The Charlotte Democrat., 1888-02-03
Cures for Insomnia.
A long List of simple Remedies for
Insomnia.

lures lOr 1uS0Hnla.
A long List of simple Remedies for
Insomnia.
1t will be interesting to collect the
many remedies that have been suggested
for sleeplessness. A hot shower bath at
bed time clenses the skin and predisposes
to sleep, it is claimed. The one sure and
safe way is TO take brisk walk of mile
| or so before going to bed, and then, after
| the walk, holding the head under q stream
of cold water. This, however, should be
done when the habit of sleeplessness first
| begins.
A business man with a mechanical turn
of mind should fix up his attic as car.
penter's shop, and spend an hour therein
after supper. A walk of two or three
miles day is sufficient, says one writer,
| while another maintains that nothing will
do but horseback riding. Again, relief
| from sleeplessness can be found by wetting
linen kerchief, folding it, and placing it
under the back of the neck, with dry
cloth under the kerchief to protect the
pillow. Still again, warm the feet by
friction, extra slippers, &C.. and cool The
head either in a draft, or with cold water
or ice. One sufferer has palliated the dis
tress of his vigils by leaving his bed,
lighting a fire, and sitting in chimney
corner reading and eating by turns until
the demon iutimated desire to depart.
a physician writes that the evening
should be period of relaxation and recre-
ation-relief from care and anxiety to be
round in cheerful conversation, pleasant
games, and light reading-while persons
of sedeDtary occupation are to take plen-
ty of open-air exercise. A feeble circula-
tion is to be overcome, and cold feet are to
be warmed. The stomach is to be tended
to if the digestion is not good. If it is
overloaded easy and refreshing sleep is
impossible. Weakly persons and invalids
often find cup of hot broth or Cruel, or
some other light and easily digesred food
taken on retiring to be the most promo
tive of sleep. The bed should neither be
too hard nor too soft, nor the clothing too
abundant nor too scanty. All unpleasant
sights, sounds, and smells should be exclu-
ded. Regular and early hours of retiring
are essential. No victim of insomnia can
with safety burn the midnight oil or en-
gage in evening dissipation. The man
who observes these precautions and adds
thereto clear conscience and sound
mind has the promise of unfailing sleep.
A student troubled with insomnia dis
carded his feather pillow for one of hair
with wonderful effect. The hair pillow
does not get warmed up to an uncomfort-
able degree, because it rapidly, conducts
away the heat impaired to it by the head.
The same person found tdat sleep could
be brought on by simply warning the
body, especially the feet. or by taking a
walk, or by a cold shower or sponge bath
followed by rubbing with a coarse towel.
Getting out of bed for few minutes
when the air was cool often brought re-
lief. He had lain awake half the night,
and then, after being up long enough to
mix and drink lemonade, had fallen to
sleep at once on going to bed. This stu
: dent found that light lunch just before
:, going to bed relieved his brain by draw
ing the blood to his stomach.
Another victim of sleeplessness found
that low noise favored sleep. The sound
of water dropping on pan has been pre-.
: scribed by physician. The explanation
seems to be that simple monotonous inn
preston quiets the brain by occupying it,
to the exclusion of more varied and inter
, esting and therefore stimulating expires
sions. On the same principle are the de.
! vices of counting backward or forward
: imagining sheep jumping one by one
through gate, &c, but they are open tc
the objection of causing one portion OF the
: brain to be exerted in order to control the
: :, rest of it.
= A man who "has struck upon the righ,
plan at last" aud who opens up to the
= world something that is calculated to make
. mankind rejoice and do away with al
, drowsiness, writes that all you have to dc
;. is to imagine yourself going on long
= journey. Think over the details of it ev
. cry night when sleep lsgs. The plan
= made him healthy and happy.
- a physician has one simple remedy
- which requires no medicine. Compos'
y u the mind as much as possible, and confn
- - the thoughts 20 one subject, or numbe
. or individual, and close the eyelids, rollin,
q the eyes continuously in one direction. Il
= a short time consciousness will be loet, ant
20 -. you will be in the blissful land of dreams
a After an experience of two years, anothe
- - man found that he was always able to g
;, 90 to sleep very shortly after retiring T.
Z rest by keeping his eyes looking down; b
= found that they turned up when he wa
" sleepless and was cogitating something
., that kept him awake.
- An editor finds relief by wetting olot
~ ~ with cold water and binding it across hi
H forehead. Another plan is to draw in
af long, slow breath by the mouth and t
o force the breath out through the nose, in
~ ~ agining that the currents can be seen. A
=. :. attempt may also be made to read 9
~ amusing novel in bed or to repeat fami
>. lar poem; but all study or serious readinI
~ should be stopped half an hour before g
vi ing to bed. In paper read by phys
Hs clan before the Boston Society for Med
~ cal Improvement be said that sleeplessnei
:" is often caused by starvation, and that
~ tumbler of milk drank in the middle of th
-. w. night will often put people to sleep whe
L bypnotics would fail of their purpose.