Natural Herbal Supplements: Safer Alternatives to Enhance Your Life & Health By Andrew Stratton At Isnare.com Ezine Articles

Herbal supplements are a common adjunct to treating a disease, a disorder, or enhancing quality of life. Although taking natural, herbal supplements can be effective as well as reduce costs, it is important to realize that they work similar to pharmaceutical medications and, more importantly, can interact positively or negatively with them. Please keep in mind that when you are in doubt, ask your health care provider. Supplements can be beneficial, but they must be used appropriately.

A common herbal remedy includes natural sleep supplements. Our society, today, is very complex time and packed full of activities, events, and stress. Some businesses stay open around the clock forcing individuals into a variety of unnatural sleeping patterns.

Also, the pressures of our lives whether it be children, family complications, paying the bills, or making a living adds so much stress and pressure to throw off our sleeping schedules. It is only natural that people have turned to sleeping aids. However, which natural sleep supplement is right for you?

Melatonin is a classic herbal supplement found in many living organism including most animals and some plants, such as algae. Humans naturally produce this hormone and it aids in our natural sleep cycle (which is called the circadin rhythm). During the day, melatonin is scarcely found in our bodies. Our bodies produce and release melatonin causing us to become sleepy. It also lowers our body temperatures preparing us for sleep.

Melatonin, as a sleep aid, is used primarily for delayed or interrupted sleeping problems. Although it is not sold in most other countries, Melatonin is available over the counter in the United States.

Another natural sleep supplement is tryptophan. This may sound familiar to you. It is the same chemical (actually an amino acid) found in turkey that makes people sleepy after their Thanksgiving meal. From tryptophan the body forms seratonin, this makes people happy and relaxed. Enough seratonin in a person's system will cause someone to sleep.

Because melatonin, tryptophan, and seratonin are natural chemicals that can be found in humans, it is important to use them wisely. Your body dances careful balances between too many hormones and not enough. Some research has shown that too much melatonin can prevent pregnancy (but should not be relied upon as a contraceptive).

Taking too much can also lead to daytime drowsiness. Most importantly, melatonin and tryptophan can interact with prescription medications especially antidepressants and blood thinners. If you are taking any type of medication, it is best to contact your health provider before taking over the country herbal supplements.

One more natural sleep supplement, which has been used for centuries and is milder than other types of remedies is chamomile. Although it is available in capsules, it is often served as tea. However, there is not enough research to understand how chamomile enhances sleep. Like the other supplements, it is possible to take too much.

Some evidence shows that too much chamomile can lead to vomiting. Other research shows that it too can interact with blood thinners and should be used with caution in individuals taking Coumadin, Warfarin, Heparin, Lovenox, or similar type medications.

Herbal supplements have been and will continue to be important aids to enhancing our lives. However, just like medications, it is important to know how the herbs interact with your body and other prescriptions. When in doubt call your health provider or local pharmacists, who will be more than happy to discuss these issues with you further.

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