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NATURAL LATEX MATTRESS 100% biological and organic fibers
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ARGAN OIL BENEFITS an Effective remedy against Psoriasis – A pure natural product is 100% – Argan Oil for Regenerative PSORIASIS ADVANCE
The psoriasis is a disease skin and scalp which affects both men and women, especially Caucasians.
This dermatosis key 1 to 3% population whose appearance particularly unattractive may have a repulsive effect in everyday life. In addition subjects with psoriasis have a higher probability of being victims of myocardial infarction And more so that affected areas are expanded.
But today it is possible contenir, mitigate and avoid extension of psoriasis through Benefits 100% organic of natural argan oil.
We still do not know the precise causes of psoriasis is suspected but familial and genetic this condition. Indeed, 30% of victims of this serious skin disease have a family member who also suffers, either 10 to 30 times more than the average prevalence rate in the population.
A number of genes have been identified as risk markers of psoriasis with PSOR located on the chromosome 6 and seems to be involved in more than one in three of psoriasis family.
But the disease would also components auto-immune, microbiological and environmental, at least as triggers.
Psoriasis is caused by the fact thatEpidermis renews itself too quickly. In just 4-6 days instead of three weeks normally. In addition it leads to local inflammation.
Because of this renewal too fast epidermal cells accumulate on the surface of the skin and form what are called « dander ‘, That is to say, layers of white dandruff-looking unsightly even if they are only cell layers dead.
These scales covering red patches highlight the number and size variables and can change over time. The Psychosocial are important in the relationship of the person with psoriasis with his family, and colleagues in all aspects of everyday life.
In addition, psoriasis which causes severe itching scratching induced new lesions with risk of on bacterial infection.
Furthermore we note in the dermis under the epidermis the presence of numerous white blood cells, or leukocytes Which suggest a more or less direct the immune system.
Outbreaks of psoriasis are often associated with periods of stress or demonstrated Infectious factors such as streptococci, but it is difficult to pinpoint the trigger. By cons, it was shown that alcohol is an aggravating factor Psoriasis and some type drugs beta-blockers because of their cardiovascular effects. Only qualified medical personnel is able to judge. Similarly, care must be taken, but with lower risk with drugs such as sartans andenalapril.
By cons, there are natural treatments as massage oil argan that allow effectively fight against psoriasis no side effects.
The 2 main forms of psoriasis
Indeed, there are 2 forms of psoriasis:
Psoriasis appears most significantly at 2 ages:
This dermatitis is a chronic evolving differently from one topic to another between advanced and remissions whose durations differ individually. These remissions can reach tens of years. The lesions disappear and it is said that psoriasis is « milled . But periods of remission duration are highly variable and they are never complete and final.
Is unknown to date no complete cure psoriasis but it is possible dealOf decrease its intensity andbring Victim of this skin disease a better quality of life. In particular, in natural and organic treatments, the argan oil allow a significant relief of this dermatosis.
As evidenced by the traditional use of this natural oil and totally organic, derived from the fruit of the argan tree, in the Berber tribes of southern Morocco to treat this dermatosis.
Psoriasis
This is the type of psoriasis most frequently encountered in more than 90% of cases. The affected areas of the body lesions are red, irritated and have large scales. The center of the lesion is normal but when the scales fall they leave the skin raw.
When part of the body is reached, its symmetric part is often. So if the right elbow is hit, the left is also.
Plaque psoriasis achieved the elbows, knees, scalp, lower back and the area around the navel and may affect body healed old wounds.
Guttate psoriasis
Guttate psoriasis is noticed by a proliferation of small drops of psoriasis on all body parts. Because of their small size these little white drop faster than the plates and leave the body less to live.
You can find this type of psoriasis on all parts of the body subject to friction due to clothing: size (belts skirts and pants), forearms (wrists shirts and sweatshirts), breast (bra straps), but also scalp and earlobes.
