Sleep: Causes of Poor Sleep & Natural Remedies For a Better Night Sleep

a woman sleeping

Do you fall asleep easily only to lie in bed wide awake at 3 a.m.? Or maybe it’s easy to fall asleep but you wake up exhausted? Do you dread bedtime because you have such a hard time sleeping?

Nobody wants to stay awake in the middle of the night, mind racing through scenarios that may never come to pass. But good sleep is more than a desire – You need to sleep. Not only because sleep supports healthy digestion and detoxification, but because the world feels brighter after a good night’s sleep.

All of the studies on sleep deprivation agree – poor sleep can have far-reaching effects on your health. Some are cited below and they are quite discouraging, especially if you are someone who struggles with sleep. (Skip the next paragraph if you have stress-related sleep disorders!)

Poor sleep can cause cognitive decline, neurologic degeneration, depression, increased incidence of cardiovascular events, and many other health outcomes. In one 1894 study by a Russian scientist, a complete absence of sleep was fatal in puppies after only a few days. Aaaak!

Before you panic, you should know that Boulder Holistic Functional Medicine in Boulder, Colorado, has successfully helped many patients sleep better by finding and addressing the root cause of their sleep dysfunction. This article gives you our techniques for a better night sleep and a brief overview of the most common root causes of sleep dysfunction.

Dr. Fox’s Story

Sleep is a topic near and dear to my heart. In my third year of medical school, I lost the ability to fall and stay asleep. I don’t think I slept more than a few hours a night for over ten years or slept deeply for over 20 years.

Even though I sleep wonderfully most of the time now, I still consider sleep my weak spot. If anything is out of balance in my life, if my heart is heavy or my stress level is high, my sleep is affected. 

But my sleep patterns also give me valuable insight into what is out of balance with my health and heart. Sleep is my integrity meter, stress odometer, and most vulnerable truth. It shows me the parts of myself that need more attention and love, and where I need to let go. 

A restless mind may feel overwhelming when the lights are off when you lay awake and think about how exhausted you will be the next day. But remember – sleep dysfunction is treatable! And Boulder Holistic Functional Medicine wants to help you find deep, easy sleep again.

How Do I Stop My Mind From Racing at Night?

First, I want you to know that you are not alone. That’s why I shared my sleep story. I’ve been there and I know how frustrating it can be. 

So, before you panic, here are three tips to stop your mind racing at night. 

Focus on what makes you happy. List people, places, and things that make you feel grateful and make your heart overflow with love, joy, and gratitude. That list could include kittens snuggling, your sweet children, football, winning at ping pong – whatever puts you into your heart and out of your head.

Try listening to an audible book, podcast, or gentle music. Let the soothing sounds distract you from your thoughts as you listen to them with your eyes closed and the lights off. Ideally, choose something light-hearted and interesting enough to take you away from the madness, but boring enough for you to drift back off to sleep.

Do any kind of meditation. That might include a short mindfulness meditation, body scan, breathwork, or visualization exercise that appeals to you. Many meditation apps (Insight Timer, Headspace, Calm) offer free meditations specifically to help you sleep. Studies show that mindfulness-based stress reduction techniques are especially effective in improving sleep quality.

Along with these strategies, neutraceuticals can help to balance your sleep. Certain micronutrients support deeper, more restful sleep. They feed your brain, adrenals, parasympathetic nervous system, and limbic system to help you sleep through the night!

What is a good alternative to melatonin?

Melatonin is a commonly used natural sleep aid, and it’s especially effective for sleep induction. 

But if you’re looking for a good alternative to melatonin, here are some of my favorite supplements for sleep duration that won’t leave you tired in the morning. 

All of these tips helped get my sleep schedule back to normal, but none of them addressed the root cause of my sleep dysfunction. So, next, we will look at a few common causes of sleep dysfunction so you can learn where to look to get a good night’s sleep.

What to Check for a Good Night’s Sleep

As a functional medicine doctor, I look for the underlying dysfunction that causes sleep disturbances. Difficulty sleeping can have many organic causes from hormonal imbalances to an overabundance of stress. Here are a few of the most common root causes that may be disturbing your sleep.

Thyroid Imbalances

Thyroid imbalances can certainly cause sleep dysfunction. A low-functioning thyroid – also known as hypothyroid – may result in you waking up in the middle of the night. Meanwhile, an overactive thyroid – hyperthyroid – may make it hard for you to fall asleep. 

