I suffer from insomnia: I fall asleep very easily, but wake up around 3am and can't get back to sleep. I have hot baths every evening and have tried valerian, but it doesn't work.

In traditional Chinese medicine, meridian energy flow fluctuates throughout a 24-hour cycle. Between 1am and 3am, the liver meridian is predominant, and an overworked liver may cause you to wake. Try cutting out alcohol, caffeine, rich, fatty foods, too much protein and foods to which you have an intolerance. Waking at this time could also indicate exhaustion of the adrenal glands from stress. The natural health writer Hazel Courteney suggests reflexology, homeopathy, meditation, acupuncture, hypnotherapy or neurolinguistic programming. She has lots of advice in her book 500 Of The Most Important Health Tips You'll Ever Need (Cico Books). Foods that can help are lettuce, oats, beans, fish, turkey, chicken, bananas, wheatgerm, avocados and warm milk. Make your evening meal light and mainly carbohydrate. B complex vitamins, calcium and magnesium daily can also help. Soporific herbs include hops, camomile, passiflora, skullcap and valerian. Combinations may work for you: try Potters NewRelax with Sweet Dreams (01942 405100, pottersherbal.co.uk).

My husband is always 'mucousy'. The mucous is clear and not thick.

The mucous is due to an allergic response. First, avoid dairy products (particularly cow's milk) for two weeks and see if things improve. Otherwise, the intolerance might be due to another factor. The British Institute for Allergy and Environmental Therapy (01974 241376) trains practitioners to pinpoint allergens.

· Emma Mitchell is a natural health therapist. Before following Emma's recommendations, you should consult your GP about any medical problems or special health conditions.

Send your questions to Wellbeing, Guardian Weekend, 119 Farringdon Road, London EC1R 3ER. Email: ask.emma@theguardian.com.