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.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by RM (Missoula Mt) on 10/06/2021
★★★★★
Apple Cider Vinegar
Helps you go to sleep. Pills (Nature's Bounty) work well, take 2-3. And stop eating wheat gluten which is the cause of so many ailments including insomnia in myself. 50 year old male.
Melatonin
Posted by Art (California) on 08/02/2020 2326 posts
★★★★★
Gertjr,
I forgot to mention to you regarding your IBSD because I was so busy talking about melatonin usage for sleep. Look into low dose naltrexone (LDN) for the IBSD, because if it works for you as it has for others, that relief is also likely to help ameliorate your sleep issues. Melatonin may also be useful for this issue, but quality studies on this specific health issue are insufficient, but the known methods of action for melatonin would also tend to suggest potential benefit from melatonin.
Art
Melatonin
Posted by Dee (Florida) on 01/16/2022
I realize everyone reacts differently to doses and remedies. I have trouble falling asleep and staying asleep. There are many causes. I think my cause is my blood sugar goes up during the night and wee morning hours. I tried so many remedies, what works for me at night is 6mg. Melatonin and 1 cup of Organic So. African Red Rooibos Tea. I buy it (80 bags) on Amazon, the tea relaxes. Everyone has to find the right dosage of melatonin that works for them.
Reduce Cortisol Levels
Posted by Molly (San Francisco) on 03/04/2019
★★★★★
I had terrible insomnia for 6 years following the birth of my first child. I was 37 when it started. I took several different sleep drugs during that time: Lorazipam, Trazadone, Benedryl. They made me depressed, so I was also taking a morning antidepressant. I did not like how flat and foggy I felt, and I worried that my sleep quality was not natural. I finally went to a naturopathic doctor who tested my cortisol levels and found that that hormone was not cycling properly for me. I took a natural supplement to suppress cortisol at 9:00 pm every night for about a month. I also improved my diet (no gluten, no milk and no sugar). Within a few months, I was off all drugs and sleeping great. Now I only take it if I stay up too late and feel that a second wind is keeping me awake. I have started waking around 4 in the morning lately, and I've found that a tablespoon of MCT oil helps me get back to sleep quickly. I've also started having a healthy carb and fat snack before bed (usually sweet potato with butter and salt and a little Brain Octane Oil). When my kids have insomnia or restless legs, they get magnesium - either lotion or drink. I used to put lavender essential oil on their pillows as well, when they were having trouble sleeping. Sleep hygiene is great too, but when my cortisol was off, no amount of sleep hygiene could get me a full night of sleep. Also, if I start eating poorly (too much gluten and/or sugar), it can bring some sleep issues back for awhile. And if I don't eat 2 healthy meals during the day, that can also cause my sleep to suffer. I would recommend seeing a naturopath for help in discovering the underlying cause of your sleeplessness, if possible. I am so thankful that I finally did!
Lettuce Tea
Posted by Mary Martinez (Arcadia, Ca) on 02/21/2018
★★★★★
LETTUCE TEA. For insomnia
I found this recipe from a lady I buy plants from. She said that her baby grandaughter was very troublesome so he said she rubbed the baby with lettuce leaves and placed a few underneath her pilllow as well and the baby went right to sleep! I found the recipe on the computer here it is:
How to Make Lettuce Leaf Tea
If you are wondering what else to do with all that lettuce laying around the house - try making a great cup of tea for insomnia. This simple recipe for lettuce tea will help you with insomnia and also acts as a mild sedative. The recipe was found in a 40 year old herbal medicine book - and I have tried it. It works ever so gently.
After the basic recipe there is more information about the particular lettuce that I chose, romaine, which is by far more nutritious than iceberg. I always recommend that lettuce be bought organic only.
Recipe for Lettuce Leaf Tea:
- 2 outer leaves of organic romaine lettuce
- 8 ounces of water
Thoroughly wash the leaves and then simmer for 20 minutes in the 1/2 pint of water.
