Insomnia
Natural Remedies

Natural Remedies for Insomnia: A Comprehensive Guide

The comments below reflect the personal experiences and opinions of readers and do not represent medical advice or the views of this website. The information shared has not been evaluated by the FDA and is not intended to diagnose, treat, or prevent any disease or health condition. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional for medical concerns.

Melatonin

20 User Reviews
5 star (15) 
  75%
4 star (1) 
  5%
1 star (3) 
  15%
(1) 
  5%

Posted by Trudyg (Waynesboro, Va) on 05/02/2013

I was on all sorts of pharmaceuticals to control chronic migraine for years, finally got off everything. Melatonin is a definite trigger for me--0.5mg and I'm vomiting, need drugs for migraine, can't see--if you have migraines, be careful.


Melatonin
Posted by Brad (Shreveport, Louisiana) on 09/16/2011
★★★★★

2 things come right to my mind for sleep issues:

Sleep Assure (a melatonin + supplement) and Sleepy time tea. I have tried both and they both work well. Also, never take benadryl or anti- depressents before bed.. both can act as stimulates.

I had a stroke in 20005 at 28 y/o. so anything I say or propose, is something I have already tried or experimented with.


Melatonin
Posted by Sharon (Wesley Chapel, Fl) on 07/26/2011
★★★★★

l have taken melatonin for years for insomnia that came on during menopause. The first time l took it l took a large dose (5 tabs of 5 mg each). It took 3 days before l got a full nights sleep but it worked mostly. I was able to cut back to 10 mg a night after 3 days. The only times it didn't work were because l had drunk some kind of caffeinated beverage after 6 pm at night.


Melatonin
Posted by Jeremiah (San Diego, California) on 06/28/2009
★★★★★

I have found that Melatonin is extremely beneficial in helping me get to bed. This is on top of the Seroquel that I already take, which is dosed at 100mg. I usually start off with 3 mgs. of Melatonin, and if that doesn't help, I take another 3 mgs. (because the supplement that I take only comes in 3 mg. tablets).

The usual recommended dose of Melatonin to start with is 5 mgs., and then take it from there. This is a extremely effective supplement, and I would recommend it first before anything else.


Melatonin
Posted by Melinda (Tucson, Arizona) on 01/24/2009
★☆☆☆☆

NAY- I have tried Melatonin and I did not find it to be a good alternative for insomnia. Firstly I am on a antidepressant-Lexapro, and I feel like Melatonin really makes my depression worse, and it's effectiveness was inconstant, one time I felt real drowsy and slept good, another time only slept a few hours then woke up again. My boyfriend's Mom also tried it and said it did not work for her either.

Replied by Bob
(Ohrid, Macedonia)
10/11/2009
★☆☆☆☆

WARNING!

Cow brain is a major source of melatonin. Buyer beware!

Replied by Sherri
(Hobart, Tasmania Australia)
10/13/2010

To Bob I have never heard of cow brain, can u plz explain what it is :)


Melatonin
Posted by Cathy (Richmond Hill, Canada) on 02/29/2008
★★★★★

Insomnia: My kids have a hard time sleeping at night. I've struggled for about 10 years trying to put my ADHD girl to bed at night. The older she became, the worse it was, telling me to "get lost" when I came in the room at 11:00 p.m. She would just continue on the computer and ignore me. It was very depressing. I had to sleep so I would just go and leave her alone. Her dad didn't help much. Rescue remedy! melatonin! I bought the chewable kind and used to give it to her when I was totally exasperated at 10 or 11 p.m. Now I give it to her at 8 or 8:30 p.m. and now she jumps into bed by 9 or 9:30 p.m. What a miracle! Why did it take me so long to figure that one out? She was sleep deprived for many years!


Melatonin
Posted by Stephanie (NC) on 10/20/2005
★★★★★

Melatonin is WONDERFUL! My daughter (11 yrs.) has always had terrible problems going to sleep...until I started her on Melatonin. She takes 1 pill (300 mcg.) about 1-1/2 hrs. before bed and has had no trouble falling asleep since the first time she took Melatonin. Also have a 22 yr. old nephew who has had sleep problems for a few years. He takes a larger dose before bedtime - has been falling asleep at bedtime with no problems since his first dose. What a God-send!!!


Melatonin
Posted by Lisa (Vero Beach)
★★★★★

I have found melatonin to work well for sleep. Also just heard magnesium prior to sleep works - I will be trying that tonight.


Melatonin
Posted by Rob (Gilbert, Arizona)
★★★★★

Melatonin has been a God-send for me. I'm a terrible insomniac, especially on business trip. I don't like druggy meds, so I tried melatonin several years ago. About 20 minutes after taking one I drifted quite naturally off to sleep. Now, I still take them occassionally, but usually just the thought that they're in the medicine cabinet is enough to relax me to sleep! Melotonin induces the body's 'down time' mechanisms which night owls like me tend to inhibit. Now I know to relax, read a book, watch tv, or just 'chill' about 20 minutes before bed, this behavior allows the body to naturally produce it's own melatonin and drift peacefully to sleep. - sleep tight!


Melatonin
Posted by Hannah (Vancouver, BC)
★★★★★

Melatonin has also been beneficial to me for sleep. I also use at varying times: -lavender essential oil rubbed into my skin (with a carrier oil) spray lavender water in the bedroom -take a "tea" of honey and apple cider vinegar (adjusting to taste) with water. (1/4 cup does the trick). -another idea, is to turn off the electrical things (like tv, computer etc) an hour before bed to allow the body to slow down and let it's natural melatonin do it's job. Turn off the lights and light a candle and have quiet time an hour before bed. Sweet dreams!


