A good night’s sleep is the foundation of proper health. From our internal organs to the way our brains work, every function of our body relies on rest. But with more demands from world, the gravitational pull of devices, and skyrocketing stress, the sleep that we need is more elusive than ever.

If you’re worried about those restless nights, you’re not alone. More than one-third of U.S. adults sleep less than seven hours per night, on average. Nearly half of U.S. workers say they are regularly tired during the day and poor sleep results in unplanned absences from work that cost the U.S. economy $44.6 billion each year.

So your quality of sleep isn’t just your problem. It’s something that communities, doctors, and even the government are keeping an open eye on. So what’s the deal with sleep really and how can we get a good night’s rest once and for all? That’s what we are going to talk about today. Let’s meet our experts.

Dr. Mary Tracey is a Naturopathic Physician whose areas of focus include women’s health, pain management, and chronic disease intervention. She is passionate about the inner workings of the human body and utilizes methods that promote long-term states of health and wellness for her patients.

Dr. Kate Zachau is an Osteopathic Family Medicine Physician who works with patients to determine the root cause of their symptoms in alignment with naturopathic and osteopathic philosophies. She specifically works with women as they move through menopause and her passion for integrative medicine is most notable in the modalities of mind-body medicine, nutrition, and osteopathic manipulation.

In today's episode, Dr. Tracey and Dr. Zachau mention several of their favorite tools for good sleep:

• Binaural Beats

Here on Your Health Toolkit, we often talk about how conventional and naturopathic medicine can play complementary roles in our overall health. We call this “collaborative medicine” and through the work that we do at Collaborative Natural Health Partners, we are able to give people the knowledge and the tools they need to feel great every single day. If you’re interested in learning more, head over to our website or follow us on Facebook or Instagram for information, articles, and resources to take the guesswork out of your health.

Your Health Toolkit is a podcast presented for general information and educational purposes only. The discussions presented by Dr. Lauren Young and the show’s guests should not be considered medical advice but rather a conversation starter with your doctor. Everyone’s body is unique, and we recommend having a discussion with your personal healthcare team before trying anything discussed on the show.