Sleep is a fundamental human necessity that plays a crucial role in healing from chronic illnesses, particularly those affecting the brain and neurological system. The lack of deep, restorative sleep can hinder recovery from such conditions.
Research underscores the link between inadequate sleep and various health issues. For example, a 2015 study in the journal Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology found an association between poor sleep quality and coronary arterial calcification in women, and a decrease in brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity in both sexes, indicating peripheral vascular disease. Furthermore, sleep deprivation is linked to increased depression and aggression, likely due to alterations in brain neurochemistry.
Several factors contribute to poor sleep, including deficiencies in calcium and magnesium, compromised liver or gallbladder function, nocturnal hypoglycemia, and stress leading to elevated cortisol levels. Electromagnetic frequencies from wireless devices also disrupt sleep by affecting melatonin production, a critical sleep-regulating hormone. Conditions like Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome (CIRS) can also impede melatonin production due to MSH deficiency.
Melatonin, naturally produced in the pineal gland from serotonin when exposed to darkness, is pivotal for inducing and maintaining deep sleep. Other neurotransmitters like GABA and serotonin also play essential roles in sleep regulation.
To improve sleep quality, supplementing with minerals such as calcium, magnesium, and zinc, along with herbal tinctures like valerian, passionflower, and skullcap, can be beneficial. Lifestyle adjustments, such as reducing sugar and caffeine intake after mid-afternoon, eating an early and light dinner, and minimizing nighttime exposure to blue light from screens, can also enhance sleep hygiene.
For those who struggle with sleep despite these interventions, slow-release melatonin supplements might be necessary, ranging from 1mg to 35mg taken about 30 minutes before bedtime. Melatonin not only aids in sleep but also has neuroprotective properties that can safeguard neurons in cases of neurological damage and protect the blood-brain barrier from increased permeability caused by sleep deprivation.
Ultimately, prioritizing sleep is a fundamental aspect of an integrative medicine approach to treating chronic health issues, highlighting its importance in clinical practice.
