In my work to reverse cellular damage, I’ve found surprising new trigger mechanisms that disturb our sleep. It is literally the stuff dreams are made of.
Insomniacs and people who suffer sleep disturbances share common patterns. Their nights are often full of crippling anxiety, stressful nightmares, and countless hours trying to either fall asleep or stay asleep. Some linger in a horrible middle ground for hours, somewhere between being awake and being asleep, with a whirling mind inside an exhausted body.
Many report 3 AM – 5 AM “worry lists”, an inability to “shut off their minds”, or they going from one stress-filled dream into another. Their sleep is rarely restorative. They’ve tried everything from prescription sleep aids, drinking alcohol to pass out, biofeedback, and night shift jobs to accommodate these problems. But nothing seems to work and they are chronically exhausted.
I’ve found success in tackling a trio of issues in bad sleepers: repairing damage to the autonomic nervous system, rebalancing intestinal bacteria overgrowth, and rebalancing omega 3/6/9 fatty acids in their diet. After adjusting these three things, chronic insomniacs have been able to sleep peacefully until morning, fall asleep and stay asleep, and they even report having more peaceful dreams.
First, many bad sleepers have (reversible) damage to their nervous system that alters the delivery of oxygen to their brain. The damage could be caused by an intestinal bacterial overgrowth, a concussion, childhood injuries, or other physical or emotional trauma (death of a loved one, financial strain). In order to normalize oxygen levels the brain can boost cerebral blood flow in three temporary ways: increased hunger for salt and sugar, increased muscle contractions that makes you fidget, or increased thirst so you drink more water or soda.
If the brain still doesn’t get enough oxygen, it will release a fight-or-flight hormone called noradrenaline. Noradrenaline not only boosts oxygen delivery to the brain, it is also responsible for triggering emotions such as fear, anxiousness, caution, hostility and aggression. These are the same emotions that many troubled sleepers are overwhelmed with during their dreams, without understanding why.
I know how to test and pinpoint the damage to the nervous system, and I have developed a treatment regimen that repairs the damage and restores normal brain oxygen levels.
Second, many bad sleepers often have an overgrowth of intestinal bacteria called “SIBO”. The symptoms of this imbalance are often heartburn, constipation/diarrhea, food intolerances, anxiety, attention problems, or skin problems like rashes/eczema. SIBO may be temporarily altered with dietary changes (low carb or gluten-free), pre- or probiotics, or the avoidance of certain offending foods. If the overgrowth is bad enough, a short- term course of medication may be necessary to achieve a healthier blend.
Third, most bad sleepers have an imbalance of the fatty acid content in their diets. They need more omega-3 fatty acids (fish oil), they need to greatly reduce their omega-6 fatty acids (soybean oil, vegetable oils, margarine and shortening), and they need significant amounts of omega-9 fatty acids (olive oil) in their diets.
When the omega acids are balanced, the nervous system is able to repair itself and begins functioning normally and providing normal levels of oxygen. This reduces the brain’s craving for salt and sugar, and stops the fidgeting and constant thirst. It also eliminates the abnormal levels of noradrenaline that fuels the tension-filled dreams.
Your insomnia and stressful dreams are symptoms of mechanical and bacterial issues, punctuated by nutritional choices. The key to good sleep, just like the key to good health, is always to get to the bottom of the problem and fix it.
Treating these three trigger mechanisms is a promising new way to restore your sleep and renew your health. Call 623-208-4226 to make your appointment today.
© 2014 Dr. Patrick Nemechek All Rights Reserved.