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I am receiving Dr. Weil's newsletters and the last one was about Holy Basil. While he doesn't consider this supplement to be #1 in compating Stress, he does recognize it's benefits.
http://www.drweil.com and search for *holy basil*. (Unfortunately I don't know how to paste a link into the wordprocessor).
I haven't tried it myself yet; I just ordered a bottle. Will let you know how I made out.
'mary_327' wrote:I have suffered from Insomnia for years. I would like to find how others deal with their insomnia, especially about alternative health solutions.
Hi Mary;
I assume you are looking for other treatments besides prescription medication?!
i suffered from Insomnia only a few months last year and as I found out, it was a side effect of one of the antibiotics i had to take for a very bad gum infection and took antibiotics for 4 months. Especially the one kind (Clarythromycin) played havoc with my mind. Wild dreams at night, restlessness and insomnia during the night and anxiety during the day. It all subsided within 4 weeks after I quit taking this medication.
Anyway during this time I tried a lot of alternative remedies and what worked for me best was L-Theanine, which is found in green tea and has no addictive or any other negative side effects. it is amazing how it works.
There are other remedies like St. John's Wort, Passion flower or Valerian root, and it is said, that you have to take these for a few weeks before they start working. i didn't had the patient to wait that long.
I never tried prescription medication, because they only work for a short while and then loose their effectiveness. So, I don't know what you are experiencing; i can only give you my testimony and you pick what might workj for you.
Good luck.
When the things that “go bump in the night” seem like sonic booms and wake you from sleep, the problem could be magnesium deficiency. Among its many important qualities, magnesium has a calming effect on the nervous system. In fact, magnesium has recently received considerable attention as an inexpensive dietary supplement that can resolve and alleviate many sleep disturbances.nicole,
Read more at http://www.nutrition…s/insomnia.html
It's only for those knowing a good thing when they see it, even if they don't see it nearly enough; you are obviously not one of them.
The link I provided was only meant for those, who are searching for something different then prescription drugs, for various reasons.
Since you had your experience with homeopathic remedies already, the link was not meant for you.
Hello and welcome to insomnia land. From your post it's easy to conclude that *worrying* keeps you sleepless at night. I can only advise you to leave those worries of yours surely and slowly behind, because worrying is totally unproductive. It makes you sick in the long run and you won't be good to anybody. Worrying has never solved a problem. I am sure you know that yourself, but sometimes we need to hear it from someone else.
In 2011 I suffered from insomnia for about two months; it has since resolved and I just stick around to read all the news. As a sleeping aid I recommend
*5-HTP* which is a naturally occuring amino acid; it converts into serotonin. It is certainly better than sleeping drugs which are all habit forming.
jita
Hi Michelle,
sorry to hear about your insomnia and the resulting problems with your boyfriend. First of all, it seems that you need to reset your internal clock. If you sleep during the day after a sleepless night, of course you are not going to be tired at night. What you need to do after a sleepless night, is to stay awake during the day, so that you are really tired at night.
It requires some discipline on your part to stay awake during the day, but with some willpower you will be able to handle it.
Let us know how it goes.
jita
'InsomniAmy' wrote on '03:Valerian Root does help a bit, at least it did me, but I had a lot of trouble not gagging from the aroma and taste of it. What's 5-HTP? I'm a little twitchy about natural supplements, because they do not have to pass any FDA tests and can cause side effects that are quite natural (hey, arsenic and many other poisons are natural), so I do like to do my research prior to trying them.
Oh, and I'm not saying prescription meds are any better–if you've read my intro post(s), you'll know why.
Amy
Hi Amy – before I answer your question, let me first *welcome you* as I haven't done so yet. I just joined this group a few days earlier than you, so I am just as new as you are. I understand why some people find the taste of Valerian Root a bit offending; it doesn't bother me. I always get used to annoying smells and tastes quite quickly.
5-HTP is a natural occurring amino acid, which converts into serotonin. http://www.naturesnutrition.com/SKU/32826.htm
Serotonin is responsible for mood, hunger and sleep. Long term trials of 5-HTP have not been conducted and there might be adverse side effects in some individuals. http://www.dietspotlight.com/5-htp-review/
Do a *Google search* and you'll find tons of info on 5-HTP.
I have very little faith in the FDA. Did you know that the antibiotic *Clindamycin* has caused death in many unsuspecting people? This antibiotic has the potential to cause *C diff.* in some people, and is fatal if left untreated. Fortunately the pharmacist made me aware of it; my dentist did not. Yet the FDA has not taken it of the market yet.
While you are at it, do some research on L-Theanine; it did wonders for my anxiety.
