Circadian Rhythm                                                                                                                               

Location of Circadian Rhythm in Living Coloir

Just what is circadian rhythm?  The Circadian Rhythms are mental, behavioral and physical changes in your body over a 24 hour period of time.  These rhythms primarily respond to light and dark in your environment.  Most living things have these rhythms.  There is actually a name for the study of these rhythms – Chronobiology.

Master Clock

The Master Clock

Did you know we all have a Master Clock?    The Master Clock consists of a bunch of nerve cells in the brain and they are called suprachiasmatic nucleus -

Diagram of the Brian

or SCN for short.  The SCN is located in the Hypothalmus, which is found just above where the optic nerves cross.  The Master Clock coordinates all other “clocks” in the body so they are all in sync.

The Circadian Rhythms, although produced in our bodies, are sensitive to signals from the environment around you.  Light is the main cue and it turns on or turns off genes that control our internal clocks.

So – Circadian Rhythms have the ability to change sleep-wake cycles, body temperature, hormone release and other bodily functions. 

24 Hour Circadian Rhythm Diagram

Helpers for Sleep

Many people seek relief from sleeplessness by seeing their doctor and getting a prescription for a sleeping med.  Perhaps you should consider a more natural way to resolve this issue before seeking out prescription drugs.  There are other things out there, such as Melatonin, 5HTP, Valerian, Lemon Balm, Chamomile, Magnesium and Niacin.  Most, if not all, of these things can be found at a local Vitamin store such as Vitamin World.  Be sure to ask your doctor before taking anything over the counter – there may be very good reason why you should not take something if it might interfere with your prescriptions.  Another person to ask would be your local pharmacist.Before talking to either your local doctor or pharmacist it will be important to know whether or not you have problems with sleep onset or interruped sleep or both.  The ultimate goal for any of us to “sleep like a baby”.

Share your sleeping experiences and the remedies that have worked for you?  How do you achieve that goal?

Sleep Like a Baby