Sleep troubles: Why It Happens And What You Can Do

castor oil packs, gut health, hormonal health, Hormone Imbalance, Liver Detox, mindfulness, relaxation, Sleep, stress, Tired eyes | 2 comments

Sleep troubles: Why It Happens And What You Can Do

Written by: Melanie Swackhammer Melanie Swackhammer Copy Manager
Melanie has always had an interest in writing educational content about health and wellness, which originally sparked while working for Diva International Inc., makers of the DivaCup.
Full bio

Medically reviewed by: Victoria Williams R.H.N.

Est. reading time: 5 minutes.

Have you ever asked yourself, “why do I keep having sleep troubles?”

You toss and turn in your bed, waiting for sleep to find you. Or your mind is racing, and it seems impossible for you to sleep. Can you relate?

And the result: daytime drowsiness, fatigue, or lack of concentration. It’s frustrating, right?

Well, you aren’t alone. Millions of people around the globe have trouble going to bed.¹ The only silver lining is that it’s possible to promote restful sleep by making small changes or using self-care tools.

And while you’re here, would you love to know how tried and true natural health tools, like Castor Oil Packs can help you sleep well?

This eGuide includes all the details you need!

DOWNLOAD YOUR FREE SLEEP WELL EGUIDE

However, before diving into the tips, let’s understand the importance of sleep.

Why can’t you sleep?

Having sleeping troubles can be really confusing and frustrating, especially if you don’t know that sleep patterns can differ from person to person.² But, you’re not alone because sleep problems can easily be put under the same umbrella.

Have you ever heard the saying, ‘march to the beat of your own drum’? Well, you have a unique pattern and rhythm in your bodies that truly march to your own unique beats.³

You see, your body has a set cycle, and many of your functions follow this rhythm.

This is especially true when looking at your:

Stools (yes, we’re talking about the good ‘ol number 2)
Sleep
Stress

So, when thinking about your sleep duration and the quality of your sleep, it makes sense that your sleep patterns are just as unique as you are. Make sense?

Sleeping well is based on balanced hormones and neurotransmitters like melatonin, cortisol, oxytocin, and GABA.⁴

The timing of how you sleep (or can’t sleep) may actually show you which hormones or neurotransmitters you’re lacking, or have too much of!

Sleep problems and their link to hormone imbalance by Queen of the Thrones

Could your sleep pattern be responsible for why you can’t sleep?

You’re probably familiar with the popular social references of being a ‘night owl’ or ‘morning glory’, right?

You see, we each have naturally ingrained rhythms. Understanding your sleep patterns and your body’s natural rhythm is important because that’s what sets up your body’s ability to cleanse, and the majority of your body’s cleansing happens while you sleep.

So, let’s dive into the 4 types of sleepers.⁵

Sleeper type # 1: Can’t fall asleep

You try to go to bed, but you toss and turn, unable to fall asleep no matter how late it gets.

Sleeper type # 2: Can’t stay asleep

Sure, you can fall asleep, but somehow you always seem to wake up in the middle of the night to either pee or for no reason at all.

Sleeper type # 3: Tired but wired

Your body feels tired, and you go to bed, but then you toss and turn all night. Annoying, right?

Sleeper type # 4: Overall anxious

So you might be tired, but it’s almost like that tired feeling is completely taken over by your anxiety, and all you can feel is tingling all over and pounding in your chest.

What can you do about your sleep problems?

Do you see yourself in any of these types of sleepers?

Start by…

Having a consistent daily sleep routine: It’s ideal to sleep and wake up at the same time every day.
Being active: Regular exercise supports melatonin production, your sleep hormone.6 It can also sync your other body systems with your circadian rhythm.
Avoiding caffeine in the evening: Caffeine is a stimulant that can keep you awake.
Limiting screen time: The blue light from your tablet/cellphone alters your melatonin production, disrupting your circadian rhythm.⁷
Wearing a Castor Oil Eye Compress to bed: Using this compress makes you feel relaxed as your Eye Compress gently blocks out distracting lights and makes you feel sleepy because it supports melatonin production.^8,9,10
Wearing a Castor Oil Pack for Liver: The gentle compression of the cotton flannel compress against your skin has a calming effect on your nervous system which promotes the production of your “feel good” hormones dopamine^11,12 and oxytocin.^13,14,15

The release of oxytocin creates a feeling of trust and safety in the body and reduces stress.¹⁶ This lowers cortisol and allows melatonin to be released and that helps us fall asleep.