Pustular psoriasis
This is the result of the worsening of psoriasis and proliferation of squamous layers. Pustules are formed flat white and yellow tend to be welded. These pustules are amicrobial and are often located between the toes or hands.
Inverse psoriasis
This type of psoriasis is localized in the folds of the arm (shoulder, elbow and wrist) and leg (hip, knee folds and instep). Attacks are less but more irritated scaly and sometimes oozing
Erythrodermic psoriasis
This is a form of psoriasis affecting the entire integument and having congestive redness of the skin (erythema). The scales are thin and fall in large pieces often accompanied by fever and anorexia. It is often accompanied der superinfections
and hair and nails may fall.
Nail psoriasis
Psoriasis nail on the toe nails and hand. It is present in half of cases of psoriasis. The nail shows a speckled white, become brittle and often flips.
Psoriatic arthritis
This is a complication of skin lesions in 5-25% of cases of psoriasis, but it can happen before in a few cases.
It is an inflammation with symptoms of arthritis. It is an inflammatory arthritis, deforming and can be very debilitating chronic.
He can be reached:
Is the axis of the body (neck, spine and especially the sacroiliac area or peripheral areas, often in the phalanges of the fingers of the hand or foot. In this case, fingers and nails are often affected by psoriasis.
The medicated creams for local treatment
Phototherapy
Thesun exposure is a traditional treatment for psoriasis but is not recommended in 10% of cases.
The Ultraviolet A and B must be performed under strict medical supervision and have the disadvantage of having a threshold variable patient pain of photoaging or skin cancers.
The PUVA combines tablets Psoralen just before UVA exposure However, with the risk of skin sensitization.
Systemic treatments
They are medically prescribed for more severe forms of psoriasis. Taken orally or by injection and spread throughout the body, often with serious side risks.
Known as the Methotrexate, the Acitretin Do not administer to pregnant women, the Cyclosporine with the risk of weakening auto-immune system.
Some antibodies are also known as the Alefacept.
The Efalizumab whose effectiveness at least in the medium term is demonstrated. For his part Etanercept has a good efficacy against psoriatic arthritis.
The argan oil is a traditional remedy of Berber tribes of South-Morocco to fight against psoriasis.
Applied after bathing in anointing the parts affected, its effectiveness is proven especially coupled with a slight exposure to the sun.
It is assumed, but the mechanisms of action are not fully understood, that this efficiency is related to the high regenerative power of vitamin E including the argan oil is high.
This treatment is totally natural and organic.
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MATTRESS-NATURAL PRODUCT COMPOSITION of natural latex mattresses mattress GREEN BIO ORGANIC RUBBER without Chemical Products. Mattress Patented
Many people today have physical problems, skin sensitivities, asthma and allergicunexplained.
The many chemical sensitivities increase in people every day by hundreds of thousands of cases reported by Health Canada.
Ask yourself what you breathe in your sleep?
A mattress core is ideal in theory extremely elastic and non-deformable. Spring mattresses and water mattresses have either a compression or collapse of elasticity reduced more where there is more weight.
For over 20 years, I was engaged in the production of foam mattresses latex. They are already more elastic than other mattresses, but the elasticity is determined by the amount of natural rubber used in the polymer blend. Ideally, I would make onlya mattress core Hevea natural rubber, but it was impossible or difficult to achieve in Europe and America because of the lack of fresh Hevea milk.
The foam mattress that we knew were made of polyurethane or synthetic polymerlatex SBR, Styrene Butadiene Rubber. These are obtained by complex chemical processes from petroleum. The synthetic latex mattress that we knew were already enriched with natural rubber to increase their elasticity. This natural rubber mixed with a lot of volatile alkali was transported in liquid form from Asia andtropical Africa. It was painful because we never received the same quality.Imagine that you had to produce the same wine in California with an arbitrary mixture of grapes in France.
