INSOMNIA
Insomnia is defined as a persistent difficulty or inability to fall or stay asleep. It can typically present in one of three ways: delayed sleep onset, frequent awakenings during the sleep cycle, or early morning arousal(waking early and being unable to go back to sleep). Sleep disorders may be due to imbalances in neurotransmitter levels, hormone levels, vitamin/mineral deficiencies or gut dysbiosis. You may be wondering how poor gut function can possibly affect sleep. The connection lies in serotonin, a precursor to melatonin. Up to ninety five percent of serotonin is made by bacteria in a healthy gut, if you have an unhealthy gut(bad bacteria out numbering the good bacteria, SIBO, SIFO, GERD, leaky gut, etc…) the amount of serotonin will be lower, leading to lower melatonin(the hormone that regulates sleep).
Functional Medicine approaches insomnia by utilizing comprehensive testing to identify which imbalances are contributing to a patient’s insomnia and then systematically addresses these factors by rebalancing the body to healthier levels through dietary and lifestyle changes and specific targeted nutraceuticals.