Learn about the consequences of bad sleeping with Queen of the Thrones

You see, many factors can affect the natural flow of our bodies, so be gentle with yourself if you feel like your sleep patterns are off. Understanding your unique sleep pattern helps you know why your bodies do what they do.

The good news is, we’ve created a guide for you so you can be on your way to not only understanding your sleep patterns but also knowing about factors affecting your sleep pattern and how you can manage your sleep problems with Castor Oil Packs.

Would you love that?

GET YOUR FREE SLEEP EGUIDE

While you’re still here, would love to start the New Year with a tried & true 7-day food-based, supplement-free cleanse so you can cleanse naturally, sleep better, reduce cravings, and enhance your energy?

Well, the 7-day Genesis Cleanse (a Mediterranean Castor Oil Pack cleanse) is back by popular demand so you can help balance your body, mind & spirit by having the tools you need to guide you on how to cleanse better naturally.

The best part? You’re invited to register for The Genesis Cleanse before registration closes on December 31st!

Would you love to learn more before registration closes?

YES, I WANT TO LEARN MORE!

Are you a practitioner, health coach or wellness influencer? If you’re interested in recommending our easy-to-use tools and practically applying them in your health and wellness professional practice, in clinic, or online with the people you serve, you can join now!

CLICK HERE TO JOIN!

Click here for references

Sleep Foundation. What To Do When You Can’t Sleep. Available from: https://www.sleepfoundation.org/insomnia/treatment/what-do-when-you-cant-sleep on 13 Dec 2022

Jawabri KH, Raja A. Physiology, Sleep Patterns. [Updated 2022 May 8]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2022 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK551680/

3. Duboc H, Coffin B, Siproudhis L. Disruption of Circadian Rhythms and Gut Motility: An Overview of Underlying Mechanisms and Associated Pathologies. J Clin Gastroenterol. 2020 May/Jun;54(5):405-414. doi: 10.1097/MCG.0000000000001333. PMID: 32134798; PMCID: PMC7147411.

4. Ono D, Honma KI, Honma S. GABAergic mechanisms in the suprachiasmatic nucleus that influence circadian rhythm. J Neurochem. 2021 Apr;157(1):31-41. doi: 10.1111/jnc.15012. Epub 2020 Jul 3. PMID: 32198942.

5. MedicalNewsToday. What is biphasic and polyphasic sleep? Available from: https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/319425

6. Kruk J, Aboul-Enein BH, Duchnik E. Exercise-induced oxidative stress and melatonin supplementation: current evidence. J Physiol Sci. 2021 Sep 1;71(1):27. doi: 10.1186/s12576-021-00812-2. PMID: 34470608; PMCID: PMC8409271.

7. Bonmati-Carrion MA, Arguelles-Prieto R, Martinez-Madrid MJ, Reiter R, Hardeland R, Rol MA, Madrid JA. Protecting the melatonin rhythm through circadian healthy light exposure. Int J Mol Sci. 2014 Dec 17;15(12):23448-500. doi: 10.3390/ijms151223448. PMID: 25526564; PMCID: PMC4284776.

8. Miller MA, Renn BN, Chu F, Torrence N. Sleepless in the hospital: A systematic review of non-pharmacological sleep interventions. Gen Hosp Psychiatry. 2019 Jul-Aug;59:58-66. doi: 10.1016/j.genhosppsych.2019.05.006. Epub 2019 May 24. PMID: 31170567; PMCID: PMC6620136.

Rong-fang Hu, Xiao-ying Jiang, Yi-ming Zeng, Xiao-yang Chen, You-hua Zhang. Effects of earplugs and eye masks on nocturnal sleep, melatonin and cortisol in a simulated intensive care unit environment. Published online 2010 Apr 18. PMID: 20398302.