Thyroid imbalances are more common than people realize, and it’s the first thing I check when my sleep is out of balance. I typically recommend a full thyroid panel (TSH, FT3, FT4, RT3) for anyone struggling with chronic sleep dysfunction.

Adrenal Dysfunction

Cortisol – the stress hormone – is another common cause of a 3 a.m. wake-up or an inability to fall asleep. Your adrenal glands secrete cortisol as part of your “flight or fight” response. Optimally, your cortisol levels are highest in the morning and lowest in the evening.   

However, your adrenals can get “stuck” in a pattern where they may spike at bedtime or in the middle of the night. Unfortunately, your cells can’t distinguish between perceived stress and a true survival emergency. 

New parents, shift workers, and medical students are especially prone to this particular form of sleep dysfunction.  As is anyone who has been burning the candle at both ends, which turns out to be many of us!

If you’re suffering from dysfunctional sleep, I recommend a salivary adrenal test.  

Low Progesterone

Another contributing factor to sleep dysfunction is progesterone deficiency. Your low progesterone may be causing your sleep dysfunction, especially when combined with other symptoms like anxiety, irritability, impatience, anger, menstrual headaches, migraines, and heavy, painful, or irregular periods.

I think of progesterone as our “zen, calm” hormone. When it decreases, we lose our patience, are more irritable, and have a hard time sleeping.

I recommend getting your progesterone levels tested on days 17-21 of your cycle. And if your levels are low, bioidentical compounded progesterone may be something to consider with your functional medicine doctor.

Low Gaba

Low GABA levels in your brain can make you more prone to anxiety and insomnia. Gaba is one of your main inhibitory neurotransmitters that calms and balances your stimulatory neurotransmitters. Ask for a GABA supplement recommendation from your functional medicine provider or PCP because many GABA supplements don’t cross the blood-brain barrier and get urinated out.

MTHFR

MTHFR is a gene that affects how your body processes the amino acids from proteins. People with a SNP (or mutation) in this gene can have trouble with methylation, a critical process in the body that helps with detoxification, hormone clearance, and neurotransmitter clearance.

Certain MTHFR SNPs (single nucleotide polymorphism) can result in a higher risk for insomnia, anxiety, fatigue, and depression. I highly recommend you work with a physician who has experience with MTHFR because taking supplements without detailed information about your genetic makeup can cause elevated anxiety or insomnia. Schedule a treatment at Boulder Holistic Functional Medicine in Boulder, Colorado as both Dr. Reidhead and myself have experience treating MTHFR.

CIRS or Mold Toxicity

One of the most common symptoms of mold toxicity is insomnia. Boulder Holistic Functional Medicine specializes in diagnosing and treating mold toxicity. Check out this article here for more information.

Lyme Disease and its Co-Infections

A common co-infection in Lyme disease is Bartonella, a bacteria that can cause retractable insomnia in some people. Borrelia, the bacteria that causes Lyme disease can also cause insomnia. For more information about functional medicine treatments for Lyme disease, check out this article here.

If this list feels overwhelming, try not to worry. Finding the root cause is simply the first step to healing your relationship with sleep. So, while it may feel like a lot of information, the more you know, the easier it will be for you to identify the causes unique to you.

Schedule with Boulder Holistic Functional Medicine

A good night’s sleep is essential for vibrant health, vitality, brain function, and happiness. As someone who has healed my relationship with sleep, I encourage everyone to find the root cause of their sleep dysfunction, whether it’s mild or severe. 

If you’d like to discover the root cause of your sleep dysfunction with Boulder Holistic Functional Medicine in Boulder, Colorado, contact us to schedule an appointment today!

Email Us

Have a question? Need to schedule an appointment? Send us an email. We'll get back to you right away.

Get Directions

2355 Canyon Blvd
Suite 102
Boulder, CO 80302

Phone Icon

Call Us

Need an appointment, prescription refill or have questions? Call us from 9:30am to 4:00pm.
303-390-1245

Dr. Terri Rebibo Fox

Dr. Terri Fox is a holistic, integrative, functional medicine doctor in Boulder, Colorado. She works on your behalf as a medical detective searching for the underlying dysfunction, instead of just treating your symptoms. She has expertise in fatigue, bio-identical hormones, sleep disorders, gastro-intestinal dysfunction, and Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome from mold toxicity and Lyme disease.