2. Natural Latex
3. Natural rubber from Hevea
Ideally, a mattress should consist of more than 90% natural rubber and rubber to be perfectly isotropic, ie d. elasticity is the same in all directions. This product is alsobreathable and insensitive to temperature. This is why it is never moist or warm.Examples of other products which are widely used natural rubber condoms arerubber, the tires of an aircraft or a formula, balloons for meteorological stations …anything that has to be extremely resilient and stable.
To make this mattress core made of 100% natural rubber to rubber, we neededmilk plant rubber and similar expenses and know-how innovative. So it had to be done in the country of origin of the Hevea milk. But what is this hevea milk and where to find the best soul of a mattress?
4. Hevea Brasiliensis
HEVEA BRASILIENSIS is the name of a rubber tree. As the name implies, the tree was discovered in 1736 in the Amazon region by the French explorer Charles Marie de la Condamine(1701-1775) who reported the rubber as a curiosity.
Around the world, there are trees that secrete a liquid when they are injured or damaged by insects. This fluid prevents clotting that mold or bacteria enter the tree.
As the resin of pine or maple sap, a milk plant, also known as latex flows from theHevea brasiliensis or rubber tree, which hardens to a rubbery mass. A pharmacistdiscovered that English can be used to erase the pencil. The name of the rubber(rubber) also comes from the English verb « to rub » rubbing. This rubber is mainlyelastic and waterproof.
In 1839 it was discovered that the rubber and sulfur by heating, the so-calledvulcanization process, produce a rubber that is strong and solid at temperaturesfrom 0 to 100 ° C.
Since then, this product is used for making waterproof textiles, tires for bicycles and cars, chewing gum, painting … and even condoms.
Rubber became an important industrial product. Needs rubber became so important that we built plantations in other parts of the world. Especially the English, who sent the young plants in their tropical colonies in Asia such as SriLanka and Singapore. The Portuguese plantation implanted primarily in Central Africa. The tree survives in effect only in a very humid and hot. To harvest the milkplant is cut out in the cambium of the tree. And the pockets of latex are cut and the milk flows out. Under the injury, we fix a container in which milk plant is collected.Can be left to coagulate the milk, or you can add a little ammonia to keep the fluid milk. The coagulated rubber is dried and compressed to make shoes, boots, insulation or building material. For mattresses, we need liquid latex. It is purchased for Green Sleep Malaysia North to independent farmers, who for years planted these trees selected in cooperation with the National Institute of Rubber in Kuala Lumpur. As for apples, peppers, wine, is applied to the plant about a transplant from mother to still get the same tree. After a long selection, we get the milk for several years to plant rubber trees still appropriate to melt mattress coresare identical in the different degrees of firmness.
5. Milk of Hevea
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Plantations which our milk comes from plants do not use growth promoters, pesticides or insecticides. The wood bottom is removed by hand if necessary. In some areas of sheep and goats graze under the trees. In addition to our certificateQUL, Qualitäts Umweltfreundlicher Latexmatratzen institute Öko-Umwelt in Cologne, Germany, the plantations were checked as to working conditions andenvironment-friendly aspect. The cultivation of vegetable milk rubber is completely organic. |
Pull hevea milk has now become the work of women. This is the second family income. Prices are set cooperatively every day.
Today, the price of rubber and especially milk plant rubber is very high. In addition to the world price rises due to growing demand, the price is fixed according to theabove daily wage. When you know that we must have about 40 hours to collecte nough milk to produce a rubber of our mattresses …
6 . Transformation process
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Hevea milk is delivered fresh and centrifuged under the same certificate ISO2004. The solid material is separated from the water. This solid is mixed by acomputer-controlled complex program, with air and a minimum + / - 5%,vulcanizing and other materials such as sulfur, zinc oxide, accelerator andantioxidant . None of these added materials is toxic! On this subject, please referto tests and certificates that you find below.
It therefore adds no fillers. The mixture is injected into molds aluminum ankleswhile returning the heat of 90 ° C in the body.
