For some cases and patients the conventional treatments for sleep apnea are either too expensive, simply out of the question (surgery, for example) or they do not have any effect. These patients may want to resort to alternative treatments. Making a few behavioral changes and involving alternative medicine can lighten or stop sleep apnea.
Obesity and sleep apnea go hand in hand. Losing weight and exercising can be effective in the battle against sleep apnea. Also losing weight and getting in shape will give you more energy during the daytime. Often apnea is caused by a blockage of the airways. When losing weight, and fatty cells in the throat, the airways do not get blocked as much or the airways are opened completely.
Another lifestyle change which may benefit your sleep is avoiding sleeping on your back. This will stop the tongue from falling back and blocking the airways. Also, drugs and alcohol can have a damaging effect on the respiratory drive during sleep. They may soften the throat muscles. This may end in a collapsing of the throat. Cutting down on alcohol and drugs (sleeping pills, for example) will elevate the oxygen levels in the blood and stop or lower the degree of apnea during sleep.
However, homeopathy is also an option.Visit a homeopath to discover which treatments are usefull for your situation. Often the practitioners will prescribe different medication for different types of people. For example, energetic and extroverted people will get Lachesis prescribed, while people who have a history of mental problems will get homeopathic opium for the same condition. Vervain is also a treatment which is used for sleep apnea.
A fairly new alternative treatment for sleep apnea is 5-HTP. 5-HTP has a beneficial influence on the serotonin and cortisol levels in the human body. These two are thought to be the reason behind sleep apnea. Taking 5-HTP before going to bed will decrease the number of apneas and the fatigue and sleepiness during the daytime.
