The Importance of Sleep, Barriers to Achieving It, and Natural Sleep Aids

The Critical Functions of Sleep

Restorative sleep, essential for a functional sleep cycle, plays a crucial role in various aspects of health. Getting not only enough sleep, but deep-enough sleep, is critical for repair processes. 

Here is a list of studies for each health benefit:

1. Circulatory Health: A study published in the Journal of the American Heart Association found that insufficient sleep increases the risk of cardiovascular diseases, including heart attacks (Hirshkowitz et al., 2015).
2. Metabolic Health: A review in The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology highlights the link between short sleep duration and metabolic disorders such as diabetes and obesity (Knutson et al., 2017).
3. Immune Function: Research in Nature Reviews Immunology indicates that sleep modulates the immune system, reducing susceptibility to illnesses like the flu (Besedovsky, Lange, & Born, 2012).
4. Cancer Prevention: A publication in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention suggests that sleep disruption is associated with an increased risk of cancer (Papantoniou et al., 2014).
5. Cognitive Function and Safety: A study in Sleep shows that sleep deprivation leads to cognitive impairments, brain fog, and increased accident rates (Durmer & Dinges, 2005).
6. Alertness and Memory: Research published in Neuron demonstrates how sleep supports cognitive functions like memory retention and alertness (Rasch & Born, 2013).
7. Brain Health: A study in JAMA Neurology found that restorative sleep reduces the risk of Alzheimer’s disease (Spira et al., 2013).
8. Hormonal Regulation: Findings in The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism show that sleep deprivation disrupts hormonal functions, lowering testosterone levels and affecting fertility (Leproult & Van Cauter, 2011).
9. Mental Health: Research in Sleep Medicine Reviews highlights the role of sleep in processing emotional trauma and managing PTSD (Germain, 2013).
10. Impulse Control and Reality Perception: Studies in Psychological Medicine indicate that sleep deprivation impairs impulse control and can trigger psychosis (Walker, 2009).
11. Creativity: Research in Scientific American suggests that REM sleep enhances abstract problem-solving and creativity (Wagner et al., 2004).
12. Pain Sensitivity: A study in Sleep shows that sleep deprivation increases pain sensitivity (Smith et al., 2007).

The War Against Sleep

Despite the importance of sleep, societal factors significantly hinder achieving healthy sleep. 

1. Electronic Devices and EMFs: A study in PLOS ONE found that blue light exposure from screens disrupts the sleep cycle (Chang et al., 2015).

2. Shift Work: Research in Occupational and Environmental Medicine classifies shift work as a probable human carcinogen due to its disruptive effects on sleep (Stevens, 2011).

3. Pharmaceutical Industry Influence: An article in The New England Journal of Medicine discusses how pharmaceutical interests can impede the promotion of non-patentable health solutions (Relman, 2001).

4. Insomnia Drug Market: Research in BMJ Open highlights the dangers of sleeping pills, showing a significant increase in mortality risk among users (Kripke et al., 2012).

A Buried Sleep Aid

Why was a highly effective sleep aid buried in the 1990s by the FDA and mass media, drawing parallels to the suppression of alternative treatments during the COVID-19 pandemic? One reason may have been the burgeoening market for sleep aids, which has now increased to a $432 billion global market. 

"The problem lies in the nature of most sleeping pills: they are sedatives, not sleep aids. They sedate the brain, impairing its ability to initiate restorative sleep, leaving users tired and at risk for health issues. Studies have shown that sleeping pill users are significantly more likely to die early and develop cancer. For example, one study found a twofold increase in mortality for sleeping pill users, with another study reporting a 3.6-5.4 times higher death rate for users over 2.5 years, and an increased cancer risk of 7-99%.  This in turn, led the authors to conclude that in 2010, prescription sleeping pills “may have been associated with 320,000-507,000 excess deaths within the USA alone.” -Midwestern Doctor

What Effective Sleep Aid was Banned?

The chemical the FDA decided to ban, and make a schedule 1 controlled substance is called GHB. The agency cited additive properties and potential for use as a date rape drug, effectively vilifying it and solidifying public support for a federal ban. 

Alternatives

However, a close analog of GHB is known as GABA, which is legal to sell as a mood and sleep aid. We carry this product under the Thorne Research brand:

GABA

Other important sleep aids in order of importance and effectiveness are:

• Magnesium
• Melatonin
• L-Theanine
• Rhodiola