INSOMNIA & SLEEP SUPPORT
Natural Solutions for Better Sleep and Restorative Rest
Insomnia and sleep problems are much more than just having trouble falling asleep occasionally – they involve persistent difficulty getting the quality and quantity of sleep your body needs to feel rested and function well. If you’re dealing with sleep issues, you know how frustrating it can be to lie awake at night or wake up feeling tired despite spending hours in bed.
At Paracelsus Natural Family Health Center in Pasadena and Redlands, Dr. Simon Barker and Dr. Daniel Brousseau understand that poor sleep isn’t just an inconvenience – it affects every aspect of your health, from your mood and energy to your immune system and ability to think clearly. They use comprehensive natural approaches to identify what might be disrupting your sleep and help restore your body’s natural ability to get restorative rest.
Many people with sleep problems have tried sleeping pills or been told to just practice “good sleep hygiene,” but sleep issues often have underlying physical causes that can be identified and treated naturally, helping you get the deep, refreshing sleep your body needs.
What Makes Our Sleep Support Different
Comprehensive Testing to Identify Sleep Disruptors – Rather than just treating symptoms, we work to understand what might be disrupting your sleep through comprehensive hormone testing including cortisol levels throughout the day to see if they’re elevated at night, thyroid function, reproductive hormones that can affect sleep, and blood sugar regulation; nutritional assessment with vitamin, mineral, and nutrient testing; sleep pattern analysis with detailed sleep diary, assessment of sleep environment and habits, and evaluation of factors disrupting your circadian rhythm; and additional testing when appropriate including food sensitivity testing, heavy metal testing, assessment for sleep apnea, and evaluation of medications affecting sleep.
Four-Phase Treatment Approach – We take a step-by-step approach including immediate sleep support providing natural sleep aids and optimizing your sleep environment while identifying urgent factors like severe nutrient deficiencies or hormone imbalances; addressing root causes by correcting underlying imbalances such as hormone problems, nutritional deficiencies, or lifestyle factors; restoring natural sleep rhythms to reestablish your body’s natural circadian rhythms and sleep-wake cycle; and long-term sleep wellness developing sustainable habits and practices that support good sleep without dependence on sleep aids.
Natural Treatment Protocols – Our evidence-based protocols include sleep-supporting nutrients and calming herbs; hormone balance support including natural support for healthy melatonin production, nutrients that help regulate cortisol rhythms, thyroid support, and blood sugar stabilization to prevent middle-of-the-night awakening; circadian rhythm support with light therapy recommendations, guidance on timing of meals, exercise, and light exposure, natural approaches to shift work or jet lag recovery, and supplements that support healthy sleep-wake cycles; sleep hygiene and environment optimization; and lifestyle and behavioral support including exercise timing recommendations, relaxation techniques, cognitive strategies for managing racing thoughts, and creating healthy sleep associations.
Safe Alternative to Sleeping Pills – Natural sleep aids are generally much safer than prescription sleep medications. We can help you gradually reduce dependence on sleeping pills (always under medical supervision). Natural treatments support your body’s own sleep mechanisms rather than forcing artificial sleep and don’t cause the “hangover” effect that many sleeping pills do.
How Our Sleep Support Works
Initial Comprehensive Assessment – We conduct thorough evaluations including comprehensive testing to identify what might be disrupting your sleep. Testing helps identify hormone imbalances including cortisol elevated at night, thyroid problems, reproductive hormone changes, blood sugar issues that cause middle-of-the-night awakening, nutrient deficiencies, and lifestyle factors affecting sleep quality.
Active Treatment Phase – We provide natural treatments tailored to your specific sleep patterns including sleep-supporting nutrients and calming herbs; hormone balance support for melatonin production, cortisol regulation, thyroid function, and blood sugar stabilization; circadian rhythm support with light therapy recommendations and timing guidance for meals, exercise, and light exposure; sleep hygiene and environment optimization with bedroom environment recommendations, evening routine suggestions, guidance on screen time, caffeine, and meal timing, and stress management techniques for bedtime; and lifestyle and behavioral support including exercise recommendations, relaxation techniques, cognitive strategies, and creating healthy sleep habits.