10. Khoddam H, Maddah SA, Rezvani Khorshidi S, Zaman Kamkar M, Modanloo M. The effects of earplugs and eye masks on sleep quality of patients admitted to coronary care units: A randomised clinical trial. J Sleep Res. 2022 Apr;31(2):e13473.doi: 10.1111/jsr.13473. Epub 2021 Sep 12. PMID: 34514653.

11. Francis S, Rolls ET, Bowtell R, McGlone F, O’Doherty J, Browning A, Clare S, Smith E. The representation of pleasant touch in the brain and its relationship with taste and olfactory areas. Neuroreport. 1999 Feb 25;10(3):453-9. PMID: 10208571 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10208571

12. Löken LS, Wessberg J, Morrison I, McGlone F, Olausson H. Coding of pleasant touch by unmyelinated afferents in humans. Nat Neurosci. 2009 May;12(5):547-8. Epub 2009 Apr 12. PMID: 19363489

13. Walker SC1, Trotter PD2, Swaney WT2, Marshall A3, Mcglone FP4. C-tactile afferents: Cutaneous mediators of oxytocin release during affiliative tactile interactions? Neuropeptides. 2017 Aug;64:27-38. doi: 10.1016/j.npep.2017.01.001. Epub 2017 Jan 19. PMID: 28162847 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28162847.

14. Rolls ET et all. Representations of pleasant and painful touch in the human orbitofrontal and cingulate cortices. Cereb Cortex. 2003 Mar;13(3):308-17. PMID: 12571120 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12571120

15. Carter CS, Kenkel WM, MacLean EL, Wilson SR, Perkeybile AM, Yee JR, Ferris CF, Nazarloo HP, Porges SW, Davis JM, Connelly JJ, Kingsbury MA. Is Oxytocin “Nature’s Medicine”? Pharmacol Rev. 2020 Oct;72(4):829-861. doi: 10.1124/pr.120.019398. PMID: 32912963; PMCID: PMC7495339.

16. Uvnas-Moberg K1, Petersson M.[Oxytocin, a mediator of anti-stress, well-being, social interaction, growth and healing]. Z Psychosom Med Psychother. 2005;51(1):57-80. PMID: 15834840 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15834840

Disclaimer

Disclaimer: Any opinions, advice, statements, services, offers, information or content expressed or made available by third parties, including information providers, are those of the respective authors or distributors. Neither Queen of the Thrones® nor any third-party provider of information guarantees the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any content. This communication does not create a doctor-patient relationship. Information provided does not replace the advice of your health care practitioner. If you happen to purchase anything we promote, in this or any of our communications, it’s likely Queen of the Thrones® will receive some kind of affiliate compensation. Still, we only promote content and products that we truly believe in and share with our friends, family and patients. If you ever have a concern with anything we share, please let us know at care@queenofthethrones.com. We want to make sure we are always serving Our Queendom at the highest level.

3 Ways Castor Oil Packs Can Help You Sleep Better

castor oil, castor oil packs, health, Inflamed eyes, Itchy eyes, mindfulness, Other, relaxation, Sleep, Sore eyes, Spleen qi deficiency, stress, Tired eyes, wellness | 0 comments

3 Ways to Improve your Sleep with Queen of the Thrones Castor Oil Packs

3 Ways Castor Oil Packs Can Help You Sleep Better

Written by: Annika Carroll Sleep Expert, CEO of Sleep Like a Boss
Medically reviewed by: Melanie Swackhammer. B.A.

Est. reading time: 12 minutes.

Are you struggling to find support for sleeping problems?

Does it take you forever to shut your eyes?

Do you wake up between 1 and 4 am with a racing mind and it takes you forever to fall back asleep? Keep reading because we’re going to explore the 3 ways Castor Oil Packs can support you and your sleep.

So, you’re exhausted and can’t keep up with your kids because you have nothing left at the end of the day, right?

Has your performance at work and your relationships started to suffer?