Read more from the Boulder Holistic blog:

castor oil put in face

Castor Oil: Your New Go-To For Detoxification & Flawless Skin

In a world inundated with remedies, castor oil is one that has stood the test of time. Boulder Holistic Functional Medicine highly recommends this natural remedy for detoxification and flawless skin. Castor oil has a history rooted in traditional medicine and enhanced by modern science. Ever heard of a castor oil pack? The topical application of …

Read More »
two happy women launching after a workout

Sirtuins: Your New Best Friends in the Fight Against Aging

Sirtuins are one of the seven “longevity genes” found inside your cells. These tiny enzymes are essential for regulating cell cycles and protecting your DNA. They also play a major role in cellular processes that control inflammation and metabolism. From deep within your cell, sirtuins influence…

Read More »
stomach system over the body

Revolutionizing Gut Health: The Truth About SIBO And SIFO

In the intricate world of gut health, two often misunderstood conditions stand out: Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO) and Small Intestinal Fungal Overgrowth (SIFO). SIBO and SIFO not only sound similar, they have similar symptoms including bloating, gas, and abdominal pain.

Read More »
a happy kid playing with her father

Unleashing Mitochondria Function: The Power Within

When you were in school, you probably learned about the mitochondria as the powerhouse of the cell. Every cell in your body, from your brain to your heart, has mitochondria. They convert energy from our food into a form that our body can use as energy to move, speak, think, and grow.
But what happens when your mitochondria don’t work properly? And how do you keep your mitochondria …

Read More »
a woman sleeping

Sleep: Causes of Poor Sleep & Natural Remedies For a Better Night Sleep

Do you fall asleep easily only to lie in bed wide awake at 3 a.m.? Or maybe it’s easy to fall asleep but you wake up exhausted? Do you dread bedtime because you have such a hard time sleeping? Nobody wants to stay awake in the middle of the night, mind racing through scenarios that may never come to pass. But good sleep is more than a desire – You need to sleep. Not only because sleep supports healthy digestion and detoxification, but because the world …

Read More »
spell out autoimmune disease on scrabble blocks

Low Dose Naltrexone (LDN): A Game-Changer for Autoimmune Disease & Chronic Illness

The functional medicine providers at Boulder Holistic Functional Medicine make it a point to stay up-to-date on the latest advancements in alternative treatments. Low Dose Naltrexone (LDN) is one that is increasingly popular among holistic medicine practitioners because studies have shown it has significant benefits for those suffering from autoimmune diseases and chronic …

Read More »
hair loss gathered by a comb

Exploring Hair Loss in Women: Causes, Treatments, and How to Manage It

Hair loss in women is more common than you might think. Women both young and old may have clumps of hair come out in the shower or see areas of thinning in the front or top of their head. Societal standards of beauty often center on healthy hair and skin. So now female hair loss comes with emotional strain on top of worries about potential health problems. Not to mention that stress about your looks and health can lead to high levels of cortisol, which can lead to …

Read More »
Stone stacks

Unlock the Power of Intermittent Fasting: Pros, Cons, and Secrets Revealed

Fasting is an ancient therapeutic technique that dates back to the 5th century BCE. Back then, fasting mainly was a religious practice, but it was also used to treat certain illnesses. It took the advances of modern science to reveal the many benefits of fasting for your health. Intermittent fasting is the most recent trend in fasting, a practice …

Read More »
A man looking at his elbow

What Causes Lyme Disease? The Top 5 Reasons Lyme Disease Remains Chronic

Over 300,000 Americans are diagnosed and treated for Lyme disease every year. Despite growing awareness of Lyme disease’s prevalence, the tick-borne illness often goes unnoticed. Even properly diagnosed, Lyme disease can remain in your system for years and severely affect your quality of life. The doctors at Boulder Holistic Functional Medicine in Boulder, Colorado are Lyme disease specialists who …

Read More »
herbal medicines pills in a wooden spoon

Methylation and Mental Health: Why We Should Pay Attention to Our DNA

Methylation and Mental Health: Why We Should Pay Attention to Our DNA – You might not know it, but a crucial bodily process is often overlooked when it comes to mental health. Methylation and mental health are naturally intertwined, and supporting methylation could revolutionize mental health care. Mental health disorders …