Strain and drink before bedtime
How often should I drink it? - While it is recommended as a nightly drink - I'd suggest trying it first on the weekend when you don't have to get up for work and see how you feel. It is supposed to have sedative effects and I found the next day that I wanted to lay around and read a book. I didn't feel tired but wanted to lay around - it felt quite good. Perhaps that is the sedative effect.
Read the full article: https://hubpages.com/food/Make-Lettuce-Tea-for-Insomnia
Lettuce Tea
Posted by Mama To Many (Tn) on 02/22/2018
Mary,
This is great!
100 years ago, Beatrix Potter wrote about the "soporific effect of lettuce on the Flopsy Bunnies" in a children book! The bunnies were sound asleep from eating too much lettuce.
I guess she knew what she was talking about!
Thanks!
~Mama to Many~
Breathing Exercises
Posted by Mary Lee (Coaldale, Colorado) on 08/31/2017
★★★★★
I've been doing deep breathing exercises with Dr. Andrew Weil and they have given me the rest I need. They have also helped with my blood pressure, my atrial fibulation, and my moods. You can get his tape just about anywhere. He's amazing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And so are his instructions for breathing.
Nettle Tea
Posted by Rsw (Oh) on 07/22/2016
Thank you, Mama, for taking your time to look into this. I can imagine how busy you must be with you family, farm animals and all the reading and remedies you prepare. You have generously helped so many of us here on Earth Clinic with you knowledge and advice, using herbs most of us are not familiar with, in ways we would never have discovered without you!
Zinc
Posted by Dianec (California) on 10/02/2015
★★★★★
Dear Flippside (Tampa, Fl),
The Zinc worked like a charm!!! I only used it once at 15 mg. and not only was I asleep in half an hour amazingly I had tremendous energy all day! I had been dragging for weeks and not sleeping! And without taking anything I am sleepy right now. But I am taking one tab of Zinc right now!
I can't believe the energy I have with only one tab of zinc!
Thanks so much for posting this!
Oil Pulling
Posted by Lily (Los Angeles, Ca) on 08/06/2015
★★★★★
Another great remedy I have found for sleeplessness/anxiety is oil pulling, specifically before bed or in the evening. I know you're supposed to oil pull in the morning before eating, but when I oil with Grapeseed oil it makes me so tired and feel so relaxed, it's really something I need to do at night!
I have tried various oils - coconut - which was quite possibly the WORST thing for anxiety - my heart was racing for days - BE CAREFUL with coconut oil if you are prone to anxiety! I tried several other oils and didn't feel much of anything, but GRAPESEED OIL is like taking a sedative for me. I feel so calm and could sleep for 12 hours, the deepest sleep with very vivid dreams. A must try for people with anxiety and insomnia!!
Niacinamide
Posted by Lisa (Southern California, US) on 03/02/2015
★★★★★
Niacinamide, which is vitamin B3, will make you very sleepy. I have trouble getting to sleep due to menopause. I take 1000 mg of nicacinamide 1 hour before bed with about two small bites of food. Don't take regular niacin as it produces a flush to your skin and has other side effects. Niacinamide does NOT have these side effects or make you flush. It might be better to start at 1 pill which is 500 mg. One side effect is it may lower your cholesterol.
Hypnic Jerks
Posted by Anthony (Ireland) on 09/30/2021
★★★★★
I too suffered from hypnic jerks, past tense. It was my medication that was causing them, taking magnesium out of the system. I would get them when trying to fall asleep and just before you dose off, they would jerk you awake again. one night I jumped out of bed with one scary. Too much tea coffee and alcohol would also take magnesuim out of the system. I would get them real bad on a Sunday night if I was out drinking Saturday night. Now I take magnesium citrate two hours before bed 400mg with a snack, magnesium by solgar best quality. Not that expensive for a month's supply. Cut back on tea coffee and alcohol.