Mental Chatter Remedies

Posted by Trudy (Va) on 07/31/2013

I'm still struggling to get some restorative sleep. I have tried everything suggested at Earth Clinic and many others. One real problem for me is that my mind chatters constantly--I don't rehash daily events, but skip from topic to topic almost like I'm writing a story. Also, I have pretty bad neck pain that prevents me from sleeping. I take astaxanthin & serrapeptase for the pain. Also, I take coffea cruda for the mind chatter. Please help me. I emailed Ted over 2 months ago and have not heard back. Thanks.

Replied by Suzy
(Eugene, Or)
07/31/2013

I found to have a CD player set up to repeat helps! I have a Dr Wayne Dyer CD-- The I am Mediations... It is not really music but tuning forks.... So you can listen to it and not really get caught up "the lyric or the tune" I made my own CD mix with the second track on the CD repeated 3 times (as the trak is 20 minutes long). Then I play that with my CD set to repeat.

Replied by Trudy
(Al)
08/01/2013

I have several cds and other wav files with white noise, sleep sounds, binaural beats, etc. Nothing has worked yet. I am very good at picking out patterns, so I know where I am in the sequence and talk to myself about how long it will be before x occurs, etc. I am right this minute listening to Ted's cat purring while I'm at work. Can't hurt and if it helps the arthirits pain I'm all for it.


Mexican Oatmeal Drink

1 User Review
5 star (1) 
  100%

Posted by MARY (ARCADIA, CA) on 05/22/2024
★★★★★

I am so sorry. After many years of searching for the Mexican Oatmeal drink, I finally found it.

When I could not sleep, my mom would make this for me. Enjoy. Here is the recipe

OATMEAL DRINK

Ingredients

▢ ½ cup ground rolled oats or oat flour
▢ 3 cups unsweetened almond milk or milk
▢ 1 cinnamon stick
▢ ⅓ cup brown sugar or 2 oz Piloncillo or Turbinado more according to taste
▢ ¼ teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions

1. Grind the oats in a blender or small food processor until it reaches a thick flour consistency.

½ cup ground rolled oats

2. In a small pot, add all ingredients and bring to a soft boil

3 cups unsweetened almond milk, 1 cinnamon stick, ⅓ cup brown sugar or 2 oz Piloncillo, ¼ teaspoon vanilla extract

3. Lower the heat and simmer for 10 minutes, stirring often making sure the milk does not boil over.

4. Remove from heat and serve hot in mugs.

Replied by Mama to Many
(Tennessee)
05/24/2024

Mary,

Thank you for sharing. This sounds amazing. I love oats in many forms. Oats are so nutritious. I will definitely be trying this. :)

~Mama to Many~


Milk

1 User Review
5 star (1) 
  100%

Posted by WT (Spartanburg, SC) on 05/29/2008
★★★★★

Insomnia and Milk: I'm ADD and always have been. Also have allergies which peak at night, coincidentally when I do my best thinking... However if I can't get to sleep I will drink a half glass (8oz) of milk, right out of the fridge. {A regular sized glass is about 16 oz.} If that doesn't do it quickly I drink another half glass and repeat until I'm knocked out! Usually about a glass and a half is all it ever takes, no matter how "wide awake" I am. Just for proportion sake, I'm 6' male about 215 lbs. The warm milk we've all heard of is not necessary. Milk contains Tryptophan and calcium, both of which make you sleepy.

Replied by Jessica
(Melbourne, Australia)
07/15/2014

Warm milk never works for me, and also makes me get up to go to the toilet later.


Mudras

Posted by Bee (New York) on 03/24/2014

Hello, Oh; I just found this modality called Mudra.. I have been practicing it .. You use meditation and hand positions for curing disease or manifesting things.. Well I am not sure its working.. I tried it for sleep and didn't sleep.....anyone know how long it takes to work? I have been doing it on and off days and nights for a week now? Thank You

Replied by Mikr62
(Denver)
03/25/2014

Bee: Hops extract has many favorable reviews on amazon for sleep. Xanthohumol, a close cousin of resveratrol, is an aromatization inhibitor that prevents good hormones from becoming bad hormones, a possible cause of insomnia.

Replied by Bee
(New York)
03/25/2014

Mike from Denver..thank you but I was also wondering if the Mudra has worked for anyone or has anyone tried it and has seen any difference in their health..

Replied by Karen
(New York, Ny)
03/27/2014

Hi Bee, have you tried taking powdered magnesium in water before trying these exercises at night? I find a deep feeling of relaxation kicks in 20 minutes after drinking magnesium. That might help! The mudras practice looks interesting. Let us know how that goes.

Replied by Bee
(New York)
03/27/2014

HI Karen,

I use the magnesium oil on my skin everyday.. Mostly rub it on at night..Do I need more oil or is the drink more effective..?? I am weaning off some awful medication thus the insomnia.. Check utube for Mudras... Thank You for the reply

Replied by Karen
(New York, Ny)
03/27/2014

Hi Bee, I have also tried magnesium chloride oil and find that the powder works better on my brain and in relaxing me. If I don't take it at night, I don't sleep as well or feel as rested! I will check out the mudra videos on YouTube, thanks.


Multiple Remedies

9 User Reviews
5 star (3) 
  33%
3 star (1) 
  11%
1 star (4) 
  44%
(1) 
  11%

Posted by lucy (nashville, tn) on 03/14/2022

some of the herbal remedies for sleep all make my legs so restless!! I've tried valerian, hops, 5http, chamomile, melatonin, and some antihistamines. jump like frog legs, I am so tired..

Replied by Art
(California)
03/16/2022
2325 posts

lucy,

Some people find this specific magnesium combo useful for both sleep and RLS. Read some of the reviews on those specific topics.

Art



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