Snoring should be regarded as the noise-producing menace to society (and relationships) that it is. According to several doctors — and at least one naturopath — there is no need to accept the nightly rumble as an incurable ailment.

Natural Heath Magazine called in three experts to provide definitive, and differing, solutions for conquering snoring.

Michael Seidman, M.D., an otolaryngologist and medical director for Integrative Medicine at the Henry Ford Health System in Detroit, attributes snoring to an excess of tissue at the back of the throat which blocks the upper airway. Heavy people are most prone to this tissue accumulation, but if the snorer is not overweight, Seidman recommends talking to a physician about possible surgical treatment.

Sarah Nath Zallek, M.D., a neurologist and medical director of the OSF Saint Francis Sleep Disorders Center in Peoria, Ill., suggests exploring a new sleeping position. Snorers who sleep on their side or stomach may find that they are instantly cured. To stay off the back, Zallek shares a tough-love tip: sew tennis balls into the back and shoulders of a pajama top.

Keith F. Zeitlin, N.D., a naturopathic physician in Wallingford, CT, thinks snoring is the result of inflamed or swollen sinus passages that are triggered by allergies or colds. He suggests a variety of natural antihistamines like Nettle-leaf tea, hespiridin and guercetin to reduce swelling. Another theory, based on Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) connects alcohol to snoring. Alcohol is said to challenge spleen chi which causes mucus to clog the sinuses.

(Illustration: ChildrenMinistry.com)