Shelby Harris - A Women’s Guide to Getting a Good Night Sleep

Hormonal Impact

Hormonal changes throughout a woman's life significantly impact sleep quality. Shelby Harris explains that drops in estrogen during menstruation can trigger insomnia, and similar issues arise during perimenopause. She emphasizes the importance of discussing treatment options with a doctor, including both hormonal and non-hormonal solutions like black cohosh and evening primrose oil 1. Harris also highlights that many women suffer in silence, believing their sleep issues are untreatable, which her book aims to address 2.

Women often think, 'Oh, this is all just hormones and there's nothing I can do about it.' But a lot of times there are things that can be done.

--- Shelby Harris

Addressing these hormonal fluctuations can lead to significant improvements in sleep quality.

   

Treatment Options

Various treatments can help manage hormone-related sleep disturbances. Shelby Harris discusses integrative medicine methods and emphasizes the importance of consulting with a gynecologist. She mentions that while some treatments like magnesium and CBD oil show promise, the data is not always strong 3. For women experiencing significant insomnia due to hormonal changes, continuous birth control pills or natural supplements like black cohosh and evening primrose oil can be beneficial 1.

For women who have hormonal issues, the two biggest things that we see that are helpful tend to be black cohosh and primrose.

--- Shelby Harris

These treatments, combined with behavioral changes, can significantly improve sleep quality.