After about 90 minutes of oven, the mattress core is removed from the mold curedand washed. At Green Sleep, this cleaning is very intense. The souls of 15 cm up to 7 times are watered and compressed up to 1 cm. In a centrifuge, the souls are cleaned again, until all the soap scum and all odors are gone. The abundant waterfor this process must be completely sterile. After drying, the mattress core ORGANIC HEVEA is controlled at the firm and receives a label stating its origin and production data. Certificate « AOC » and a number are also with the mattress core. Thus the product is fully traceable! These mattress cores are sent to theGreen Sleep plant in Europe and Canada for further treatment. This production process gives us the best mattress cores that can be made today. In the field of ecology, plantations and crops are well below any non-polluting. For production ofeven the mattress core, we need the same amount of energy that was used for other mattress cores.
7. Warning
The only problem is the so-called latex allergy to the protein of 1%, culprit, theHevea milk contains. Only a small proportion of the population is concerned.Generally, latex allergy occurs in individuals who as a child did not tolerate breast milk or any dairy product.
If latex allergy, contact with a mattress core covered after a few hours causes redspots on the skin and begins to suffocate. If this happens, we return the mattress inthe store room to the purchase price. On an annual basis than 15,000 mattresses, we must take about four. It does not often. If you want more information, see latexallergy, implications for patients and Health care workers [latex allergy, the implications for patients and medical staff.
In several countries of the Third World, the mattress 100% natural latex are handcrafted. They serve primarily the local market. Their product often has acrumbly structure and is much too hard. The durability and hygiene conditions in which this product was manufactured are not acceptable for use West. Especially rinsing is often contaminated. We find these products regularly on the Western market. They are often sold at prices bumper « factory direct » to business post office box or lounges. These products severely damage the reputation of « natural products ».
Always ask for certificates of composition, origin and brand QUL!
Every soul rubber mattress organic Green Sleep is guaranteed for 20 years ofgood use since July 2008. Each mattress has its certificate of origin and a manual. Remember that a mattress is acidified with sweat and deforms after a while depending on the weight of your body. So be your mattress review by a consultant from Green Sleep every eight years.
Green Sleep has become an internal list of demands « Eco-tested » to be met by all the raw materials used. Any subcontractor or any production unit Green Sleep is imperative to meet these criteria.
Certificates Skal, Eco-cert and QUL support our claims of quality and are soughtfrom our suppliers every year.
GREEN SLEEP
Real Organic Products without added chemical products
Monique Toubeix
Specialist and Advisor Natural Products
Mattress and Pillow Latex Organic GREEN SLEEP
Laval-Montreal-Quebec-Canada
514-792-0281
or
Come meet
at
MATELAS BONHEUR
1860 boulevard Le Corbusier, Laval, QC
(450) 687-7880
She will be happy to answer your questions
For more information products are available exclusively
Jan 05
HYPNOS BEDS MATTRESS
The Hypnos Story
HYPNOS BEDS MATTRESS
Hypnos has years of success behind the family-run company and has been producing handmade beds for over four generations – beds that have given countless nights of comfortable sleep to many thousands of people. Proud holders of two Royal Warrants, the Hypnos philosophy of quality and comfort is maintained throughout their product range. The Chairman, Peter Keen is the great grandson of the original founder and the product has been hand-crafted using traditional methods from the very first day of existence.
Deep pocket-spring beds are the trademark of Hypnos, elegant handmade beds which are still produced by craftsmen, many of whom have worked at Hypnos since their apprenticeship and who all take a great personal pride in the skilled work that goes into producing each Hypnos bed. The skills used by these craftsmen have been handed down through generations and the art of making a quality bed lives on from father to son, mother to daughter, through Hypnos.
Hypnos beds are still made in a similar way to those slept on by our fathers and grandfathers. Every detail on a Hypnos bed is considered from the natural fillings in the mattresses, to the specially balanced springs in the Royal box, to the expertly cut high quality Belgium damask cloths, to the selected soft and hard woods, to the fine handmade wool tufts. Considered, tried and tested producing the ultimate in comfort, quality and craftsmanship.
