If you are struggling to sleep due to a serious case of insomnia, your doctor may suggest a prescription medication. While shocking for many people to learn, an estimated 38 million prescriptions have been written for a popular brand of sleeping pill. Although effective for treating insomnia, sleeping pills cause numerous side effects and can lead to a dangerous drug addiction. Using these drug-free, non-addictive solutions, you can treat your insomnia in a safer manner.

Massage Therapy

Sleep disorders can transmit chemicals that cause pain and discomfort through your body. These chemicals cause imbalances in your body's chemistry, but undergoing massage can restore these imbalances back to a healthier state.

During massage, the brain releases endorphins. These natural neurotransmitters flow through your entire body, instantly improving your mood. This improved mood can decrease your stress while relaxing your body and mind.

After consulting your doctor for your insomnia, visit a massage therapist periodically to for insomnia treatment. 

Sleep Machines

A machine that stimulates your brain through electrodes connected to your head is also an option for treating insomnia. This small electronic device is wired to two sponge electrodes. The sponge electrodes are affixed to your head under a headband and worn for a few minutes each day.

Once the machine is turned on, it sends a 1-4 milliamp current into the brain from the electrodes for 20 minutes.

Stimulating the brain using this non-invasive machine enhances the brain's activity while reducing stress and treating sleep disorders. Cranial stimulation is also an effective option for treating a variety of other conditions including depression, drug addiction, and post-traumatic stress disorder.

Diet

Improving your daily diet can also help treat your insomnia. To get started, reduce your consumption of caffeinated beverages, such as soda, coffee, and tea. Also, avoid drinking alcohol. While it is considered a depressant, alcohol will interfere with your ability to sleep through the entire night.

Add more potassium and magnesium to your diet by eating bananas. Both potassium and magnesium act as natural muscle relaxants, which will relax your body to induce sleepiness.

Bananas also contain tryptophan. This amino acid turns into serotonin and melatonin, which also help you sleep. Tryptophan can take up to an hour to kick in, so consider eating a banana an hour or more before you want to fall asleep.

As a child, your mom may have told you to drink a warm glass of milk when you could not fall asleep. Thankfully, your mom was right, since milk also contains the sleep-inducing tryptophan. Milk is also an essential source of calcium, which helps regulate the production of melatonin.

Getting enough sleep is important, but using harmful prescription medications is not your only answer. Using these drug-free  solutions, you can treat your insomnia without dangerous side effects or possible addictions.