Sleeplessness | AdventAI

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Oct 22, 1885

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 11, No. 40.

Sleeplessness.

Druggists tell us that there is a growing demand for various medicines and preparations containing opiates in one shape or another. People wreck their nervous systems by injudicious habits of life, and the result is unsound sleep, dyspepsia, and countless other evils. A little advice to such persons may not be out of place. They should of course be careful to abandon that method of life which brings them into physical disorder. Their complaint may be fed by tobacco; narcotics should be avoided. One cause of their trouble may be that they take insufficient outdoor exercise. Perhaps they drink too much tea or coffee, or eat too much flesh meat. There are a thousand practices allowed by convention which are in themselves harmful and prejudicial to the health.

The quality of sleep may be improved by diminishing the length of time spent in bed. A hot shower bath at bed-time cleanses the skin and predisposes to sleep. Many a toiling business or literary man goes to bed tired and worn out, only to toss from one side to another. His brain is hot and full of blood, while his feet are cold. He thinks over again the thoughts that have been engaging his attention during the day, or does over again the business that has called forth his energies for twelve or sixteen hours past. His night is a round of tossing to and fro. Is there any wonder that, failing to find out what is the true and natural remedy for his pains, he resorts to opiates, which he knows will give him temporary relief?

There is one sure and safe way to remedy his pains. If, after leaving work, he would take a brisk walk of a mile or two before going to bed, and then, after the walk, would hold his head under a stream of cold water, he would find relief—that is, supposing he does this when he is first troubled with sleepless nights. But no; if he lives half a mile or more from his work, he takes a car home, and, throwing off his clothes, goes to bed as quickly as possible.

The want of balance between mental and physical labor is a fruitful cause of sleeplessness. Many a business man, whose duties keep him in an office all day, would improve his health a great deal if he were to fit up his attic as a carpenter's shop and spend an hour therein after supper. This of course would be beneficial only if he happened to have a liking for mechanics; then he would find his occupation afforded him amusement, mental occupation, and muscular effort in just the proper proportions.—Herald of Health.