Health Specialist » sleep problems

Affordable Non-Drug solution to Insomnia

Health Specialist — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 21:08:00 +0000

Up until recently, there were four choices for persons with Insomnia. These were

1. Do nothing, suffer and hope it’ll get better with time. This is the sad choice of many, and it doesn’t work. They most often get worse.

2. Start taking one of the huge advertised array of drugs, and then often taking other drugs hoping to solve the side effects as they show up. This is known as the drug side effect chain. My ex-wife once ended up taking six different drugs in this way, and the end effect was that she got worse instead of better – a not uncommon result

3. Pay exorbitant amounts of money for EEG Biofeedback Neurofeedback training. This has been the best solution up to now. The overall success rate with good and bad clinicians is considered to be about 85. But, the cost of 60 recommended half hour sessions with a “professional” at 4500 to over 10,000 is above the ability of most mid and low income families.

4. Try various allergy clinics to try to find the allergysensitivity responsible, and also do all the various tests for mineral toxicity mercury, copper, arsenic, cadmium, etc. This is also pretty expensive, with the very best system End Point Titration costing upwards of 10,000. For more info on EPT, see www.Alternate-Health.comallergy.html.

Now, there’s another choice. I invented a new method of changing brain wave amplitude up or down that is similar to EEG BF, but is inexpensive enough to give mid and low income families a choice besides expensive and dangerous drugs. It’s auditory messaging used mostly during sleep. Instead of changing behavior as is “usual” with this technique, it does the same thing that EEG biofeedback neurofeedback does, i.e. it raises the SMR brain wave 12-14 cycles per second – Hz, while lowering the Theta brain wave 4-8 Hz at the same time.

For those who aren’t familiar with EEG BF, this is the most effective brain training mechanism that best solves this particular brain problem. It also solves ADHD, insomnia, IBS, epilepsy, and even many cases of schizophrenia. There is substantial proof of this effectiveness of EEG BF, and a summary of professional papers can be found at
.

In my former practice as an Orthomolecular Psychologist, I had used auditory messaging with good success, and in 2004, I realized that it should be possible to use this technique to do the same thing that was done by the expensive EEG Bf units and a computer. Instead of going thru the conscious mind of the “trainee” to affect the unconscious, why not go directly to the unconscious mind?

After more than two years, three clinical trials, and extensive testing utilizing volunteers who paid for the right to participate, I proved the following

1. The Bate Auditory Brainwave Training Patent Pending Is very similar to EEG BF and accomplishes the same basic brain training with these following minor differences

a. It compares with one night sleep being almost equivalent to one half hour session. Individuality is part of the picture of course, but in our tests of 11 persons suffering from insomnia, all except one got dramatic results within a few weeks, and in some cases a few days. That one was in the original tests, and was frightened by the Hawthorne Effect see below, and quit using the system.

b. It seems that there is more possibility of a Hawthorne Effect in this training than in EEG BF training. For more info on this Effect see .

In the last test, this possible effect was discussed beforehand and warned about, and while it occurred in a few cases, it did not deter any of the volunteers, as it had done in earlier testing. This is NOT a dangerous “side effect” such as can be caused by all drugs! It can cause minor discomfort in a few individuals for only a day or so at worst.

c. Motivation is no longer a huge factor as it is in EEG BF. Both the parents
and the child have to motivated to continue long weeks of training, and if the training is stopped before an end point, some, or most, of the gain is lost.

2. This system costs under 200, and that is a one-time fee only. It can be used for as long as it takes. With Autistic children, it can take up to 200 EEG BF sessions. The system is composed of two basic CD’s. The first is the actual Audio Training program, playable on any CD player, boom box, etc. The second CD is a computer disk that has several other programs useful as adjuncts to this training. This includes a free allergysensitivity test, a free bottle of amino acid supplement that has a calming effect, and several articles on alternate health therapies that have been shown to be of help for all types of brain problems.

3. There is also a year’s full money back guarantee of success. If any person tries this for at least 60 days, and then states that there has been no significant improvement they will receive a full rebate including shipping and handling which is included in the price.

Now, even the low and mid income families have a choice that doesn’t force them to do nothing or to try andor use dangerous drugs.

Phil Bate PhD – Retired Orthomolecular Psychologist
Inventor and Patent Pending Holder for
Brain Wave Amplitude Changing via Auditory Training

A Sleep Study – What to Expect

Health Specialist — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 05:56:00 +0000

When sleep apnea is suspected a sleep study is recommended in most cases. It is a very good tool to collect comprehensive information about somebodys sleep pattern.