Choosing a bed is a very personal decision and one not to be undertaken lightly. When you consider that up to a third of your life will be spent in bed, it only makes sense to spend that time in Royal Comfort. At Hypnos, we make that perfect bed to suit your specific needs, for a supportive and restful nights sleep.
History of the Royal Warrant
To be a Warrant holder you must first supply the Royal Household with unrivalled quality products or services for five consecutive years. The Lord Chamberlain (head of the Royal households) advises the grantors on the granting of Royal Warrants but the final decision rests with the grantor concerned. Thereafter the Warrant is reviewed every five years. Hypnos has been handcrafting the finest bespoke mattresses for two Royal Warrant holders. Queen Elizabeth II and The Late Queen Mother.
To this day only the finest quality products are associated with the Royal Warrants and Hypnos is extremely proud to have carried the Royal Warrants of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth and The Late Queen Mother for over 37 years. To be honoured by two Royal Households is unprecedented. Other Royal Warrant holders include; Rolls Royce & Bentley Motorcars, Dunlop, Aston Martin, Burberry Limited, Royal Doulton, Jaguar Motorcars, Austin Reed Group PLC, Steinway & Sons and Land Rover & Range Rover.
Genuine Side Stitching: The borders of Hypnos mattress are expertly sewn through the sides to the coil system. This is a very time consuming process but the end results are well worth while. This procedure makes a Hypnos mattress the most structurally sound mattress available in Canada.
Hand Tufting: Unlike other tufted looking mattresses in Canada, Hypnos tufts go through the entire body of the mattress. This means the tuft you see on the top is connected to the one on the bottom. Adding another layer of structural integrity and helping the natural fills stay in place.
Matching Fabric Trim: Most mattresses use a very hard pre-fabricated tape edge to give a finish to the corner. Hypnos uses the same fabric as the body of the bed. This means a very soft and luxurious finish even to the edges.
Pure Brass: many other companies put brass coated finishes on their products so they will look elegant. Only Hypnos uses solid brass plates and vents for strength and longevity of life.
Cotton and Wool are strategically placed and combined for complete climate control. Warmth in the winter and cool in the summer.
Silk and Wool let you feel like you are floating on a cloud, most say a feeling like you have never had with a mattress.
Teased White Hair and Cashmere is a unique blend of Cattle, Hog tail and Cashmere that is designed to keep its shape even after many years of service. This blend of hair is heat treated to be completely clean, then bonded to give the long life shape retention.
Belgium Damask is not only luxurious looking but the one of the most tightly woven upholstery materials available to the bedding industry and is custom made just for Hypnos.
Coil Counts: most pocket coil systems in Canada have about 500 to 800 coils in a queen size mattress. Hypnos starts over 1,000 coils and goes to over 2,000 individual pocket coils. Some other companies claim coil counts of this amount, however they typically stack coils on top of coils to accomplish this. Hypnos only uses individually wrapped full height coil for complete and perfect body forming support.
Honey Combing: Hypnos is one of the few companies that honeycomb (nest) their pocket coils together virtually eliminating the gaps between coils. This give you maximum body support no matter how you lay or how small an area you need supported.
Centre Tying: most coil manufactures connect their pocket coils together at the top in one form or another. Even the coil is still independent as one coil moves it moves the one beside it. Hypnos runs treads through the middle of its coil system allowing the tops to totally work independently of each other, again giving you perfect body support for every little curve.
Firmness vs Support: Often firmness and support are confused. Medical research has shown that it is proper support, not firmness, that cares for your muscle aches and pains. Further proper support will keep your spinal column in a straight line, in turn giving you a good nights sleep and physical well being. Hypnos’ unique coil structure is designed with this in mind. It will give you the support and comfort you need, for a good nights sleep and keep those morning aches away.
Firmness: Hypnos further offers their coils in different firmness’. This is so no matter what your body build is, there is a Hypnos mattress for you.