Restoring Natural Sleep Patterns – We help reestablish your body’s natural circadian rhythms and sleep-wake cycle through ongoing support and lifestyle optimization. We develop sustainable habits and practices that support good sleep for the long term without dependence on sleep aids.
Medication Transition Support – For those currently taking sleeping pills, we can help you gradually reduce dependence under medical supervision. We work with your prescribing doctor to create a safe transition plan while supporting your body’s ability to sleep naturally.
Understanding Sleep Problems and Their Causes
Sleep issues can show up in various ways including difficulty falling asleep (sleep onset insomnia) with lying awake for 30 minutes or more; frequent night wakings (sleep maintenance insomnia) with waking up multiple times and having trouble getting back to sleep; early morning awakening waking up much earlier than you want and being unable to fall back asleep; non-restorative sleep getting enough hours but still waking up feeling tired; sleep schedule problems with irregular sleep or feeling like your internal clock is “off”; and restless sleep with tossing and turning, vivid dreams, or light easily disturbed sleep.
Common symptoms include nighttime symptoms like taking a long time to fall asleep, waking up frequently, lying awake for long periods, feeling anxious when trying to sleep, physical restlessness, racing thoughts, and physical discomfort; daytime symptoms like feeling tired or exhausted, difficulty concentrating, irritability, needing caffeine to function, falling asleep at inappropriate times, lacking energy, and getting sick more often; and physical and mental effects like headaches, brain fog, increased appetite for sugary foods, weight gain, increased anxiety or depression, decreased motivation, relationship problems, and decreased ability to handle stress.
Underlying factors that can cause or worsen sleep problems include hormonal imbalances like low melatonin production, cortisol that stays elevated at night, thyroid problems, hormone changes during menstruation, pregnancy, or menopause, and blood sugar imbalances; nutritional factors including vitamin, mineral, and nutrient deficiencies, too much sugar or caffeine, and alcohol that disrupts deep sleep; physical health issues like sleep apnea, chronic pain, digestive problems, restless leg syndrome, and medication side effects; environmental and lifestyle factors including too much screen time before bed, irregular sleep schedule or shift work, bedroom environment issues, stress, lack of physical activity, and consuming caffeine or large meals too close to bedtime; and mental and emotional factors like anxiety, depression, trauma or PTSD, grief, or major life changes.
Benefits of Natural Sleep Support
People who choose our comprehensive natural approach often experience:
Faster Sleep Onset
Falling asleep more quickly and easily without lying awake for hours.
Deeper, More Restorative Sleep
Sleeping more soundly through the night and waking up feeling genuinely rested and refreshed.
Fewer Night Wakings
Staying asleep throughout the night or being able to fall back asleep quickly if you do wake up.
Better Daytime Energy
Feeling more alert, focused, and energetic during the day without needing excessive caffeine.
Improved Mood and Mental Clarity
Better emotional balance, clearer thinking, and improved ability to handle stress.
Enhanced Immune Function
Getting sick less often as your immune system benefits from quality sleep.
Reduced Dependence on Sleep Aids
Many people are able to reduce or eliminate their need for sleeping medications or supplements.
Most people begin noticing some improvements within 1-2 weeks of starting treatment, especially when we address obvious factors. More significant changes develop over 1-3 months as underlying imbalances are corrected and healthy sleep patterns are reestablished.
Ready to Restore Your Natural Sleep?
Dr. Barker and Dr. Brousseau’s comprehensive approach to sleep support provides patients with natural solutions that address root causes of sleep problems while supporting your body’s natural ability to achieve restorative rest.
Explore our complete Mental Health Services → or learn about Anxiety Treatment → and Depression Support →
Questions about natural sleep support?
Call either office to discuss how our proven approach can help you identify what’s disrupting your sleep and restore healthy, restorative rest.
Call either office to discuss how our proven approach can help you identify what’s disrupting your sleep and restore healthy, restorative rest.