Insomnia affects around one third of the population, with many of these people resorting to hypnotic drugs like benzodiazepines to fall asleep. But the drugs are not without their side effects – they can be addictive and cause daytime sleepiness.
There has been an ongoing quest to find a natural alternative to hypnotics. Many herbs have been trialled successfully but, surprisingly, it is certain amino acids that have emerged, bringing improvements in sleep without the unpleasant side effects.
Quality sleep is an essential component of health with poor sleep having been linked to conditions such as diabetes, weight gain, anxiety, depression, cardiovascular disease and mental health issues.
If you are experiencing problems with sleep – either falling asleep or staying asleep – it may be worth arranging an appointment at True Medicine. Call 07 5530 1863 today.
References
- Ito Y, Takahashi S, Shen M, Yamaguchi K, Satoh M. Effects of L-serine ingestion on human sleep. Springerplus. 2014;3:456. doi:10.1186/2193-1801-3-456.
- Yamadera W, Inagawa K, Chiba S, Bannai M, Takahashi M, Nakayama K. Glycine ingestion improves subjective sleep quality in human volunteers, correlating with polysomnographic changes. Sleep Biol Rhythms. 2007;5(2):126-131. doi:10.1111/j.1479-8425.2007.00262.x.
- Bannai M, Kawai N, Ono K, Nakahara K, Murakami N. The effects of glycine on subjective daytime performance in partially sleep-restricted healthy volunteers. Front Neurol. 2012;APR(April):1-8. doi:10.3389/fneur.2012.00061.