Home Remedies Area

Many people find they are extremely sleepy after a big meal of turkey and there is good reason due to the tryptophan in the meat. Tryptophan is an amino acid and it is a great option for people who suffer from insomnia. Few people are aware that there are prescriptions of tryptophan available to treat insomnia, grief, chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia, menopause, and other sleep disorders. Some individuals find tryptophan to not only be helpful for their insomnia, but also for migraine and treatment of chronic pain like the pain that results from Parkinson’s disease. Tryptophan is not a miracle drug, but it might seem like one to those who suffer from insomnia because they may finally be able to get some rest. 

What is Insomnia?

Insomnia is the result of a sleeping disorder. Individuals with this sleeping disorder simply cannot fall asleep or if they can fall asleep then they have difficulty staying asleep even when they have the opportunity to sleep. Insomnia is not a disease, but rather a symptom of a sleep disorder. Insomniacs cannot close their eyes for very long or get any mental rest. Millions of Americans suffer from insomnia and it is more common in women than it is for men. There are different types of insomnia and they include transient, acute, and chronic.

Transient insomnia is characterized by difficulty sleeping or staying asleep for a period of days to weeks. It may be caused by stress, depression, changes in sleep, changes in sleep location, and the like. 

Acute insomnia is characterized by having difficulties sleeping from a period of three weeks to up to six months. Individuals who are affected by chronic insomnia may be affected for many years at a time. Sometimes the insomnia is caused by a different health issue and other times it is not. The effects of acute insomnia may include mental fatigue, sleepiness, hallucinations, muscular fatigue, and the like. Strangely enough, some individuals with chronic insomnia are actually more alert. 

Individuals suffering from insomnia should talk with their doctor about tryptophan to help them relax and sleep. For individuals suffering from insomnia there are few things worse than not being able to sleep and if tryptophan can offer some help it is definitely worth a try.