You’ve Googled “sleeping problems” and “sleeping solutions” and tried everything you could find to help you sleep.

All you want is to:

Fall asleep faster

Get a good night’s rest

Start your day full of energy

And have your kids get tired before you do

Chronic sleep deprivation is a major problem in today’s world

Queen of the Thrones recommend to sleep well to properly recharge

And it is not talked about enough.

Working to exhaustion is still ingrained in a lot of us, agreed?

Throughout my journey and studies, the one thing I have learnt about sleep is…

The ability of the body to get a good night’s sleep depends on two things:

A rested mind and a healthy body.

And that is where I have found Castor Oil Packs to be a great addition to my personal and my clients’ toolbox.

So, let’s explore 3 ways Queen of the Thrones® Castor Oil Packs for Liver and Castor Oil Eye Compresses can be used to…

support your nervous system,
reduce inflammation &
support your liver health.

Because all these are foundational for a good night’s sleep. Makes sense, right?

1. Can Castor Oil Packs Calm Down your Nervous System?

Are you stressed to the max?

Falling asleep in a stressed state is impossible.

You see, our bodies need to feel safe to calm down and fall asleep.

If we are stressed, our body releases cortisol – a stress hormone also known as the “awake hormone”.

We need good amounts of cortisol to get going in the morning and have energy throughout the day.

However, cortisol signals the brain to suppress melatonin – the hormone that makes us feel sleepy.

So if our cortisol levels are too high at night, we might have sleeping problems like falling asleep.

And how can Castor Oil Packs help with this?

Well, the connection of the organic cotton sherpa to the skin of a Castor Oil Pack for Liver has a calming effect on your nervous system which promotes the production of your “feel good” hormones:

Dopamine and oxytocin.

Improve your health and support of Feel Good Neurotransmitters with Queen of the Thrones Castor Oil Packs

It’s like when someone gives you a hug or a cuddle.^1-2 Sounds wonderful, agreed? The release of oxytocin creates a feeling of trust and safety in the body and reduces stress.³ This lowers cortisol and allows melatonin to be released and that helps us fall asleep. How about a Castor Oil Pack for your eyes? I’m talking about a Castor Oil Eye Compress. Research shows that wearing a Castor Oil Eye Compress naturally reduces anxiety¹⁴ and increases melatonin^15-16-17 so you can fall asleep and stay asleep. Amazing, right?

LEARN HERE HOW TO IMPROVE YOUR SLEEP

2. Castor Oil Packs Reduce inflammation in your body

Inflammation is your body’s response to an invader such as bacteria or viruses, infections or injuries.

Think of a paper cut on your finger.

That’s an acute inflammation your body is trying to heal.

Symptoms like leaky gut, diarrhea, constipation, bloating, joint pain & fatigue can be symptoms of a so-called chronic inflammation.

But how does your body fight this inflammation? With cortisol!

Cortisol is not only a stress hormone, it’s also an anti-inflammatory.

So, whether you have a paper cut or leaky gut, your body uses cortisol to fight inflammation to help you heal.

In an acute case (the paper cut) this is great.

But, chronic low-grade inflammation can become one of the saboteurs of good sleep.

In this case, the body releases cortisol to fight inflammation during the day and night.

This suppresses the release of melatonin leading to sleep problems.

Fluctuations of the Rest and Alert Hormone by Queen of the Thrones

How do Castor Oil Packs help regulate inflammation?

Research shows that Castor Oil works as an anti-inflammatory when applied to the skin, because of the ricinoleic acid component⁴.

This way it can help lower inflammation^5-6, which leads to less cortisol being released at the wrong times.

So, by applying Castor Oil Packs before you sleep you’re regulating inflammation by…

Promoting lymphatic drainage^12-13 with your Liver Pack & Eye Compress.
Reducing stress^7-8-9-10 that creates inflammation in your body.
Supporting gentle liver detox¹¹ with your Castor Oil Pack for Liver.

Sounds good, agreed?

3. How does my liver impact my sleep?

Another sleep saboteur can be an overburdened liver.

The liver’s job is to rid our body of toxins.

What kind of toxins?

