Tag: Sleep

I hope you now enjoy a good night rest. As earlier sections of this series have suggested, rest full sleep is the outcome of many factors. For example, the nerves must not be tremulous or spasmodic, that is gripping and shivery, otherwise many unpleasant situations may arise.  Nerve spasms may cause irregular contractions of smooth muscles in the blood vessels of the brain, and these, in turn, may decrease blood circulation to the brain or flood it with more blood than it needs. Too little blood means insufficient oxygen, and too much blood may present situations of drowning brain nerves and cells. Pain may arise when oxygen supply is inadequate.

Poor blood circulation implies wastes accumulation and torment of brain tissue by accumulated wastes or toxins. Tick blood may osmotically dehydrate brain tissue, causing headache. That is why it is advisable to drink one or two glasses of water about thirty minutes before a meal and about two hours after a mill. This helps to prevent tick blood or pressure in the head. When we realise that the Pineal Gland, situated in the brain, is responsible for producing melatonin, the brain chemical which makes us to fall asleep or feel like doing so from about 9pm, and that a wrong brain biochemistry negatively affect this glands, we appreciate better the need to care for the brain through the diet, relaxation and positive thinking. Positive thinking is crucial in this, as in all matters of health, because stress and anger, for example, might decrease not only the amount of melatonin in the system, but, also, the capacity of the Pineal gland to manufacture it.

Earlier sections of this series suggested as well the need for alkaline forming foods, for acidosis compromises healthy metabolism. Caffeine disturbs sleep. In the brain, it burns Choline and Inositol to produce bursts of energy which produces the caffeine energy burst. But the energy burst is short–time energy. The user soon returns to status quo- ante when the energy is used up, and requires another doses. Frequently doses soon burn out the choline and inositol reserves. Choline and inositol are found in Lecithin, a fat-dissolving chemical substance which has been found to lower blood cholesterol, blood pressure, discourage gall-stone formation, improve cell signaling and improve immunity, among other benefits. In 1975, the Mossachusetts institute of Technology (MIT) carried out a “ground–breaking study which found that a daily supply of lecithin improves brain chemical activity.” In www.diannecraft.org, we learn that lecithin affected brain activities such as learning, memory, motor co-ordination, sensory feedback and sleep patterns.” The website adds that: “we can use these findings by concluding that Lecithin improves memory, speech, and motor problems that affected balance and movement. In his book, TOTAL CONCENTRATION, Dr. Levinson, a neurologist from New York, states that he frequently uses Lecithin to help both attention and learning in his young patients.”

In www.doctoryourselft.com//sleep.html we observe: “Lecithin makes up nearly a third of your brains dry weight. This natural food substance is found in soy products and egg yolk, and is available as a supplement as well. Two to four teaspoons daily has consistently shortened the time needed for people to go to sleep.”

If caffeine burns choline and inositol in Lecithin beyond normal proportions, the outcome on the brain is not so far-fetched. The image of caffeine in health matters has become so terribly beleaguered, despite the pharmacological credits ascribed to it, that many people who take caffeine containing foods are abandoning them. To the credit of caffeine is the suggestion that it is a central nervous system stimulant, a broncho-dilator and a mild diuretic. That would make it good for depression, bad breathing conditions, water logging and all that. But the negative impact has led to the “bad-mouthing” or discrediting of coffee, for example. As the coffee market set to dwindled, big boys of the trade came up with de-caffeinated coffee which has now been found to be worse than plain coffee on its damaging effects on health. From decaffeinated coffee, coffee pushers have moved to coffee combos with all sorts of health – promoting herbs. This has led to such proprietary products as Ginseng – Coffee, Red Yeast Coffee, Garnoderma coffee and, lately, Lecithin – coffee. The idea behind it all seems to be that “since you need caffeine to stay smart, and since caffeine has been so terribly condemned, you can have your coffee with a healthful herb which can reduce its side effects. I avoid such treats as much as I can. I would rather take energy-making herbs which gently keep me going, not even those popular energy drinks on the market which contain lot of caffeine. These energy given herbs will include Lecithin, Ginseng, Ganoderma, Ubiquinol variant of CoQ10, cordyceps, B vitamins, coral Calcium, Honey, Moringa, Graviola leaves, bark and stem powder tea, Blackstrap molasses, Black seed oil, chlorella and the likes of them.