Multiple data channels will record certain physiological parameters taken from your sleeping body. These are blood oxygen saturation, airflow through your nose, chest effort, muscle tension, eye movement, and brain activity.

A number of electrodes and other sensors will be attached to your head and chest, like during a routine EKG. The study usually takes place in a specially equipped room called a sleep lab in a hospital or a sleep clinic. You will be asked to bring your regular sleeping supplies.

When you show up in the lab you will learn all you need to know about the study, you will also have a chance to ask all the questions you may have. The whole procedure is rather relaxing, there is no pain or risk involved. The technician that will work with you wants you to feel comfortable and relaxed so you can have as good a sleep as possible.

The only complication being that, as mentioned before, there will be several electrodes and sensors attached to various places on your body that may be slightly uncomfortable and may limit your freedom of movement.

Once you are in bed all the wires and tubings will be connected to the recording equipment. Usually it is located across the wall in the neighboring room so you are not disturbed by its operation.

At any time if you need to leave the bed the study will be stopped and you will be allowed to leave the room, it will just take a minute to disconnect you from the equipment. Even if you are not able to sleep through the night they will usually collect enough data to come up with a diagnosis.

Most people who have sleep apnea are sleep depraved and fall asleep easily. There will also be a camera and a microphone in the room so the position, movements, and sounds of your body during sleep can be correlated with the recorded data.

Once the study is over all sensors and electrodes will be deattached and you will be free to go home. Within a day or two your study will be scored and the results reviewed by a doctor specializing in sleep disorders.

If the study reveals that you have sleep apnea your doctor will choose the best treatment option based on the severity of your disease and other factors including medical insurance and personal preference.

For more information on Sleep Apnea go to

Can’t Get Enough on Insomnia

Health Specialist — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 00:36:00 +0000

Everyone needs to sleep, one of the primary functions of sleep is to reset and replenish the emotional capacity of our brain circuits so we can approach the day’s emotional challenges in appropriate ways. However, there are the unfortunate ones who go through annoying sleep problems.

Sleep problems are a highly common medical issue that affects millions of people each year. While some people suffer from mild sleeping problems, such as occasional nightmare, others have extremely severe sleep disorders that can negatively affect their health, if it left untreated. This astonishing number means that a huge number of people aren’t getting the treatment they need, putting them in danger of permanently damaging their health. If one doesn’t get enough sleep, he or she will eventually make irrational choices due to lack of concentration. If this lack of sleep constantly hounds a person, he or she might be having some sort of a sleeping disorder such as insomnia.

Insomnia is a condition in which a person have trouble falling or staying asleep. Some people with insomnia may be able to get asleep fast but they just as easily wake up. Other people may have the opposite problem, or they have trouble with both falling asleep and staying asleep. The end result is poor-quality sleep that doesnt leave one feeling refreshed when he or she wakes up.

Insomnia includes any combination of difficulty with falling asleep, staying asleep, intermittent wakefulness and early-morning awakening. Episodes may be transient, short term or chronic. Insomnia may also result from psychological or physical causes. The most common psychological problems include anxiety, stress, and depression. Many people will have insomnia during the acute phases of a mental illness. Other medical conditions that trigger insomnia are chronic pain syndromes, congestive heart failure, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease COPD or Alzheimer’s Disease.

Common stimulants associated with poor sleep include caffeine and nicotine. One should consider not only restricting caffeine use in the hours immediately before bedtime but also limiting the total daily intake. People often use alcohol to help induce sleep, as a nightcap. However, it is a poor choice. Alcohol is associated with sleep disruption and creates a sense of non-refreshed sleep in the morning. A disruptive bed partner with loud snoring or periodic leg movements also may impair one’s ability to get a good night’s sleep.

Insomnia can be mild to severe depending on how often it occurs and for how long. Chronic insomnia means having symptoms at least three nights per week for more than a month. Insomnia that lasts for less time is known as short-term or acute insomnia. Secondary insomnia often resolves or improves without treatment if an individual can eliminate its cause. This is especially true if the problem can be corrected soon after it starts.

Fortunately, there are treatments for insomnia that can help put a person back on the path to a good nights sleep. There are cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia CBT-I, hypnotics FDA approved medications for insomnia, and other treatments such as low dose antidepressant medications.

Better sleep habits and lifestyle changes often help relieve insomnia. One may need to see a doctor or sleep specialist to get the best relief for insomnia that is persistent or for which the cause of the sleep problem is unclear.