Cherry Juice
Posted by Deidre (Fairfield County, Ct) on 03/30/2014
★★★★★
I have struggled with Insomnia most of my life, and prefer natural alternatives versus prescription or over the counter drugs. Have recently started taking Tart Cherry Juice at night, about an hour before bed - and it makes an amazing difference. It doesn't make you "groggy" but rather just takes the edge off and relaxes you to induce good sleep. I usually take eight teaspoons with water (fill up to eight ounces), again around an hour before bed - and it really helps. Just wanted to share, as I know many people suffer from degrading insomnia!
Selective Insomnia
Posted by Rsw (Uniontown, Oh) on 08/31/2013
It sounds like your Father feels very safe with you, and is able to relax and go to sleep when he stays at your house. He can look forward to the safety of seeing you the next morning. You must be very loving that he feels this way around you. When my Mother became somewhat frail and lived alone, I got her a Lifeline necklace, and she liked to talk with the people who checked to make sure it was working and felt secure. When she had to move into an assisted living facility (she lives in FL and would not move up North near any of us), I let her keep it for a few months until she felt safe there, even though she didn't need it anymore. Maybe you could program his phone with your number so he felt he could call you if he panics, but, of course, you need your sleep, too. You are to be admired for the care and concern you have for your Father, and it sounds like you are doing the best that you can under the circumstances.
Kefir
Posted by Gina (Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada) on 10/18/2012
★★★★★
I've been plagued with insomnia for a very long time and had a little success with melatonin and 5-HTP.
However, after reading a book on controlling low blood sugar, I found a total insomnia cure. Simply have about 3/4 cup of plain yogurt or Kefir immediately before going to bed, and anytime you wake up at night. You will fall asleep easily, quickly, soundly. It's important that it's plain yogurt (either cow or goat) NOT soy, NO additives, NO fruit, and NOT just milk (all of these have natural or added sugars or lactose which will wreak havoc on your pancreas and defeat the purpose) Plain yogurt and kefir are essenitally free of lactose (milk sugar) because the probiotic bacteria have already digested this substance. Goat and Cow yogurt are both high in tryptophan , a natural precurosor to melatonin, htp, and seratonin, which are the chemicals your brain produces to cue your body to relax and sleep.
I incidentally cured my reflux with this, too. Even though you are told Not to eat at bedtime if you have reflux (gerd), I think the probiotics in my kefir snacks actually healed the lower esophogeal sphincter ( which controls the reflux)
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.
Magnesium
Posted by Maria De Suecia (London, United Kingdom) on 10/24/2010
★★★★★
Oh my god! I have suffered ruthless episodes of insomnia the last 6 years. This has destroyed my life. As a result I had to withdraw from my PhD program, for example. I simply would not be able to sleep at all, for months at a time. Finally a doctor put me on a very sedating antidepressant. It made me sleep but made me drowsy all day and I lost my short term memory. I got off that 2 years ago and have since had poor sleep but I have slept for a few hours. Anyway, 2 weeks ago I got a new episode. I would lay awake for hours and when I finally began to dose off my body would jerk and twitch so I would wake up again. And so it went on the entire night.
Finally I googled "insomnia and twitching" and got thousands of hits saying "magnesium deficiency". One site in particular said "if you suffer from insomnia, body jerks and twitches, chest and back pain and cannot take deep breaths, then you should take magnesium. " So I read thousands of sites and found one particular brand of magnesium that seemed to help the best. I assume I cannot mention the brand here but it's a powder form and you must mix it with hot water. Given the severity of my insomnia I didn't think a mineral would ever do the trick, but what could I loose? So I ordered it as a last resort before going to the doctor to get sleeping pills. I am not kidding you, day 1 was better, day 2 even better and since day 3 I have slept like a rock for 8.5 hours straight. My chest and back pain are almost gone and I can breath properly.
I have read countless of anecdotes by people discussing insomnia and magnesium. It seems as if absorption is a big problem. Please don't give up if the first attempt doesn't work. Go to the health food store and ask for the brand that has the best absorption. If you do get a good intake of calcium you may be magnesium deficient and may do better on magnesium alone. Otherwise magnesium and calcium is recommended. Personally I take 800 mg/night. Google it! Given my severity of insomnia I am blown away that it all came down to a mineral. WOW!!!