I know of some people who do not sleep easily or well when they take caffeine in caffeine containing pain killers, or even Cola drinks. Some people get off their sleep problems when they get off these drinks. I have seen some women who found their menstrual cycle problems reversed to normal when they stop cola drinks.

In the last section of this series, VERVAIN tea was proposed as a nerve relaxant and a sleep promoter, among its many other beneficial uses. Today, I would like to propose CHAMOMILE and VALERIAN ROOT.

CHAMOMILE

We are advised in www.naturalhealth365.com: “Chamomile, scientifically known as Matricaria recutita and also called German Chamomile, is normally employed by natural healers to treat digestive disorders, colds, muscle spasms, skin rashes, inflamed gums and infections. But it is the herbs ability to reduce anxiety, elevate mood and combat insomnia that is presently of particular interest to medical researchers.

Researchers have discovered that one constituent of Chamomile tea works on the brain in a way similar to that of Bensodia Zepines, a group of anziolytic or anxiety reducing drugs that include Xan ax and Valium. Not only can these drugs cause unpleasant side effects such as headaches, confusion, trembling, dizziness and nightmare – but they can be physically addictive but chamomile on the other hand, helps to smooth jangled nerves and to promote restful sleep without the risks of harmful side effects or physical habitation. Animal research and some limited clinical studies have supported chamomile’s ability to elevate mood, reduce anxiety and promote sleep. In a double–blind, placebo–controlled clinical study conducted by the University of Pennsylvania and published in 2012 in ALTERNATIVE THERAPIES IN HEALTH AND MEDICINE, people diagnosed with mild to moderate anxiety and depression were given 220mg of Chamomile extract daily for eight weeks. Utilising both Black Anxiety inventory system and the Hamilton Anxiety Rating, researchers found that 57 percent of the group using the Chamomile had a significant reduction in their symptoms. Even more encouraging was the fact that the beneficial effect increased over time unlike pharmaceutical drugs, which can cause tolerance situation in which the medication must be taken in ever increasing dosages to have the same effects– chamomile seems to work better the longer it was used on additions, to improving mood and suppressing anxiety, chamomiles may make it easier to fall asleep. In one small clinical study stated in MOLECULAR MEDICINE REPORTS, 10 out of 12 Cardiac patients felt into a deep sleep after consuming chamomile tea. These suggestions are corroborated by www.homeremediesweb.com//chamomile– health which says: “Chamomile is a herb that comes from a flowering plant from the daisy family. For centuries, both the fresh and dried flowers of Chamomile have been used to create teas and also as natural treatment for a number of health problems. The active ingredient in chamomile essential oil that makes it suitable for treating health conditions is known as Bisabolol, which has a number of anti-irritants, anti-inflammatory and anti–microbial properties.

Chamomile can be used topically or orally to treat a number of every day ailments such as insomnia and other sleep disorders, anxiety and panic attacks, muscles twitches,  wounds, burns and scrape, skin conditions such as psoriasis, eczema, chicken pox and diaper rash, stomach problems such as menstrual cramps, stomach flu and ulcers. “Chamomile has been found to contain fairly strong anti-spasmodic and anti-inflammatory constituents. Therefore, it has been found to be effective in treating stomach and intestinal cramps.”

VALERIAN ROOT

This is one of my favourite herbs for headaches and for sleep. For headaches, it works as well, if not better than, such herbs as fever few and skull cap. Valerian root is eulogised in https://draxe.com/valerian-root/ “Valerian root is widely used and respected by the general population and physicians for its sedative effect and anti-anxiety capabilities. You may have even had valerian root before and not even realised it. It is very common for valerian root to be included in sleep promoting tea blends, but it does just offers a solid night sleep. It is also amazing at naturally calming anxiety and can even lower blood pressure, among other tremendous benefits.” The website offers five major health benefits of valerian roots.

