Insomnia is a common problem, and over-the-counter sleep aids are a billion dollar industry. Everywhere people are trying to get sleep, yet, according to a recent Huffington Post article, no one really understands what sleep is and what its function is supposed to be in our life. Dr. Rubin Naiman, Ph.D. has an interesting (if somewhat controversial) take on sleep theory and how modern day man's views on sleep affect how we actually sleep each night. The full article is available online at Huffington Post, but below are a few of our favorite excerpts: "I believe the main reason we struggle with epidemic sleep disorders is our failure to examine fundamental misconceptions that inform our understanding of and approach to sleep. These misconceptions are rooted in a tendency to define sleep negatively -- that is, in terms of what it's not. Like our conception of health, which is generally understood as the absence of disease, we naively conceive of sleep as the absence of waking. When we ar... [More]

A 2010 survey conducted by the Journal of Sleep Research found that up to 40% of adults experience some form of insomnia. The sales of prescription and over-the-counter sleep remedies continue to soar as adults try to find ways to relieve insomnia or poor sleep habits. Though you may have found a pharmaceutical treatment to help you sleep, there are natural remedies and supplements that have been proven to help promote good sleep. These natural remedies may be safer and have fewer side effects than traditional pharmaceutical treatments. They may impart other benefits to your overall health, as well. Below is a list of common natural remedies that may help you sleep soundly. We’ve also included some lifestyle changes and tips that may help you establish a better sleep routine just through small choices you make each day. As always, we recommend you discuss any medical advice with your doctor before you change, add to, or discontinue any treatment or supplements. Nature’s Re... [More]