MANILA, Philippines—Getting up every morning is such a chore for most people. More challenging is to wake up with energy. Do you know that when you’re asleep:

Body temperature drops to its all-time low.

Muscles and joints are stiff, blood pressure falls and blood pools in the extremities (legs and arms).

The body undergoes a state of paralysis during sleep cycle for 20-30 minutes to prevent reacting to dreams.

If you have insomnia:

Wind down in the late hours of the evening. Don’t cram so many activities at night.

Avoid eating heavy dinner.

Let go of problems concerning your finances, job, husband/wife/lover/family.

Don’t bring home work.

Soak in a hot tub.

Drink a glass of warm milk or chamomile tea.

Use the bed only for sleeping—not watching TV or surfing the net.

Stretch your spine.

Have a massage.

Read yourself to sleep.

Watch an uplifting, relaxing movie, not a horror film.

Make love at bedtime, it’s nature’s best sleeping pill.

If you need to take an antihistamine or decongestant, do so at least three hours before bedtime.

Finally, visualize you are in a place of serenity—a beach, a mountain top, etc. See it, feel it, experience it.

Stop telling yourself and others you are an insomniac. Don’t label yourself. Reinforcing it makes your subconscious accept it as truth.

Meditate five to 10 minutes before bedtime.

Take 1-3 mg of natural hormone, melatonin, 20 minutes before bedtime. If this doesn’t help, then you are stressed about something that needs addressing.

Instead of a sleeping pill, take inositol and 2,000 mg of pantothenic acid from Vitamin B to induce sleep the natural way.

Mother of all illness

Stress has been called the mother of all illness. It is a condition of the mind that affects the spirit and emotions and ultimately, the body. Experts say treat the cause, the symptom will go away.

If you are in a state of stress:

Sit down. Take a full glass of water.

Get hold of yourself. Release your frustration slowly.

Take a deep breath, slow down your breathing. Do this for five minutes.

Close your eyes and talk to yourself. Affirm: “I am in control of my feelings and situation. The solution is coming.” Or “No problem is too great. My prayers will be answered.”

Listen to relaxing music.

Be in the presence of happy people.

Get up and go. Do something positive that you’ve never done before. Surprise yourself.

Load up on Vitamin B complex, (500 mg daily). This is an anti-stress supplement (especially B1, B2—50 mg each daily), natural sources: green leafy vegetables, liver, eggs, dairy, oatmeal, peanuts, brewers yeast, fish, lean meats, figs, prunes, poultry, root crops.

If you need to turbo-charge your day, get up in the morning with a goal designed to excite you. Make sure your eyes are exposed to daylight. This will directly stimulate your brain. Think of a happy thought that will put a smile on your face. Drink one to four tablespoons of virgin coco oil in the morning, either on an empty stomach or mixed with your juice or oatmeal. Do 20-30 minutes of exercise daily, even brisk walking will do. Have a hearty breakfast. Take your vitamin-mineral supplement. Have a good laugh. Face yourself in the morning before you go out and affirm “You’re a winner. Go out and claim your prize.”

Love and light!

References: “Vitamin Bible For The 21st Century” by Earl Mindell; “Sleep Rx” by Norman Ford