Read More »
Joint Inflamation Graph

Inflammation May Be Aging You Faster Than You Think

Inflammation May Be Aging You Faster Than You Think :: Inflammation may be aging you faster than you think and if you want to live a long, healthy, active life – decreasing your inflammation is critical. Inflammation is a natural, healthy part of the healing process. However, sometimes this inflammatory response is …

Read More »
Menopause on spell out blocks

The 3 Stages of Menopause: The Importance of Teaching Women About Menopause

When we educate ourselves about menopause, we are more capable of understanding and supporting the women in our lives who will inevitably experience menopause. If you’re a man and don’t think this article pertains to you – I urge you to read on. All of us are affected by menopause. We either go through it ourselves or watch our mothers, grandmothers, wives, and lovers experience

Read More »
hand holding a brain light figure

The Functional Medicine Approach for Improving Your Mental Health

Mental health conditions like anxiety, depression, ADD, ADHD, and PTSD are on the rise. One in five children and adults will experience any of these mental afflictions in a given year. Functional medicine offers a unique approach to mental health support. Instead of treating the symptoms, it treats the root cause of mental health. What we get wrong about mental health is looking at the …

Read More »
Membrane Power Shake Drink Duo with Blueberries

Revitalize Your Body and Mind with Membrane Supportive Power Shake

We all know what happens if we don’t change the oil in our cars, but what about the oil in our bodies? Every cell membrane in our bodies is made up of a phospholipid bi-layer and maybe even more importantly, every mitochondrion in our cells also is made up of the lipid bilayer. So what happens to the fats in our membranes over time? Exposure to …

Read More »
French press is best when making coffee enema

Benefits of Coffee Enema

The health benefits of coffee enemas may include relief from symptoms of Lyme disease, multiple chemical sensitivities, and heavy metal toxicity. There are very few toxicity-related reactions that couldn’t be stopped or tremendously reduced with a coffee enema. Coffee enema is great …

Read More »
Toxic Mold on Wall

Mold Toxicity Symptoms & Treatment

Most people have some experience with mold, but what does toxic mold look like? The black gunk in a window frame, the moldy smell in a damp basement, or the fuzz on food left in the fridge for too long.
Not all molds are inherently harmful. Some strains of mold …

Read More »
a woman smiling

Bioidentical Hormones: What Women Need to Know

We are hormonal beings. Hormones are powerful and connected to every part of your body in a beautiful, delicate balance. They control many of the body’s essential functions including your mood, energy level, survival instinct, libido, anxiety, and sleep.

Read More »
Artistic Brain, lady touching her head

Limbic Retraining for Chronic Illness

What is the limbic system and how does the limbic system function? The limbic system is the part of the brain involved in our behavioral and emotional response. Often referred to as our animal brain, the limbic system is dramatically affected by illness. It responds to illness like a smoke alarm responds to smoke or fire. It activates and stays activated until …

Read More »
Image of a a healthy gut

How to Heal Your Gut using Functional Medicine

A staggering 60 to 70 million Americans suffer from gut dysfunction. Many people with gut dysfunction don’t seek medical help, preferring to deal with symptoms of bloating, gas, heartburn, diarrhea, constipation, and nausea on their own. Others simply wait for the symptoms to pass without considering what these signs might reveal about their health. Gut dysfunction includes many common gut disorders such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), dysbiosis, parasites, small intestinal bacterial…

Read More »
causes of thyroid graph

What Causes Thyroid Problems?

According to recent estimates, about 10 million Americans suffer from an underactive thyroid. This condition, called hypothyroidism, causes several tell-tale symptoms, including fatigue, brain fog, hair loss, constipation, low mood, and temperature intolerance. What causes low thyroid? These symptoms are related to inadequate or imbalanced thyroid hormones, including high reverse T3.

Read More »

August Summer Heat Hydration Special

The heat is ON and it’s a great time to revitalize, hydrate and boost your immune system to get the most out of the last few weeks of summer before school starts. Medical grade nutritional IV’s have been found by many to help get your energy and vitality back after COVID.

Read More »

The leaves are back, the kids are out of school, it smells like flowers, summer in Colorado is here!

