Sleep Disorder Epidemic
Before we dive into how to use the best essential oils for sleep, we need to understand why so many people struggle getting rest at night.
Ever since the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) published their landmark study in 2013, it has become glaringly obvious that we have a sleep disorder epidemic on our hands that has significant ramifications on our health. (1) At first glance, it may be easy to dismiss sleep deprivation as something that only causes us to be “groggy” or feel tired. Nothing could be further from the truth! Sleep literally affects every aspect of the abundant life and not getting the necessary amount every night can absolutely cripple us physically, mentally, emotionally, socially, and professionally.
Some of the more common problems related to not getting enough sleep are:
•Trouble concentrating
•Decreased judgment
•Increased irritability
•Difficulty in performing daily activities
•Hemostatic and nerve function and dysfunction
•Mood imbalance
•Caffeine and drug addiction
•And much more!
The effects of moderate sleep disturbances don't just affect insomniacs, but can be similar to actual “sleep deprivation” on life and health quality.
The Great Coffee Dilemma
For most people, a cup of coffee in the morning and mid-afternoon keep them going relatively strong during their workday, but this isn't sustainable. As nutritionist and hormone expert Magdalena Wszelaki points out, there are several side effects to consider before making coffee a daily habit. “If you are suffering from thyroid issues, Hashimoto’s, adrenal fatigue, insomnia, anxiety, hot flashes or hormone-related conditions,” Wszelaki states, “it’s important to be fully aware of the ‘other side of coffee' and make an educated decision whether it is good for you.”
Some of the lesser-known facts about coffee:
1.Increases blood sugar levels
2.Creates sugar and carbohydrate cravings
3.Contributes to acid reflux and damages gut lining
4.Exhausts the adrenals
5.Worsens PMS and lumpy breasts
6.Gluten-cross reactive food
7.Impacts the conversion of thyroid hormones
8.Increases the risk of miscarriages
9.Highly inflammatory
10.Contributes to poor bone health and osteoporosis
11.Can cause insomnia and poor sleep
Coffee is never the answer to fatigue, and simply inhaling peppermint for an energy boost during that mid-day crash at work can help you break the coffee habit; which why I recommend preventative ways to using essential oils for sleep.
The Medical Approach for Sleep Disorders
When caffeine doesn't work, many people suffering from sleep disorders resort to over-the-counter or prescription sleep aids. Unfortunately, more patients than ever with sleep disorders are being prescribed sedative-hypnotic drugs like benzodiazepine, which were originally designed to reduce anxiety, to help them sleep.
Data published in the British Medical Journal states, “An estimated 6%–10% of US adults took a hypnotic drug for poor sleep.” (2) That is a ton of people, especially considering the side effects!
Hypnotic use has been associated with a 35% increase in developing cancer, and patients receiving hypnotics are more than 4 times likely to die than people who are not on the drugs. It appears that the dosage plays a key role, but “even patients prescribed fewer than 18 hypnotic doses per year experienced increased mortality, with greater mortality associated with greater dosage prescribed.” (3)