Belgium Damask: The average person loses 11 pounds of skin per year. Our extremely tight woven Belgium Damask almost eliminates the dead skin from penetrating into the bed. Without this dead skin Dust Mites do not have the food they need to survive.
Natural Fills: Our unique combination of natural materials produces an enviroment that Dust Mites do not like and works as a natural Dust Mite inhibitor.
Moisture Control: It is a very well know fact that Dust Mites thrive in a moist warm setting. Hypnos mattresses are designed to breath, keeping them clean and dry inside for years and in turn eliminating a Dust Mites prefered residence.
Natural Fills: Most mattresses in Canada use a combinations of different types of foams. Some are even completely foam. The average person loses about 1 cup of moisture each evening. This inevitably moves into your mattress. Foam is like a big sponge which absorbs and holds that moisture. Mold and mildew quickly builds up and creates an unhealthy sleeping environment. Natural fills breath taking that moisture from you.
Brass Airvents: After the Natural fills move the moisture way from you. As you move around the bed the individual coils push that moisture out the brass airvents. In a nutshell your bed breaths like no other so it can stay clean and healthy for a long time.
NO FOAMS: With no foams, Hypnos mattresses do not give off that petroleum gas that other mattresses do. Right from day one, foams start breaking down giving off a gas that can seriously effect the breathing of sensitive individuals. Further one of memory foams natural properties is to trap heat. They are often found to be too warm and uncomfortable.
Other Gases: Dust mites themselves do not really harm us. However the gas emitted from their faescies can become a serious issue. With Hypnos’ natural Dust Mite control this problem is minimized.
Effects from Mold & Mildew: Many asthmatics are extremely sensitive to Molds and Mildew. Because Hypnos mattresses stray extremely clean inside with its natural breathing, making it the cleanest mattress in Canada.
A: Hypnos knows many people are allergic to Horse and this is why we use a combination of Cattle and Hog tail that has been sanitized.
A: Yes, especially because it is all natural it is important to flip and rotate the mattress as per the Care instructions. This will let the mattress provide you with a long and comfortable life.
A: Yes, the Damask is made from natural Rayon, derived from wood pulp.
A: Hypnos takes many steps to reduce the occurrence of body impresses. First they over fill the entire mattress then during the Tufting process pre pack the fills to the finished size you see. Next the tufts help keep the fills from moving around and leaving sagged areas. Last the unique combination of fills helps to keep everything the way they should be.
A: Unlike other mattresses we do not have any solid foams and block on the edges on the mattress. However we do have butterfly edge supports and an edge to edge coil system. You should be able to comfortably sleep on the edges. You many feel a slight rolling at the beginning however this is subside in a short period as the fills settle.
A: Hypnos makes its mattresses in 3 standard sizes, King, Queen and Single XL. Hypnos can also make custom sizes, including Doubles. Please call your local retailer for more information.
A: Yes, with Hypnos you can have different types of boxsprings.
View the Royal Comfort Collection Brochure
View the Castle Series Brochure
Sherbourne
Déc 08
MATTRESS NATURAL LATEX
THE VERSATILITY OF RUBBERGreen Sleep’s Natural Rubber cores are derived from our very own tree farm. These trees have been bud grafted to create the North Malaysia 600 which, in turn, produces the purest, most elastic rubber on the planet; no synthetic fillers are added to core production. Our natural rubber mattress cores start as liquid latex — the sap or « milk » of Hevea brasiliensis, the common rubber tree — harvested by independent farmers in North Malaysia. The natural rubber manufactured from this unique substance breathes easily and wicks moisture away. As a result, it never feels damp or too warm to the touch. Green Sleep natural rubber also contours the body and retains firmness to provide even support over the long-term, superior durability and elasticity for mattress longevity, and enhanced air circulation for protection against mould and mildew. |
GREEN SLEEP
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The best natural and biological components
Natural Rubber for flexibility, resilience and minimal compaction
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Where to Find Green Sleep Mattress? INFORMATION AND ADVICE Monique Toubeix Specialist and Advisor Natural Products For more informations or answers to you questions or 514-792-0281Green Sleep is Exclusive Only in
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Oct 14
HOUSEHOLD PRODUCTS ECOLOGICAL-Montreal-Laval Quebec CANADA
Consultation with various sections of our site probably raises the following questions:Are there alternatives to everyday products? What are the possible solutions to the issues raised in the documents andvideos? Thus, we can suggest several possible solutions, we look forward to further at afuture meeting.