In it words:  “One. Naturally Aids Sleep. Studies show that Valerian reduces the time it takes to fall asleep and improves the quality of sleep, so if you can’t sleep, it may be just what you are looking for. Unlike many prescriptions of sleeping pills, Valerian has fewer side effects and it is a lot less likely to result in morning drowsiness. In one double-blind study conducted by the FOELNINGE HEALTH CENTRE in Sweden, the effects of Valerian on poor sleep were significant. Of the study participants, 44 percent reported perfect sleep while 89 percent reported improved sleep when taking Valerian root. In addition, no side effects were observed for this group. Valerian root is often combined with other sedative herbs, such as hops (C humulus lupulus) and Lemon balm (Melissa officianalis), to treat insomnia. In one study of children with minor sleep problems published in PHYTOMEDICINE, 81 percent of those who took a herb combination of Valerian and Lemon Balm reported sleeping much better than these who took a placebo.

“Why can valerian root help you sleep so well? Valerian extract can cause sedation by increasing your brains GABA level. GABA is an inhibitory neurotransmitter, and in large enough quantities it can cause a sedative effect. Result from an invitro study suggests that valerian extracts may cause GABA to be released from brain nerve endings and block GABA from being taken back into nerve cells. In addition, Valerians Valeric acid inhibits and enzymes that destroys GABA, another way that Valerian can improve your GABA levels and promote a great night rest.

“Two. Calms anxiety: Scientist have found that Valerian root increases the amount of a chemical called GAMMA AMINOBUTYRIC ACID (GABA) in the brain. GABA helps regulates nerve cells and calm anxiety. Drugs such as alprazolam (Xanax) and diazepam (valium) also works by increasing the amount of GABA in the brain. The Valeric acid and Valerenol contained in Valerian root extract act as an anti-anxiety agent. It is presently amazing that a herbal remedy as Valerian root can have the same anti-anxiety effects of prescription drugs without all the serious side effects of Psychotropic drugs.

“Three. Lowers blood pressure: Now that you know that Valerian root can be so calming to the mind and body, it is probably not surprising to hear it can also help lower blood pressure improving heart health. The same active components that make Valerian root so effective for stress and anxiety management can also help the body regulate it blood pressure. High blood pressure is something you definitely want to avoid since it increases the chance of stroke and heart attack. Valerian root supplements can help naturally reduce blood pressure and keep it at a healthy level which has a direct positive impact on your health.

“Four. Eases Menstrual Cramps: The relaxing nature of Valerian root can make it a smart choice for natural relief of menstrual cramps. It can reduce the severity and discomfort of menstrual cramps, which is a common problem for women who suffer monthly from PMS. How exactly can Valerian root help? It is a natural sedative and anti-spasmodic which means it suppresses muscle spasms and acts as a natural muscle relaxant. Valerian root can effectively calm the severe uterus muscle contractions that cause the terrible pain women may experience during menstruation, as a double blind, randomised placebo-controlled study from ISLAMIC AZAD UNIVERSITY in Iran showed.

“Five. Improves Stress Management: By reducing anxiety and improving the length and quality of sleep, Valerian root can significantly help with daily stress management. Chronic stress can make you anxious. But anxiety can make you even more stressed out. By improving GABA level, Valerian makes it easier for both the mind and body to relax. Since relaxation is the antithesis of stress, Valerian root is an excellent natural way to help keep your stress down, and your quality of life up. Furthermore, Valerian root has been shown to suppress both physical and Psychological stress, ascending to research in BMC complementary and Alternative Medicine.”

As you may have seen in the series so far, Mother Nature has blessed us with everything we need to keep our body health and to have a restful night sleep after a hard day labour. For those who know about it, there are beings which keeps the earth moving, producing the effects of night and day, to bring sleep hours and work hours. Many researchers have educated us about the three rhythms of the day. One rhythm from 12 midnight to 8am helps our bodies to detoxify themselves and eliminate the waste product of their daily activities. That is why you go to wee or to void stool. Another rhythm, from 8am to 4pm enables our bodies to digest the food we put into them. But we must start gradually from light food for breakfast to heavier food at lunch time when the sun is high up and providing a large of quantum of energy for everything alive to do work, and from here dovetail to light food again when the sun is going down and energy to do work, including digestion, is ebbing. You will notice that animals from about 4pm and 5pm or even 6pm begins to go homewards to rest, after a hard day’s labour. Look at the chickens and the goats and the birds. They hardly eat when the sun is down unless manipulated to do so by man. In the evenings, when the sun has gone away, many people overloads their bodies with food, giving it the work of digestion to do, when it should actually be absorbing nutrient from digested food. This confuses the body, and makes it less efficient including preparing itself for sleep. In these matters, I remember the teachings of Prophet Muhammad (May the Peace of Allah be with him wherever he is). The Koran says that, when we eat, we should fill one third of the stomach with food, another third with water and the remaining third with air. That means we should eat light always. Hands up Desola Seriki (Nee Oshilaran) if you do not break this rule. Hands up, too, Chris Daniel and Stanley Utsu if you do not overstock your stomach with heavily compacted Agege Bread.  The third rhythm, from 4pm to 12 midnight is for the assimilation of nutrients from the food we eat to detoxify itself of poisons and waste products of its daily activities.

