Dr. Gold's Optimal Living Institute

  How to Sleep Better Part 1 of 3     Do you lie awake tossing and turning, staring at the ceiling, or the alarm clock, hoping daylight will come? Are you frustrated that you must wake up in a few hours and you haven’t slept enough? Do you get hot flashes or get up to pee (or maybe you don’t make it) and can’t go back to sleep? That sounds like my husband! When the alarm clock goes off do you still feel tired? The Benefits of Sleep are critical to repairing and rebuilding the body. It’s necessary for a healthy immune system. In this blog I will debunk a common myth about sleep, and in the next 2 parts, I will focus on natural treatments and on how to tame a busy mind that has trouble slowing down!   According to the Sleep Foundation almost half of all Americans feel sleepy during the day. [1]   I find many sleep disorders are rooted in stress and anxiety. With that in mind, I recommend all my patients with chronic sleep disturbances, to get a full work up, to rule out

  How YOU Can Sleep Better (Part 2 of 3) Natural Sleep Remedies     1.Cannabis – There is growing research to show its many benefits for various disorders including insomnia. It’s highly effective in patients with seizures, who fail traditional medical treatments. Cannabis is a natural anti-inflammatory and natural anxiolytic. It helps people disassociate from pain, trauma, anxiety and depression by releasing “feel good” hormones through the endocannabinoid system. Since smoking can irritate the lungs, I recommend the liquid tinctures or patches. In general, I recommend starting with CBD, a non-narcotic, which doesn’t cause sensations of euphoria, and may help with insomnia [1] . If CBD doesn’t work, THC can be added, which can cause euphoria. Start low and go slow. And if by accident one takes too much THC, it’s narcotic effect can be countered with higher levels of CBD. Cannabiniol (CBN) is a type of cannabis that helps with STAYING ASLEEP (think of N for nightti