Boulder Holistic has an exciting announcement! Our Registered Nurse extraordinaire, Ame, is back! She will be in clinic 2-4 days per week including some Saturdays and we are offering Nutritional IV’s, blood draws, PRP (more info to come), urine and throat checks, ionic foot baths, etc. on those days. Please call the office at 303-390-1245 or email us at info@boulderholistic.com to schedule.

Read More »

Mask-acne… it’s a thing

Masks are now the new hot accessories but wearing a mask for hours a day can block the pores of your skin and put you at risk of developing acne. As healthcare providers, we know the best way to treat acne is to prevent it before it happens.

So, since mask wearing is not likely to go away for a while, it seems important to figure out how to best protect our faces and stop the pimples that masks can cause.

Read More »

Reversing Insulin Resistance

Insulin resistance is a hot topic in the health and functional medicine world. Our fast passed, high stress and inactive lifestyles put many people at risk for this undesirable condition. Luckily, insulin resistance is not only preventable, but may be reversible by making healthy diet and lifestyle changes now!

Read More »

The Latest COVID-19 Updates from Boulder Holistic

On Friday November 20th 2020, Boulder and Denver counties entered the “new red” COVID restriction levels. So what does that mean for us at Boulder Holistic?

Due to the current risk of COVID-19 infection, we are trying to do our part in slowing the spread of the coronavirus by limiting the number of face-to-face appointments per state order. We are booking appointments with our doctors via telemedicine through zoom or over the phone over the next few weeks in order to best comply with the new restrictions.

Read More »

Using Your Supplements Wisely: How to Best Protect and Heal from COVID-19

As fall turns to winter, the number of coronavirus cases in our state and the country continues to grow. Thankfully, over the past months doctors and researchers have learned more about the virus and how to best approach prevention and treatment.

Functional medicine thrives when it comes to understanding root causes of illness and how to support proper immune function. The research has shown that a step-wise approach to the coronavirus may be the best medicine.

Read More »

Fall and COVID-19

Autumn is my favorite season…it must be the Midwesterner in me. I absolutely love watching the leaves change, feeling the crispness in the air and diving headfirst into my fuzzy sweaters.

As the nights get colder, my family and I are enjoying our back yard, social distanced dinner gatherings seated near our propane fire pit, wrapped in cozy blankets. One thing quarantine has gifted me is a deep appreciation for the connections I share with close friends and family.

Read More »

Heal The Vagus Nerve and Improve Your Health

Heal The Vagus Nerve and Improve Your Health

Optimum Vagus nerve function or vagal tone is a hot topic in current research, especially as it relates to the treatment and management of chronic illness.

As practitioners, we are just now beginning to understand how important supporting this nerve is to maintaining health.

So what exactly is the Vagus nerve?

Read More »

Melatonin: Why this sleep-inducing hormone is a surprise hero in COVID-19

Many of us are familiar with the use of melatonin for better sleep, but did you know that melatonin might also be helpful in managing some of the symptoms of a COVID-19 infection?

Over the past few months, we have learned more and more about this new virus. Much of what we know about those individuals who become very sick from COVID-19 is the devastating effects this virus has on the lungs and respiratory system. Many of those who become hospitalized with coronavirus end up there because the inflammation in the lungs is so great that they are no longer able to get enough oxygen on their own.

Read More »

We Are Here For You!

Boulder Holistic is dedicated to providing the best possible service to you and your family during this crucial time. We are excited to announce that we will be re-opening for IV therapy and blood draws on Wednesday and Friday through the month of June.

Read More »

Allergies in the time of COVID-19

There’s bad news and there is good news this allergy season.

Many of the symptoms of seasonal allergies can be mistaken for signs and symptoms of other upper respiratory infections including COVID-19. Many symptoms include runny nose, stuffy nose, red eyes, scratchy throat, cough, tight chest and sneezing.

Read More »

Up The Nose

COVID Prevention AND great for allergy season too!
One great way to help prevent the seeding of a virus into upper respiratory tract is by sinus rinsing. Sinus rinse and prevent viral infection, improve allergies and neurodetoxification!

Read More »

What the Heck is EMF?

What Exactly is EMF? Electromagnetic Fields (EMF) are a form of non-ionizing radiation (their frequency is somewhere between microwaves and radio waves). This radiation is

Read More »

Tired of feeling so tired?

Spent. Haggard. Beat. There’s no end to the words we can use to describe being tired, especially in today’s hyperspeed cyber world. My personal favorite?

Read More »