A few suggestions to help you sleep

In the middle of the night when you have a million things on my mind and worry about not getting enough sleep there are a few things you might help.

• Make sure the temperature in the room is cool and I have enough blankets to keep me comfortable.
• Consciously relax every muscle in my body.
• Drink a glass of milk and/or eat a banana.

If your blood sugar is low it can cause restlessness. Alcohol lowers blood sugar, so you might want to limit your alcohol intake to one drink. Protein and starch will help elevate blood sugar and last through the rest of the night. A cup of chamomile tea with lavender can do wonders to help you relax your mind.

• Pretend to be asleep.
• Read for twenty minutes.

Some physicians recommend taking an anti-histamine but it may leave you feeling drowsy in the morning.

I recently read about taking supplement at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) -- National Center for Complementary and Alternative Health. They have a very informative site with descriptions of several types of herbal supplements.

Two that might help promote sleep are chamomile and Valerian. It is important to read and know about
these before making a decision to take them -- or not.

To read WebMD's information on Lavender

To read the NIH information on Valerian.

To read the NIH information on Chamomile.

A microwave heating pad on your feet will also help you relax, especially if your feet are tired and sore or are cold. An extra large Back Warmer is versatile and can be used to relax or warm feet.