Quality sleep is essential for overall health and wellness. Unfortunately, most people don’t get enough sleep to maintain optimal mental and physical health. Integrative medicine therapies and treatment can help promote better sleep and reduce the risk of illness.
What Is Integrative Medicine?
Integrative medicine is an alternative approach to healthcare that focuses on the whole person rather than specific body systems. This approach uses a combination of natural therapies, evidence-based techniques, and lifestyle changes to restore balance and promote long-term recovery. Since optimal health and wellness are achieved through mind, body, and spirit connection, integrative medicine providers combine complementary therapies with conventional medicine for a complete healthcare experience.
What Is Insomnia?
People who struggle to maintain a complete sleep cycle often say they have insomnia. However, a few nights of restless sleep differs from insomnia, which is long-term sleep deprivation. Insomnia is a sleep disorder that occurs in any phase of life. It’s when frequent sleep interruption begins affecting your daily activities and overall health. Trouble falling asleep, staying asleep, or waking up tired are characteristics of insomnia.
Some people may experience short-term insomnia that lasts a few days or weeks. This can often happen because of chronic stress or an underlying health condition. Long-term insomnia is a sign of a more serious issue and will affect your health if left untreated. A healthcare professional can diagnose the problem through a series of tests that can help determine the cause.
How Does Integrative Medicine Help With Insomnia?
Insomnia can affect your daily life as you struggle with chronic fatigue from lack of sleep. Integrative medicine can help promote a quality sleep routine to get you back on track.
Encourages Healthy Habits and Sleep Hygiene
Habits are crucial to creating a better quality sleep routine. Excessive noise, caffeine, alcohol, long naps, and inconsistent bedtime routines can trigger insomnia. Cultivating practices that facilitate sleep hygiene will train your body and mind to enjoy quality sleep.
- Avoiding large meals before bed
- Establishing a consistent bedtime and waketime
- Removing technology at least one hour before bed
- Incorporating regular exercise each day
Cognitive Behavior Therapy
People with insomnia often wrestle with negative thought patterns, stress, trauma, or other underlying conditions that interfere with sleep. Integrative medicine therapies for insomnia often include cognitive behavior therapy (CBT). CBT focuses on the mind-body connection to identify negative feelings, thoughts, and behaviors that affect daily life and sleep patterns.
Mindfulness Therapy
Mindfulness therapy and other relaxation techniques can encourage better sleep habits and help you recover from insomnia. Integrative medicine providers often combine CBT with mindfulness therapy for a whole-body experience and promote deeper healing. Common treatments include breathing exercises, yoga, meditation, and progressive muscle relaxation.
Balanced Nutrition
Integrative medicine providers usually create a treatment plan for insomnia that includes nutrition, supplements, exercises, and complementary therapies. Herbs, supplements, and whole foods will strengthen the mind and body and promote better health. Exercise will also stimulate brain and cardiovascular activity to encourage deep sleep.
Contact Us Today For A Consultation
Contact True You Health & Wellness in Fredericksburg, VA, today for help with insomnia. We will schedule a consultation and help you achieve better sleep to reach your health and wellness goals.