After the hurly burly of daylight hours, I look forward to nightfall with untold joy. The joy is boundless not simply because, It is almost 7, I would be able to give my bones and muscles some rest in which my nerves, brain, the heart and other vital organs would also be revitalized. It is during sleep that the human body produces the largest amounts of Human Growth Hormone (HGH), which supports the repair of damage in the organs. Imagine a mother car flung up and down every day and not taken to the mechanic for the repair of any fault(s) it is complaining about. Such a car may sooner than later get off the road. So it is with our bodies. In my active work years as a young man, I easily broke the Law of Balance in respect of work and rest, arriving form work at about 3:am, yes 3:am, almost every day and  being at my desk in the office for those nasty but important management meetings which began at 11:am.

The energy and fire of youth in the adrenal glands bounced off the shocks easily absorbed them, like the brand new shock absorbers of a motor vehicles. Buy, as we say, no one can cheat Mother Nature, and, so, in time, the wages of sin began to fall in place, resulting in those symptoms of aging no one advancing in year’s wishes to experience when the day of reckoning or the season of bumper harvests arrives. In Nature cure, sleep is often called Dr. Sleep. But not all Sleep is Sleep, as this column explained last Thursday stating the differences between the four stages of sleep and suggesting, for example, the use of the herb VERVAIN to achieve STAGE 4 SLEEP or Rapid Eye Movement (REM) Sleep, as it is also called, to overcome insomnia. In Stage 4 Sleep, a great event envelopes the body and the soul. And it is to this great event I joyfully look forward to when nightfall approaches. For, in deep sleep, the energy bond or “cement” which holds body and soul together relaxes its hold, the body falls sleepily apart to rest and to heal itself, while the Soul, released somewhat from the body and its Union with it, becomes free and journeys out of the body in what we call dreams. The deeper the dream, the better it is for both body and soul. I dream a lot, and joyfully look forward to nightfall when I know I would dream again. In respect of my dreams, my wife gave me the nickname Joseph the Dreamer. Remember Joseph in the Bible and in the Quran? The last of 12 children, he was the most beloved of their father, dreamt that the 11 sheaves of wheat of his brothers bowed before his own sheaf of wheat, and that the sun and the moon (representing his parents and 11 stars his brothers) bowed before him. In jealousy and outrage, his brothers sold him into slavery and lied to their father that an animal killed him in the fields.

Meanwhile, they sold Joseph to Potiphar, a captain of the pharaoh’s Palace guard in Egypt. Potiphar’s wife wanted Joseph to sleep with her. He declined, and she set him up for attempted rape of his mater’s wife. Joseph was cast into prison. There he met the baker and the butler of Pharaoh. Both men had dreams they could not interpret. Joseph told the baker he would be executed, and the butler that he would be freed. The baker was later hung on a tree for bird’s to feed on, and the butler was freed. Joseph pleaded with the Butler not to forget about him whenever he returned to the Palace. In the Palace, the Pharaoh had a dream neither he nor his wise men could interpret: seven lean cows ate up seven fat cows.

The Butler told the King there was a man in prison who could interpret the dream. Joseph was brought to the Palace and he interpreted the dream to mean that seven years of bountiful harvest would be followed by seven years of grave famine. Joseph was released by Pharaoh to help the kingdom avert the fortold seven years of grave famine. The job placed him next in command to the King. Overcome by famine, his brothers were to travel to Egypt, the land of plentiful food. They came personally in contact with Joseph but did not recognize him, and bowed before him… to fulfill two of Joseph’s dreams which outraged them. Meanwhile Joseph got them to settle in Egypt, and that began the story of the Children of Israel in Egypt. Story has been told to emphasis the importance of sleep for a “sound mind and body” for it is only in sleep that we dream bountifully, and dreams connect us to the world beyond the reach of our physical senses, to forewarn and to guide us. Thus, people who do not sleep well or soundly are not only likely to suffer health mishaps, they are also likely to become like rudderless ships at sea, tossed hitter and titter by the waves, because they have no guidance from the beyond and focus on earth.

