What is eco therapy ?

CIRCADIAN RHYTHM

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“it is the unqualified result of al my experience with the sick, that second only to their need of fresh air is their need of light” FLORENCE NIGHTINGALE - notes on nursing (1859)

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Moonlight, sunshine and mindful sleep is so important for our bodies to restore itself.

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A lack of sleep is getting 6 hours or less a night - a lack of sleep generally predicts a shorter life as pretty much every disease people in developed nations suffer from is linked to a substantial sleep deficit.

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Sleep deprivation is linked to:

• Moodiness.

• Difficulty concentration and impaired cognitive performance.

• Trouble remember information and problem solving.

• Being aware of aches and pains.

• An increase in accidents.

• In extreme cases: disorientation, hallucinations and paranoia.

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Much like cigarettes affect your health negatively so does lack of sleep and can contribute to:

• Heart disease.

• High blood pressure.

• Stroke.

• Diabetes.

• Breast cancer.

• Obesity.

• Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and Huntington's disease.

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If we are not getting enough sleep it is due to our circadian rhythms being out of sink.

We are creatures of rhythm and our natural sleep rhythm should be to sleep when it's dark and wake when it's light; this is when our circadian rhythms are in sync.

When our circadian rhythm is out of sink then it's like we have jet lag because our bodies are all out of sync.

In order to optimise the production of melatonin which is made whilst we are asleep we need to be awake when it slight ad asleep when it's dark.

Staying as close to our natural circadian rhythms as possible helps to keep our circadian rhythms balanced and this in turn help to diminish insomnia.

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Things that help you sleep better:

• Eat at regular times and not within 3 hours of sleep.

• Get a good dose of sunlight.

• Avoid electronics and artificial light once the sun has gone down.

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The moon was once our only source of nocturnal light - and there is something to be said for going back to this way instead of surrounding ourselves with artificial light once the sun has gone down.

Prolactin is a hormone stimulated by darkness and is responsible for over 300 functions within the human body. Prolactin is secreted by the pituitary gland and stimulates milk production and maternal feeling in women.

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