Alcohol
Pesticides
Medication
Synthetic and used-up natural hormones
BPAs from plastics
Chemicals in body lotions and cleaning products
Food additives, and and and…

According to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), our liver is most active between 1 and 3 am.

Are you waking up at this time on a regular basis?

Well, your liver might be in need of some love.

If the toxic load the liver needs to clear gets too high, the liver can become overtaxed.

Contributors can be excess hormones, especially estrogen and cortisol, and/or toxins released from a pathogen in your gut or food sensitivities.

When the liver needs support, it triggers your body to release cortisol.

And elevated cortisol levels at night cause – again – sleeping problems.

Castor Oil Packs can help your liver!

A Castor Oil Pack for Liver worn overnight can work wonders for sleep solutions. This technique has been around since the late 19th century and is widely used in the naturopathic community. First the action of ricinoleic acid penetrating the skin to support the liver in its efforts to get rid of toxins while you sleep! Then, the combination of both the Liver Pack and Eye Compress naturally enhances nightly melatonin production for a deeper sleep. And the application of the Castor Oil Packs weighted with Castor Oil help with anxiety relief and promotes calm. So you can sleep better! Sounds good, right?

IMPROVE YOUR SLEEP EXPERIENCE WITH THIS FREE EGUIDE

“But Annika, I am so tired, I don’t really want to try anything new and messy.”

I hear you. And I had similar concerns.

I discovered Castor Oil about two years ago.

I was intrigued and willing to try almost anything to get better sleep.

But when someone on social media ruined their couch by staining it with Castor Oil, I kind of lost my excitement.

This oil is so rich and sticky, that it can be really messy.

But I had read about it and after my osteopath recommended it for my c-section scar I started researching it.

It just seemed so much work to buy organic flannel, sit there with a towel wrapped over it – and get everything all messy.

And then I came across Queen of Thrones® Castor Oil Packs for Liver.

The easiest, fastest and cleanest way to do Castor Oil Packs.

Yes, they can still stain a little, so I wouldn’t sleep in my favorite nighties when I wear the pack.

I use my liver packs most nights and a lot of my clients use them too with great success.

Most of us have livers that can use a little bit of love.

And just that is sometimes enough to get better sleep.

So if you’re looking for a sleep solution tool that can help calm nervousness or anxiety and support your sleep, try a…

Queen of Thrones® Castor Oil Pack on your liver.
Plus a Queen of Thrones® Castor Oil Eye Compress on your eyes.

Here’s to a good night’s rest and to your kids getting tired before you do.

IMPROVE YOUR SLEEP EXPERIENCE WITH THIS FREE EGUIDE

To learn more about “How to support the rhythm of your day and night detox cycle” read here.

CLICK HERE TO JOIN!

Annika Carroll Bio

Annika Carroll is the CEO of Sleep Like a Boss, an international network of Sleep Coaches who help insomniacs who want to sleep but can’t.

Annika is a former HR Manager and a special needs mom, who has recovered from burnout and anxiety twice in the last 5 years. She was a Type A stress addict, who rode on adrenaline and cortisol for years ignoring her body’s signals like a pro. Today she helps ambitious women as a Sleep and Health Coach to get their energy & sleep back and avoid burnout.

Social links:

www.instagram.com/_annikacarroll/

Website:

www.sleeplikeaboss.com

Annika Carroll Queen of the Thrones affiliate

Click here for references

1 & 7. Walker SC, Trotter PD, Swaney WT, Marshall A, Mcglone FP. C-tactile afferents: Cutaneous mediators of oxytocin release during affiliative tactile interactions? Neuropeptides. 2017 Aug;64:27-38. doi: 10.1016/j.npep.2017.01.001. Epub 2017 Jan 19. PMID: 28162847.

2. Inga D. Neumann, Oxytocin: The Neuropeptide of Love Reveals Some of Its Secrets, Cell Metabolism, Volume 5, Issue 4, 2007, Pages 231-233, ISSN 1550-4131, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cmet.2007.03.008.