I became interested in dreams when, in the 1970s, I read in a pamphlet produced by some young Nigerians abroad an article titled THE LORD GIVES TO HIS OWN IN THEIR SLEEP. The article explained the roles played by the frontal brain (big brain) and the back brain (small brain) in our lives. The frontal brain is the seat of thought, the intellect and serves day consciousness. The back brain is the spiritually-receptive part of the brain.

The body and the Soul generate energy or radiations which hold them together in a flexible union. If the radiations of the body weaken either from shock (as in an accident, aging, malnutrition and disease, or lose of the will to live) the Union may collapse or death of the body may occur, as the soul, finding the earthly casing no longer usable for anchorage on earth, floats away. And the body falls apart in death because, in this circumstance, it is no longer animated by the soul. If the Spirit, which resides in the soul, loses the will to live it would pull out of the union with the body, and death of the body would similarly occur. But if the union weakens only to permit sleep, the soul floats away to experience life beyond the terrain of the body. That is why you may find yourself in a dream ponding someone or screaming and your body is doing exactly the same things simultaneously in its sleep on the bed. What is going on is that the experiences of your soul are being relayed to your body, through a broadcast system of radiations.

In picture form, what the soul is experiencing is relayed to the body in bed through a “cable” which connects the body and the soul. This “cable”   is known as THE SILVER CORD. It is like the unbiblical cord which connects a baby in the womb to the mother. To deliver a woman of a baby, this cord had to be cut or severed. That’s what happens in death. The body and the soul are separated with the severance of the silver cord! As pictorial images of the soul’s experiences outside the body are relayed to the body through the Silver Cord, a point of body/soul connection known as the SOLAR PLEXUS, they journey through nerve fibers and the bloodstream to the back brain, the Spiritually-receptive part of the brain. Here, these radiations are converted to pictures, which we remember vaguely or sharply when we awake from sleep.

Whether what we remember would be sharp or dull would depend on many factors, including the nutritional status of the back brain. It is interesting to note that Science has linked Rapid Eye Movement (REM) sleep stage to deep or restful sleep and dreams. For the physical eyes closed in sleep actually move hither and thither as the soul eyes move when the soul is outside the body. If we look up or sideways in our so-called dream, the closed “sleeping” physical eyes in bed move likewise. This shows that something is being broadcast from somewhere to the body which is assumed to be asleep in bed. The body is, in this state, somewhat like a radio receiving set or television set receiving a broadcast from a broadcasting station which had loaded the broadcast message or electromagnetic waves. Think of the SMS message you send and received on your phone every day, and you may begen to understand what happened to you when you dream. Thus, I feel personally bad when I cannot vividly remember a dream because I know I have frustrated someone on the “other side” trying to reach me. Don’t we feel bad when we dial someone’s number and it doesn’t go through or he or she missed the call, or the network frustrates the effort?

REM SLEEP

According to Wikipedia, “Rapid Eye Movement Sleep is a unique phase of Manahan sleep characterised by random movement of the eyes, low muscles tone throughout the body, and the propensity of the dreamer to dream vividly.” From medicalnews.com, we learn:

“Rapid Eye Movement sleep is one of the five stages of sleep that most people experience nightly. It is characterised by quick, random movements of the eyes and paralysis of the muscles. The amount of time spent in rapid eye movement varies significantly with age, it normally makes up around 20 to 25 percent of an adult humans total time spent asleep (an average about 90-120 minutes) and about more than half of an infant’s.

In www.scenedialy.com, we understand:

“Rapid Eye Movement is the stage of sleep characterized by rapid saccadic movement of the eyes. During this stage, the activity of the brain’s neurons is quite similar to that during waking hours. Most of the vividly recalled dreams occur during Rapid Eye Movement Sleep. It is the lightest form of sleep, and people awakened during Rapid Eye Movement usually feel alert and refreshed.