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ADVANTAGEReduced prices
CUSTOM NATURAL PRODUCTS
The order products are easily accessible via the Internet with an online store to carry all your shopping in peace. Also, by phone using your catalog that includes all products and a 1-800 number connected directly to distribution center Delivered directly to your home
Enter in the subject: « About Natural Products » Offer in all this Country CANADA -USA -MEXIQUE -AUSTRALIE -NOUVELLE ZÉLANDE -SINGAPOUR -JAPON- CHINE -CORÉE -ROYAUME UNI -IRLANDE-PAYS BAS -JAMAIQUE -BAHAMAS
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SLEEP WELL History and sociology of the sleep
SLEEP WELL History and Sociology of the SLEEP make your night a DEEP SLEEP I have two gods, you and sleep, the two of you mean everything to me.
Goethe to Charlotte van Stein
SLEEP WELL
1. « Four out of ten Belgians sleep badly«
Source: Het Nieuwsblad 5-10-2004
Why do we actually still sleep? Of all primates, the human being already sleeps least. Did, a century ago, Thomas Edison not contend that with the invention of electricity and artificial light, sleeping in fact becomes unnecessary? Indeed, having to go to sleep because it is too dark to go out hunting safely or to gather food, today for most people belongs to the past.
In fact, artificial light makes it possible to have factories work day and night in 3 shifts, to have shops open 24 hours a day, to have a dazzling nightlife and even to do all kinds of interesting things at home at night and not to have to sleep. Indeed, why do we actually still sleep?
Why do we “lose” 1/3 of our lives to something that is like “being death”?
Do we really enjoy that so much?
| Chronic short-sleepers Napoleon Bonaparte was on the alert day and night, and thus suffered from a chronic sleep deficiency. He only slept short sleeps, never exceeding a few hours. Thomas Edison invented artificial light and thought sleeping was “a deplorable regression to the primitive conduct of cavemen.” Albert Einstein was a frequent sleeper, both during the night and by day, he regularly doze off. He pretended that it contributed to his creativity. |
Nevertheless, there is something that forces us to sleep. Is it the tiredness of our muscles and mind that creates the need for sleep? Or do our genes in a circadian 24 hours rhythm order us to go to sleep right now? Science has no straightforward answer yet.
As Homo Sapiens we have had a long evolution history. Today we still have the body of the hunter-gatherer, including the coccyx. From a long time before the first Homo Habilis until recently, the human being was extremely vulnerable when it grew dark.
He lived solitarily or in group, but had to remain observant at all times. When he slept, he hided and protected himself as much as possible in caves or on higher places where the entrance or entry could be watched over. As our ancestors were occupied with keeping up a fire, watching and other survival activities, they subconsciously felt it was not permitted to sleep through for several hours a day. Their nights were interrupted several times by active moments. Today, primitive population groups still sleep several successive short sleeps at night. By organizing themselves into groups and hierarchies, the night watch could be reduced to a restricted group and the others could slowly evolve into the modern social sleep, in which the shorter sleeps are linked up and people sleep through, preferably without waking up in between.
| We fall asleep under the influence of vapours that ascend from our stomach. Aristotle, Greek philosopher |
SLEEP WELL
In the Western world, we indeed mostly sleep a sleep that consists of 5 stages that are in turn divided in different phases. When studying sleep behavior outside the European continent and during many study tours, I found that many population groups still have quite different sleeping habits.
