Insomnia is getting worse and worse around the world. More and more people are having sleep issues and the reason for that in my opinion is two fold.

1. Lack of connection to the natural environment – Not enough UV and IR light
2. Screentime – Excess blue light

By connection to the environment I mean standing barefoot on the earth with naked eyes exposed to sunlight. I use the term “naked” because although I don’t recommend (when outside) the use of sunglasses or reading glasses, you may still be wearing contact lenses.

All 3 of these alter the specific wavelength and frequency of the sun that needs to enter your central retinal pathway to your master clock, the suprachiasmatic nucleus in order to set your circadian rhythm for the day.

And being grounded allows your feet (which have the most nerve endings or cutaneous receptors on your body to receive electrons) to connect with the earth.

Human beings are the clasps to an open loop between the sun and the earth. The sun is the anode and the earth is the cathode to conduct electrical energy. When you receive photons directly into your retina from the sun, while receiving electrons from the earth, you close that electrical loop.

I ask you…

How much time do you spend each day barefoot on the earth, outside with naked eyes?

How much time do you spend doing that while watching the sunrise, which is THE MOST important time to do it?

If the answer to those questions is “not much” then most likely you have either chronic insomnia or some kind of sleep issue.

The good news is that with every problem there is a solution. And in today’s world we have the internet where there’s almost too much information. Some of the information is good, and some is bad.

Some of the information is true while some of it is not.

We live in the age of information overload but at the same time, if you search correctly, you can find natural cures for insomnia that actually last, unlike a sleeping pill.

What Is Deep Sleep

According to our friends over at WebMD:

Deep sleep is the third stage of non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep, also known as slow-wave sleep (SWS) or delta sleep. It’s characterized by a slowing of brain waves, breathing, and heartbeat, as well as relaxed muscles. People often find deep sleep to be the most refreshing part of sleep, and it’s usually when they have the most difficulty waking up. If awakened during deep sleep, people may experience sleep inertia, a period of mental fogginess.

The deep sleep phase of your 90 minute sleep cycle is when you repair on a physical level. This is where new amino acids are created, proteins are built, immunity is fortified and repair happens. Deep sleep is when you build muscle (if you’re breaking it down by lifting heavy weights in the gym) and even cleanse heavy metals out of your brain when your glymphatic system activates.

When you wake up groggy and feeling like you have pain or a headache, you didn’t get enough deep sleep.

Why You Need Deep Sleep

I mentioned that deep sleep impacts how you feel physically but it goes even deeper. If you have a slow metabolism, it could be due to a lack of deep sleep. Hormones like leptin and ghrelin that regulate hunger are managed during deep sleep.

If you have blood sugar issues that could be due to not getting enough deep sleep. Even cancer and chronic degenerative diseases require deep sleep to prevent them from becoming an issue.

On a side note, did you know that the average person has 2 to 3 major “battles” with cancer in their lifetime but they don’t even know it? By getting more deep sleep, your body can fight off certain diseases.

You also release growth hormone to repair cells and tissues. Senescent cells (I like to call them “drunk cells”) are cells that are sick and “on the verge of dying” can become rejuvenated and brought back to life with enough deep sleep.

The less cellular turnover, the longer you live.

Symptoms of Sleep Deprivation

We all know the symptoms of sleep deprivation. You feel horrible in the morning. It feels like you’ve got a headache, brain fog and you feel groggy and woozy.

But there are other symptoms as well like

• Emotional instability
• Depression
• Anxiety
• Inability to heal
• Can’t lose weight
• Can’t gain muscle
• Feeling overwhelmed.

Dangers of Sleeping Pills

You definitely want to avoid sleeping pills at all costs. I’m not a fan of people taking these because of their adverse side effects. I don’t even call them side effects, they’re just the effects of the drugs. All pharmaceutical mediations damage the liver. That’s a known fact that’s irrefutable. The question is how much damage each drug does.

Whether they’re OTC (over the counter) sleeping medications or prescription drugs, they’re harmful. If you go to the doctor and ask him about sleeping pills, just know that he cannot give you informed consent and he must follow the standard of care.

And it’s also worth nothing that the standard of care kills 440,000 people per year.

That’s people taking the right dosage, of the right pill, for the right duration at the right time.

That number doesn’t count when doctors actually mess up and kill people. It almost seems like curing patients isn’t a sustainable business model.

Be very careful of what your doctor tells you.

Question everything.

My Favorite Deep Sleep Supplement

There are many supplements you can take for sleep. There are specific supplements for quieting your mind and even herbs for sleep. But in terms of accentuating the deep sleep phase, nothing works better than melatonin. If melatonin is not working for you, then you most likely are taking it incorrectly.

Here are some relevant quotes from 5 studies you may find interesting when it comes do melatonin and why it’s my favorite deep sleep supplement.

Differential Function of Melatonin MT1 and MT2 Receptors in REM and NREM Sleep

“Melatonin acts on sleep by inducing an increase in deep sleep quantity and quality.” – Study

Role of the Melatonin System in the Control of Sleep: Therapeutic Implications

“Melatonin induces deep sleep and prevents awakening by inhibiting the firing of suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) neurons.” – Study

Different Criteria of Sleep Latency and the Effect of Melatonin on Sleep Consolidation

“Melatonin may exert a chronobiotic effect and advance deeper sleep, thus leading to better sleep consolidation.” – Study

Sleep-Promoting and Hypothermic Effects of Daytime Melatonin Administration in Humans

“Daytime melatonin improves other measures of sleep, such as sleep consolidation and total sleep time.” – Study

The Roles of Melatonin and Light in the Pathophysiology and Treatment of Circadian Rhythm Sleep Disorders

“Melatonin therapy was shown to treat disturbed sleep–wake cycles effectively, improving deep sleep stages.” – Study

Conclusion

My favorite deep sleep supplement is melatonin. Nothing comes close but at the same time, melatonin is just one spoke in the wheel (with dozens of other spokes) of sleep. There’s not one pill or supplement that’s going to fix your insomnia.

Everything when done together at the right time of day, can tip the odds in your favor. I like this approach. If melatonin by itself doesn’t work, what if it would work if you combined it with a few other things?

You should be doing dozens of different things each day that will help you sleep at night. On the flip side, you should be avoiding dozens of things each day that prevent deep sleep.

Funny how ancient cultures didn’t have a hard time sleeping. I wonder why that is?

Questions:

1. Do you take any pills or supplements for sleep now?
2. What has worked for you?
3. What has not worked for you?
4. If you’re taking prescription sleeping pills, what side effects have you noticed?
5. Are you concerned with long term usage?

Comment below.