My dreams I dream a lot, as I said earlier. Sometimes, the dream breaks, like a film break, when a noise disturbs me or I feel pressed to wee.  I am not surprised, from the explanations of dream aforestated, when I go back to sleep and the dream resumes from where it was broken off. I know someone is at work. I am not a stranger to Out of Body Experience (OBE) during sleep. (This is a matter for another day).

I know it is possible to a achieve day consciousness during dreams. By this, I mean you are dreaming, and you make yourself realize you, the human spirit, are the one wherever you find yourself in that dream, and that your body is lying asleep, resting somewhere. In that conscious state, you can will yourself to go anywhere, seek solutions to problems which bother you in day-conscious life. But many people, for good reasons, are too frightened to venture it. Maybe I picked courage from the teaching that there is no division between the world of our physical senses and that world we call the “beyond” because it is indeed, beyond the reach of physical senses as both worlds are of different consistencies, or at different energy of vibrational level. We should remember when it comes to energy levels that we were thought by the Lord Jesus 1000 years on years on earth are like one day in the beyond, which means the earth exist on a very low energy level. Therefore, sluggish vibration of the earthly eye cannot see beyond earthly forms that are vibrating on a much high frequency.

In my view, many people misunderstand the spoon and metal-bending psychics of the 1970s, the most notable among them being Yuri Geller. Geller was branded by his critics as an illusionist and stage magician. What did he do? He claimed to have psychic powers or supra normal or beyond earthly powers. On television, he would ask his viewers to hold spoons, keys or any other metal objects in their hands. And, with the powers of his mind, he would cause those objects to bend in their hands! I believe the Disciple of the Lord Jesus on the Day of Pentecost heard the different languages spoken by the motley crowd who listened to them not with their physical ears and understood them not through rational thought but through non-physical senses which came alive in them. In my dreams, I make a distinction between black and white situations and dreams in colours. The former may be impressions of the frontal or intellectual brain flowing backwards. Colours dreams, on the other hand, are more likely impressions from the soul flowing to the body through a process of radiations via the silver cord at the solar plexus, the nerves and bloodstream, to the back brain from where the pictures impressed on this spiritually sensitive part of the brain are transported to the frontal brain, where they are decoded into thought and words. Watch your dreams. Words are not spoken in many. You just know things you need to know! I would like to share some of my dreams

GEN. OLADIPO DIYA (RTD)

Before Gen Sanni Abacha arrested Gen. Diya (rtd) his deputy as Nigeria’s military Head of State, on coup plot charges, I saw Gen Diya in a dream. Till this day I have not met him in person. The setting of that dream was Kings Barracks, Iyaganku, Ibadan, where I lived with my policeman father and step mother in the 1960s. There are 27 room and palour units in every block. We lived in Room 8 on the middle floor of a two-story blocked 2 joined to blocks I and 3 on either side by spiral stairways, Gen. Diya, in military uniform, was fleeing from fellow soldiers who wished to capture him. He ran up the stairs from Block 1 to our floor. He ran inside our palour. My heart was racing. I thought guns would soon roar if they found him with us. They may kill us. Somehow, he disappeared through the concrete decking to the upper floor. His would-be assailants, missing him, ran down the stairs to Block 3 in pursuit of him. When I woke up, I told my wife Gen. Diya would soon be in trouble, but he would survive it. Soon, he was arrested. But when Gen. Abacha had him sentenced to death, I thought the dream would not come to pass. Then Abacha died mysteriously and Gen. Diya was freed.

OLOROGUN MICHAEL IBRU

Two days before his death, I saw him in a dream which I relayed to Mrs. Bukola Azeez, Chief Executive Officer of BUDGET TRAVELS, which is beside my office. Olorogun was to have a birthday party, and I was to take a beautiful cake to the venues. I hadn’t seen him or spoken with him for about a decade, so seeing him was a surprise to me. He looked elegant and betrayed no signs of the ailments which had plauged his health for some time, especially Parkinson’s disease. I walked past him to a room where a woman to receive the cake was waiting for me. The door was locked. I called her on my cell phone. But rather than the phone showing me a key board by merely thinking of this woman, her photograph came up on the screen. She was in a private scene so I quickly turned the phone over. To avoid the scene. When she was done, I gave her the cake and left. Two days later, Mrs. Azeez broke the news of Olorogun’s passing to me!

Sound Sleep and dreams are important for sound health and a focus health life. As we shall soon see most of the foods we eat today make it impossible for us to sleep soundly.