Two new studies out recently provide insight into the importance of sleep for mental health and how the practice of mindfulness training provides an alternative approach to treating insomnia. A study from Annals of Behavioral Medicine shows that it takes only three consecutive nights of sleep loss to cause one’sRead
Sleep is a strong factor in good mental health. How much change in sleep does one need to make to reduce risk of depression and mood disorders? A new genetic study shows that just waking one hour earlier could reduce a person’s risk of major depression by 23%, as publishedRead
For prediabetes and Type-2 diabetes who regularly monitor their blood sugar, there is a well-known issue called dawn phenomenon. It is characterized by a rise in blood sugar during the early morning hours, despite lifestyle measures and even medication. Jason Fung, MD, author of the The Obesity Code, The CompleteRead
A Nagoya University-led research team in Japan has found a new neural pathway that links the circadian regulation, stress, and sleep in in mammals. The team identified a neuron, called the corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) neuron, that becomes excessively active when the mammal is under stress, which could trigger insomnia andRead
Though exposure to blue light gets bad press, new research shows that the timing of the exposure can be beneficial. Early morning blue light exposure therapy can aid the healing process of people impact by mild traumatic brain injury, according to new research from the University of Arizona. “Daily exposureRead
It is well known that the body’s circadian clock operates from a central point in the hypothalamus. But does the body have other circadian clocks that operate independently? Apparently so, according to this study from the journal Cell. This means, for instance, that the liver sense when someone is staringRead
In this article we explore the science behind how cytokines and inflammation relate to sleep. So many individuals experience a lack of sleep in overall quantity or quality, whether it be due to nighttime awakenings to care for children or loved ones, a job that is demanding or requires workRead
Stimulants and sedatives, they are a push-pull solution to our stress-packed world that are nothing but trouble. In our go-go-go world, we see not only our patients but also ourselves at times drawn to substances that serve as stimulants to keep us going, and sedatives to help us relax. WhetherRead
In addition to popular botanicals and botanically-derived substances like ashwagandha and L-theanine, many other natural agents that support relaxation and healthy sleep also exist. As practitioners, the more tools we can have in our toolkit the better, as almost daily we encounter someone who has “tried everything,” reacts paradoxically, orRead
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