by drcatherinedarley | Feb 6, 2014 | cancer, insomnia, sleep
We have become a 24-hour society where people can work, shop and exercise at all hours of the day or night. But just because we can, does that mean we should? Humans evolved in a rhythmic world, with daily and seasonal variations in light, temperature, and food...
by drcatherinedarley | Jul 14, 2012 | behavioral treatment, insomnia, naturopathic medicine, Seattle, sleep, sleep deprivation
It was a pleasure to talk with journalist Sheila Cain about my approach to treating sleep disorders. The article is now published in Seattle magazine’s Top Doc issue (July). My favorite excerpt is: “My primary care doctor gave me a printout of things to try,...
by drcatherinedarley | Jun 20, 2012 | behavioral treatment, insomnia, sleep
Being unable to sleep can be very distressing, especially when it’s an acute episode. One analogy that works when I think about treating insomnia is that Curing Insomnia is Like Climbing a Mountain. Think about going for a hike up a mountain to the scenic view...
by drcatherinedarley | May 31, 2012 | driving safety, insomnia, overweight, sleep, sleep deprivation
So although I’m a sleep expert, unfortunately that doesn’t make me immune to the havoc that life events can wreak on sleep health. My usual healthy 8.3 hour average sleep which leaves me energetic and sharp all day has plummeted to a mere 6.5 hours over...
by drcatherinedarley | May 24, 2012 | behavioral treatment, circadian rhythm, insomnia, naturopathic medicine, sleep, Women's sleep
Many people ask me “Does a warm bath help sleep, or is that just a myth?” The research shows . . . Yes, it seems to help somewhat. Medical research has investigated the impact of both baths and foot baths on sleep. One study in older people with sleep...
by drcatherinedarley | May 7, 2012 | fall asleep, insomnia, naturopathic medicine, sleep
In past posts we’ve talked about the impact alcohol can have on sleep, which is widely known. Nicotine also has an impact, which seems less well known by the public. Studies show that nicotine changes sleep, so that it takes longer to fall asleep initially,...