Magnesium
Posted by Jean H. (Us) on 04/15/2018
If the magnesium oil stings, it's an indication that your body is low in magnesium so dilute the oil with a bit of purified water so it doesn't sting. You can also make a magnesium body butter with 2 parts cocoa, shea or mango butter, 1 part coconut oil and 1 part magnesium oil. Melt butter and oil over double boiler, stir to help emulsify. Allow to cool for about 20 minutes. Slowly mix magnesium oil in butter/oil mixture, mix with hand mixer. Put in the fridge for about 20 minutes to cool and then blend a second time with hand mixer and put in container. I saved a large necked jar from some herbs for my dogs that I use that works well. A teaspoon of the body butter provides approximately 250 mg of magnesium chloride.
Iodine
Posted by Allmymarbles (New York City, New York) on 04/04/2010
★★★★★
For 30 years I suffered from ever-worsening insomnia. The cause was never found, but it was suggested slyly that I was neurotic. Ultimately I developed short-term memory loss and my exhaustion was profound.
One winter I developed a craving for clams and could not seem to get enough of them. I noticed that occasionally I had short periods of normal sleep. Then it hit me - iodine! I had myself tested for hypothyroidism. The result was positive. And I was furious. I never got help from the medical profession, lived for years as a zombie, and had to find the cure all by myself! Thanks to potassium iodide I sleep just fine. Although I started at a higher dosage, I currently take only four drops of 5 per cent solution a week. Now if I could get a refund of all the money I wasted on doctors who resorted to facile psychology instead of medicine . . . .
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Ravi S (Dallas, Texas) on 12/20/2009
★★★★★
Last night I was reading on ACV/Honey, ACV/baking soda for sleep disorders. Decided to give it a try. I took ACV/Honey one teaspoon each in a cup of warm water at 9.09pm. By 9.30pm I started winding down and by 10pm, I was fast asleep. I had FEWER disturbance. My problem earlier was to get back to sleep if i am disturbed and that happened frequently. This seemed to work pretty good and I woke up real fresh.
Sea Salt
Posted by Jennie (Adelaide, South Australia, Australia) on 03/09/2012
★★★★★
I have had great success with this over the past week!
"Sea salt is very important for regulating sleep. It is a natural hypnotic. If you drink a full glass of water then put a few grains of sea salt on your tongue and let it stay there, you will fall into a natural, deep sleep. Don't use salts on your tongue without drinking water for repeated use of salt alone might cause nosebleeds". http://nzungseraphine.hubpages.com/hub/SOME-HIDDEN-MIRACLES-OF-SEA-SALT
Coconut Oil
Posted by Rosemarie (Carlsbad, CA) on 10/06/2007
★★★★★
I am on my 3rd week using vco and have lost 10 pounds, sleeping through the night, and having more energy. I have cut out gluten from my diet, milk, and coffee also. Now I am going to get my husband to take it..
Coconut Oil
Posted by jeffrey (bournemouth, ENGLAND) on 06/07/2007
★★★★★
COCONUT OIL CURED MY INSOMNIA ACID REFLUX AND GAVE ME LOTS OF ENERGY. I AM TYPE 2 DIABETIC THIS OIL HAS GIVEN ME MY LIFE BACK IFEEL SO WELL PLEASE PLEASE TRY IT I AM 63 YEARS OLD AND HAVE NEVER FELT SO WELL IN YEARS
Avoid Sugar
Posted by Michele (Los Angeles, California) on 06/13/2024
★★★★★
My big problem for years was my sleep but I managed to solve the problem. I worked a lot on nutrition and I had eliminated, as is often said, gluten and dairy products and lots of other things to no avail. Well, I finally found: it's the sugar and so I no longer have dessert and from the first day I had a big improvement in my sleep. It's really hard not to have dessert and nothing sweet but it's worth it. All I have now during the day is a few fruit.
