Sleep and Energy

How well you sleep and how much energy you have during the day go hand in hand. Technology, which is designed to make our life easier, has actually created a society that is chronically fatigued. I am not only referring to patients that suffer from Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, but also to a society where the majority of the people suffer from sleep deprivation.

Submitted by Dr. Daryl Bourkep

The human body is affected by regular cycles The human body is affected by regular cycles, like moon phases, tides or even the female menstrual cycle. There is another cycle most people are not aware of called the Circadian Cycle, which affects the body's sleep patterns every 24 hours. The Circadian Cycle is what tells the body when it should rest, and that is in early afternoon (the siesta) and late evening. Modern life, with artificial lighting, caffeine and sugar, allows us to circumvent this natural sleep pattern. When this happens, then the quality of sleep decreases. There are two cycles of sleep; the body first goes in to a light sleep phase and if it not disturbed, it will enter the REM phase of sleep, which is essentially a more therapeutic sleep. During this time, the body heals itself and the individual will awaken felling refreshed.

Conversely, sleep deprivation is a well known form of a torture. A short time after being exposed to sleep deprivation, a prisoner will experience psychological pain in the form of depression, unbearable fatigue and mental disorientation.

Look at the proliferation of energy drinks. Energy is like money. You only have so much, and if you use too much one day, you'll have to pay it back the next. There is no energy bar that I am aware of that is not just a temporary fix. You MUST replenish your energy by getting a better quality and longer sleep. If you wish to have more energy, you have to find ways of getting quality sleep. Taking medication will not help to achieve this goal, hence will only mess with your natural hormonal balance, brain function and will leave you feeling groggy.

Many people cannot get a good night's sleep because of slow changes that occur over the years from a high stress levels, to musculoskeletal pain, back pain, leg pain or restless leg syndrome. People who have disturbed sleep patterns are quite easy to recognize; they often complain of feeling tired (even on a rising), they are the ones looking for a coffee or sugar foods to give them more energy, and their mental acuity may be diminished.

Far Infrared Sauna Therapy (F.I.R.S.T.) can help you to train yourself to get a better night's sleep. The first thing you should do is relax and prepare yourself for sleep. Far Infrared Sauna Therapy (F.I.R.S.T.) causes the release of endorphins from the brain, which are the body's natural opiates or pain killers. This will reduce your pain, relax your muscles, make you feel more comfortable and help you eliminate inflammation and swelling. Many people can go to sleep, but are later awakened by the pain. This occurs when they lie down and the gravitational stress on your joints is removed from the body. The lessened body weight can allow the joints to swell, which is what produces the pain. F.I.R.S.T. helps to increase the circulation in your body, which subsequently helps to remove toxins from daily exposure to unhealthy additives (i.e. caffeine, sugar, alcohol) from your system. This improves the function of your immune system, making you healthier and resulting in a better sleep.

Conversely, when F.I.R.S.T. is used in the morning or throughout the day, the release of those same endorphins causes a boost in energy. This is a very common, almost universally reported side effect to a morning use of far infrared therapy.

Here are some additional tips to help improve your sleep:

• Make sure you have a quiet sleep area where you will not be disturbed.

• Avoid eating late at night and decrease sugar intake.

• Try to have some quiet time before retiring.

• Try to decrease stress levels. If you consume energy drinks or coffee, decrease their consumption in the early afternoon and avoid drinking it later in the day.

• Try incorporating Far Infrared Sauna Therapy (F.I.R.S.T.) into your routine.