3. Carter CS, Kenkel WM, MacLean EL, Wilson SR, Perkeybile AM, Yee JR, Ferris CF, Nazarloo HP, Porges SW, Davis JM, Connelly JJ, Kingsbury MA. Is Oxytocin “Nature’s Medicine”? Pharmacol Rev. 2020 Oct;72(4):829-861. doi: 10.1124/pr.120.019398. PMID: 32912963; PMCID: PMC7495339.

4 & 6. Vieira C, Evangelista S, Cirillo R, Lippi A, Maggi CA, Manzini S. Effect of ricinoleic acid in acute and subchronic experimental models of inflammation. Mediators Inflamm. 2000;9(5):223-8. doi: 10.1080/09629350020025737. PMID: 11200362; PMCID: PMC1781768.

5. Boddu SH, Alsaab H, Umar S, Bonam SP, Gupta H, Ahmed S. Anti-inflammatory effects of a novel ricinoleic acid poloxamer gel system for transdermal delivery. Int J Pharm. 2015 Feb 1;479(1):207-11. doi: 10.1016/j.ijpharm.2014.12.051. Epub 2014 Dec 24. PMID: 25542985.

8. Rolls ET et all. Representations of pleasant and painful touch in the human orbitofrontal and cingulate cortices. Cereb Cortex. 2003 Mar;13(3):308-17. PMID: 12571120

9. Francis S, Rolls ET, Bowtell R, McGlone F, O’Doherty J, Browning A, Clare S, Smith E. The representation of pleasant touch in the brain and its relationship with taste and olfactory areas. Neuroreport. 1999 Feb 25;10(3):453-9. PMID: 10208571

10. Löken LS, Wessberg J, Morrison I, McGlone F, Olausson H. Coding of pleasant touch by unmyelinated afferents in humans. Nat Neurosci. 2009 May;12(5):547-8. Epub 2009 Apr 12. PMID: 19363489.

11. Holm T, Brøgger-Jensen MR, Johnson L, Kessel L.Glutathione preservation during storage of rat lenses in opti-sol-GS and castor oil. PLoS One. 2013 Nov 19;8(11):e79620. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0079620. eCollection 2013. PMID: 24260265.

12. Holmes GM, Browning KN, Babic T, Fortna SR, Coleman FH, Travagli RA. Vagal afferent fibres determine the oxytocin-induced modulation of gastric tone. J Physiol. 2013 Jun 15;591(12):3081-100. doi: 10.1113/jphysiol.2013.253732. Epub 2013 Apr 15. PMID: 23587885; PMCID: PMC3832121.

13. Moore JE Jr, Bertram CD. Lymphatic System Flows. Annu Rev Fluid Mech. 2018 Jan;50:459-482. doi: 10.1146/annurev-fluid-122316-045259. PMID: 29713107; PMCID: PMC5922450.

14. Ricardo JW, Lipner SR. Utilizing a Sleep Mask to Reduce Patient Anxiety During Nail Surgery. Cutis. 2021 Jul;108(1):36.doi: 10.12788/cutis.0285. PMID: 34397356.

15. Miller MA, Renn BN, Chu F, Torrence N. Sleepless in the hospital: A systematic review of non-pharmacological sleep interventions. Gen Hosp Psychiatry. 2019 Jul-Aug;59:58-66. doi: 10.1016/j.genhosppsych.2019.05.006. Epub 2019 May 24. PMID: 31170567; PMCID: PMC6620136.

16. Rong-fang Hu, Xiao-ying Jiang, Yi-ming Zeng, Xiao-yang Chen, You-hua Zhang. Effects of earplugs and eye masks on nocturnal sleep, melatonin and cortisol in a simulated intensive care unit environment. Published online 2010 Apr 18. PMID: 20398302.

17. Khoddam H, Maddah SA, Rezvani Khorshidi S, Zaman Kamkar M, Modanloo M. The effects of earplugs and eye masks on sleep quality of patients admitted to coronary care units: A randomised clinical trial. J Sleep Res. 2022 Apr;31(2):e13473.doi: 10.1111/jsr.13473. Epub 2021 Sep 12. PMID: 34514653.