I Do This Every Night to Fall Asleep Faster

Many things may keep us awake at night and it is always an unpleasant experience. Whether your sleeplessness is temporary or has escalated into chronic insomnia, you need to do something for some good shut-eye.

This brings me to try the effectiveness of the popular magnesium oil. Many claim that rubbing the oil on their feet before bedtime helps them sleep better. I can swear by the product and have used it with other essential oils that boost its effect and impart a calming scent. It does work and is worth trying to give you a restful night of sleep.

How This Oil Can Help With Your Sleep

Magnesium oil is magnesium chloride flakes dissolved in water to achieve an oily feel. Technically, it is not an oil but an inorganic solution. But in this form, magnesium gets easily absorbed by the body to support multiple functions.

There are different forms of magnesium and they differ in how the body absorbs them. Different types also treat different ailments.

Magnesium chloride, or magnesium salt, has the highest absorbability. It makes it the most popular form of magnesium that is found in salt baths and magnesium oil. It is particularly used in alleviating muscle soreness and encouraging good rest.

Magnesium oil provides a calming effect on the body by controlling the neurotransmitters in the brain. It reduces the activity of these chemical messengers and regulates GABA to soothe the mind and relax the body.

It also helps deal with stress and anxiety that may prevent you from sleeping. Rubbing magnesium oil in pulse points can reduce nervous tension and keep the stress level down.

Magnesium is also excellent against cramps. If you are an athlete, applying it to cramp-prone areas may prevent it from happening. Apply it again before bedtime to avoid being woken up by chronic cramping.

If you can’t sleep because of a nagging headache, muscle pain, joint pain and inflammation, a good massage with magnesium oil may help.

The best way of using magnesium oil for sleep is to rub it on the feet and legs before bed. Applying it near the lymphatic points such as underarms, throat, chest and abdomen is also beneficial in boosting health.

Topical use of magnesium is safe for inducing sleep as long as you do not have sensitivity to it. Applying it on the skin increases its bioavailability without causing an upset stomach compared to taking it orally.

Other Helpful Tips for Falling Asleep Faster

Falling asleep can be hard especially if you are stressed or your circadian rhythm is messed up. If you experience occasional sleeplessness, you may try these simple methods of encouraging sleep.

• Exercise during the day, but avoid intense ones at night
• Turn off electronic gadgets at night or use eyeglasses with blue light filters if you need to
• Do not eat one hour before bedtime and avoid a high carb diet
• No naps during the day, or limiting a nap to 30 minutes
• No caffeine in the afternoon
• Set a healthy sleep schedule and try to stick to it
• Do breathing exercises, yoga or meditation
• Try aromatherapy

Sleep Enhancing Herbs

Aside from magnesium oil, there are also other supplements marketed for promoting sleep. It includes melatonin, 5-HTP (hydroxytryptophan), L-theanine and GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid). These supplements are said to improve sleep quality in healthy adults.

However, if you are currently taking medication or have other health problems, you need to consult your doctor before taking any food supplements.

If you need a safer route, some mild herbs and oils may help you doze off faster.

Chamomile: Chamomile tea is one of the best herbs to try for sleep disorders. Chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla) is a sedative plant that aids in relaxing the mind, relieving stress and reducing anxiety and depression.

Lavender: Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) is also a popular aromatic and tonic herb used in treating sleep problems. Lavender flowers can be made into tea to treat insomnia. Its essential oil is also an effective natural remedy for sleeplessness when applied topically or used in aromatherapy.

Here you can find Chamomile and Lavender seeds, to grow your own plants at home.

Peppermint: Peppermint (Mentha piperita) provides a cooling and soothing effect to heal aches and promote proper blood flow. You can take it as a tea or infusion or use its essential oil. Peppermint is an excellent relaxant and sedative that may help prolong the time of sleep.

Lemon Balm: Lemon balm (Melissa officinalis) is a calming herb often used for treating anxiety and brain disorders. An infusion of its dried leaves before bedtime may help you fall asleep faster and better as it soothes the nervous system.

Valerian: Internal use of valerian can cause drowsiness. Thus, it is recommended to take it in moderate doses. Valerian (Valeriana officinalis) is a nervine traditionally used in treating hyperactivity, anxiety, insomnia and other neurological disorders. A cup of valerian root infusion  a day may help you sleep longer for the night.

You can also try this Sleep Blend Tincture, which combines Valerian Root, Hops Strobile Flower, German Chamomile Flower and Passionflower.  This potent mix helps you fall asleep faster and stay asleep longer. It increases the production of GABA and helps to improve sleep difficulties.

Extra-Calming Sleep Aid Oil Recipe

If you are unlike other people who doze off the moment they hit the pillow, you are not alone. The time you spend tossing and turning in bed is time lost for your body to relax.

So if you need some help in falling asleep faster, here is a topical sleep aid that may work well for you. The ingredients include:

Magnesium oil as a natural sleep inducer and pain reliever. Fractionated coconut oil as a carrier oil. You may use virgin coconut oil but it can solidify in lower temperatures and is not the best for colder seasons. You can also use your favorite carrier oil like sweet almond or golden jojoba for a more neutral scent.

Peppermint oil for controlling the blood flow and alleviating headaches and Lavender oil for calming the senses. Please note that this remedy contains lavender essential oil. Researchers suspect that its repeated use might be associated with enlargement of the breast tissue in prepubertal boys. If you intend to use it for little boys, you can use other calming oils like chamomile instead of lavender.

Sleep Aid Roller

Ingredients:

• Fractionated coconut oil, about ⅔ of the bottle
• 10 sprays magnesium oil
• 10 drops peppermint oil
• 10 drops lavender oil
• 10 ml bottle with roller
• Small funnel

Steps:

1. Fill the roller bottle with the fractionated coconut oil.
2. Add the magnesium oil spray.
3. Add the peppermint oil and lavender oil.
4. Place the roller cap and swirl to mix the liquids thoroughly. This roller is also travel-friendly.

How to Use

Shake the bottle and apply the roller directly on your temple or neck. Rub the roller on your hands and apply the oil on your feet from the top to the sole, giving them a light massage.

You can choose to wear a foot sock to bed to let the oil soak into the skin and prevent it from messing with your bedding and floor. From personal experience, you will need the socks to prevent slipping from those oils.

Magnesium oil may be termed as an oil but it does not leave a greasy residue typical to oils. Thus, you may find them sold as magnesium sprays. It is the same magnesium that is referred to as topical magnesium oil.

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