The distinctive feature of their sleep behavior is that population groups that still live very close to nature, do not sleep “through” the night, but actively interrupt their sleep. It was also found that the climate is as important as darkness when it comes to explaining the widespread “afternoon nap”. Even in China, most factories and offices are closed down at noon. In Japan, it is still very popular to have a nap behind your desk at noon. At 5 o’clock in the morning, Bombay already shimmers with activity and the inhabitants of Abidjan only get the hang of things at 11 o’clock in the evening.
Not everyone sleeps out his sleeping needs in the same way; frequent shorter sleeps on the ground, a couch, a seat or a bed spread over the entire day are more common than our modern social sleep in a neatly made-up bed from 11 o’clock in the evening till 7 o’clock in the morning. In the Western world, we evolved from sleepers in a nest or cave to more protected rooms or turret rooms, where people and families sat around a fire and looked for the warmth and protection of one another. They slept on beds that protected them against moisture, cold and vermin. These beds mainly consisted of skins, bags filled with all kinds of elastic materials and blankets that were even spread out over the chest with the most precious belongings.
The Greeks and Romans lived and ate on their beds. In the Middle Ages, the most combative slept sitting in full battle regalia to be able to swing into action while naked men, women and children cozily dived in a bed under the skins. Victorian prudery and new ideas on hygiene brought nightclothes, nightcaps, individual bedrooms and beds. French kings received their subjects while half-sitting/half-lying in their beds.
Today, 70% of the people still sleep together with someone else and some hundred years ago the Western world adopted the habit of sleeping in individual bedrooms where parents and children can retire.
Since the invention of the metal spring mattress and the bed box, we sleep completely horizontally and the hassock-pillows have gradually made way for modern more or less hygienically sound beds.
6. Women sleep on their sides, men sleep on their fronts or sides
SLEEP WELL
A survey conducted in 1996 amongst 2,000 of my customers showed that 78% of the women are slide sleepers, while 72% of the men are side/belly sleepers. That’s only logical as in earlier days, most women were constantly pregnant and therefore had not many options left. In addition, by lying on their sides, women were able to better protect the fetus.
In fact, men are better protected by their backs and they can get up much more rapidly from the side/belly position. Other studies reveal that 15% sleep on their backs, 24% on their left sides, 47% on their right sides and 14% on their bellies.
But when we lie down, we often lie on our backs. This change is not only caused by mattresses that are much too hard and thus disturb our sleep profile, but also results from the introduction of electrically sit adjustable bed bases that brought King Television even into the bedroom. We now have light, digitalized communication, a worldwide information network… at our disposal 24 hours a day. And at night too, we permanently have access to all kinds of amusement and recreation… even in our bedroom.
| The king sleeps on his back, the sage on his side and the rich man on his belly. |
We work and travel at night and yet feel that we so build up some kind of sleep debt. Perhaps we indeed can function 24 hours a day without losing much time to sleeping. When comparing the technological changes over the last century to our overall evolution, they took place in a symbolic second, while our body took 30,000 years to evolve from the homo sapiens into modern man.
Since the light bulb was invented in 1936, we technically can handle night work, our lives can become more and more hectic and we can even gather information or find entertainment in the middle of the night.
| Number of hours of sleep per 24 hours Donkey 3 Horse 3 Cow 4 Dolphin 7 Pig 8 Dog 9 Chimpanzee 10 Gorilla 12 Cat 15 Bat 20 |
But, how flexible is our sleep need? Do we really just waste one third of our lives? The more I learn about sleeping, the more I realize that the problems we face today are rather due to a sleep deficiency than to a waste of time through sleeping. For one thing bad-sleeping is the worst ailment of our times, and for another thing modern, technological society and higher life expectancy just require that we, even more than in the past, optimally utilize our sleep.
In sleep labs all over the world, sleep debt was created under lab conditions and the behavior of test subjects was studied.Each study shows that even the slightest sleep deficiency has us function less efficiently. For that matter, short naps in the daytime resulting from this sleep deficiency actually are the biggest cause of accidents, both at work and on the road.
So, what is it that makes sleep so important? That is what you should know!
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