Resource Roundup: Integrative Interventions to Promote Better Sleep

Photo Cred: Gladskikh Tatiana/Shutterstock

By Avery St. Onge

As patients shift from summer vacation back to their regular routines, sleep issues often become more noticeable, especially for children and teens adjusting to new school schedules. The good news is that there are many integrative strategies to optimize sleep that are easy to implement and don’t rely on harsh pharmaceuticals.

In this article, we’ve curated our top resources on integrative interventions, providing you with the tools to tailor the best sleep protocols for your patients. Explore our insights on treating specific sleep disorders, proper dosing of herbal sleep supplements, enhancing sleep hygiene practices, and more.

Why Sleep is Essential for Disease Prevention, An Integrative Sleep Doctor Explains

Sleep problems are direct, modifiable risk factors for the top ten causes of death and disability around the world, said Shane Creado, MD, at the 2023 Integrative Healthcare Symposium in New York City.

“Sleep is a weapon,” said Creado. “It’s your variable fountain of youth. And it’s the difference between disability and great quality of life.”

In his presentation, Creado, a sleep medicine doctor and psychiatrist trained in integrative and functional medicine, described sleep as a “cornerstone of integrative medicine” and detailed the crucial role that it plays in preventing disease.

To read more, click here.

Clinical Benefits of Sleeping in Natural Light

Over the years, there has been an increased interest in the health benefits of nature exposure. Time in nature has been shown to improve stress levels, mental health, decision-making, and even coping with chronic pain or disease. Recently, research has shown nature can also have a profound effect on patients’ sleep.

Researchers from the University of Colorado Boulder have done a series of groundbreaking work looking nature and its impact on sleep. They first monitored people for one week on their self-selected schedule during their regular routine in the constructed environment. The participants then went tent camping for a week in the summer, still on their self-selected schedule, but with only natural light., meaning sunlight and campfires with no personal electronic devices, flashlights, or other electrical light sources.

To read more, click here.

How to Help Kids Get More Sleep with Whole Person Health

Lawrence Rosen, MD, joins Integrative Practitioner associate editor, Avery St. Onge, to discuss how individual and structural changes involving whole health principles can help improve the sleep of children as well as their mental, emotional, and physical health.

To listen, click here.

Journal Excerpt: Understanding Sleep and Sleep Disorders in Clinical Practice

Sleep is an essential part of our everyday lives and can have a significant impact on health. It takes up one-third of the day and needs to be understood and respected for the importance it brings to our patients. There are many sleep disorders that have been recognized and are too numerous to review in this article. A detailed explanation of all sleep disorders can be found in the classification of sleep disorders, well-outlined by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine. 

To read more, click here.

Integrative Support for Unconventional Sleep Patterns

While society has largely adapted to the conveniences of a 24-hour lifestyle, there are tremendous implications to human health. Patients who commute work unconventional hours that interfere with a natural sleep cycle may struggle maintaining a normal schedule, and as a result present with numerous health concerns. Integrative practitioners are uniquely positioned to address sleep as part of a larger whole-person protocol for these patients.  

To read more, click here.

Sleep in Patient Protocols: An Integrative Medicine Case Study

In this case study report, we review a sleep disorder patient and how he interacts with three specialists in sleep, mental health, and nutrition. Featuring expert perspectives from Catherine Darley, ND, Kristen Allott, ND, LAc, and Kate Garden, BSc(Hons), Dip ION, IFMCP, the authors walk the reader through integrative sleep protocol in practice.

To learn more, click here.

Applying Naturopathic Modalities to Sleep Medicine

Catherine Darley, ND, joins Integrative Practitioner associate editor, Avery St. Onge, to discuss the most common sleep disorders, ways to improve sleep with natural medicine, and the growing research behind circadian rhythm.

To listen, click here.