (Asleep by 10 p.m.):

Herbal teas only – e.g. peppermint, chamomile, pau d’arco or blends.  Before bedtime is a good time to take your Calcium/Magnesium suppliment

Seasoning

Butter/canola or flaxseed oil mixture.  Make this “better butter” by mixing one half-cup of cold pressed canola oil (or olive or flaxseed oils) into a soft (room temperature) half-pound of butter; then place in a dish and refrigerate.  Use about one teaspoon per meal or a maximum of 3 teaspoons daily.

Note

You may feel a little weak or have a few symptoms the first couple of days – this will pass.  Clarity and feeling good should appear by day three or four, if not before.  If during this diet, you start to feel weak or hungry, assess your water intake and elimination; if needed, you may eat a small portion of protein food (3-4 ounces) in the mid-afternoon.  This could be organic fish; free-range, organic chicken; or some beans, such as lentil, garbanzo, mung or black beans.

The Detox Diet summary, copyright Elson M. Haas, MD 2001.

Presenter & Practitioner:  Cynthia Winslow, NH.D., Company: Bality, Inc. Raleigh, NC

cyndiwins@nc.rr.com

919.760.0900

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