'BobbyP' wrote on '27:Thank you for the warm welcomes from so many people! I'm so glad I found all of you.
I have not found too many “tricks” to improving my sleep, but I am hopeful every night. By the way, I was wondering if others in Insomnialand have the same dread of the upcoming time change as I always do, i.e. we add an hour on that Saturday night (November 5th this year). I always dread it because it means the night is that much longer so I have to try even harder to get through until I can “allow” myself to get up. Looking at the clock is so depressing — “Is it only that time?? I was hoping it was later so I could finally get up!” So that extra hour is only misery for me. Do others feel that way?
Welcome Bobby! I am also a new member and i am suffering from Insomnia for the past two months. It started rather suddenly when my GP put me back on Atenolol; apparently insomnia is a side effect of Atenolol. you see I am over 55 years too, so the thought that it could be age related crossed my mind too, but the sudden onset made me think differently again. I am firmly convinced that apart from the actual triggers causing the insomnia in the first place, our thoughts and habit forming tendencies are to blame by now, because the fear and worries for not being able to sleep have taken over. That's why some people go for CBT to retrain their system. As a retiree i have of course the luxury to be able to sleep any time of the day, so worrying during bouts of insomnia is not on my agenda anymore. Instead i get up and watch television, and believe it or not – this has happened to me several times – I fell asleep and slept right in the chair until morning.
Apparently the herbal remedy *Valerian root* has been scientifically proven to prevent sleeplessness, but you have to take it for approx. 2-3 weeks until you feel any effects. I am currently building up on it and I will post if I am successful. If this doesn't work, I will try 5-HTP which is also a natural supplement and is also been proven effective against anxiety and insomnia.
Some people take melatonin, but it didn't work for me. And quite frankly I don't want to give my body the impression, that he doesn't has to produce melatonin.
'Martin' wrote on '27:Welcome to Insomnia Land, Jita and thank you for taking the time to introduce yourself.
As for insomnia being a symptom of aging, in my research for the Insomnia Land blog I often come across information that suggests we sleep less as we get older, but at the same time we naturally need less sleep as we age. This doesn't really explain your sudden affliction, though.
The only other research I have come across regarding aging and insomnia has to do with yellowing of the eyes:
If your insomnia began when you took the antibiotics, perhaps they're to blame. As for atenolol, the only time I have seen this associated with insomnia was in a study that used those taking atenolol to look at the effects of melatonin (it appeared to improve sleep in those taking the drug):
http://www.insomnialand.com/blog/melatonin-may-relieve-insomnia-in-those-taking-beta-blockers/
If you are concerned that your doctor isn't being helpful, you should try to see another doctor. It may also be worth looking to see if there are any sleep specialists in your area. CBT may be worth investigating, too.
You are right, my sleep problems don't seem to be age related because of the sudden onset. The only explanation I have, is the atenolol causing it. Insomnia is being listed as one of the side effects of this medication, and my pharmacist advised me to take it in the morning instead at night.
As i mentioned in another reply, i had an improved sleeping experience last night (without any sleeping aids).
With regards to my GP, I need to look for another one. The only problem I have, is the difficulty finding one in Canada, because the majority don't accept new patients.
'MarinaFournier' wrote on '26:Interesting about the atenolol–I wouldn't have been able to notice any change in my insomnia from a new factor when I started on it. My endocrinologist, when last we met, looked at my lipids and other blood panel results, my controlled blood pressure, my acceptable-with-medication and unchanged Aic (quarterly diabetes cumulative score), listened to me unhappy with a sudden weight gain–my TSH is the best I've ever seen it, and I'm on 137mcg synthroid–feelings of leaden body, unrestful sleep (in spite of how many hours I drift in and out of sleep), and said: I don't understand your physiology. Well, I've always wanted a word with Whoever designed this body…
The leaden-ness did stop after I stopped taking Actos, for glucose control.
I am also retired and in my 60's; could these be symptoms of declining youth?[/quote]
While some folk over 70 have felt the need for less sleep, it doesn't necessarily follow that they got as much as they wanted. I may *need* less sleep, but what I get is not restful…and I'm a few years younger than you.
Trust me, you do have our understanding and sympathy!
[/quote]
Thank you! I had a blood count done and the results were normal.
The more I think about it, the more I get convinced, that my problem is not age related, because for this to be true the onset would've been more gradually. But I am hopeful, because last night i had the best sleep in two months; not perfect, but way better than what I am complaining about.
'Sahara' wrote on '25:Welcome jita! and NOOOOOO! definitely NOT from declining youth!!! 🙄 I am 58 and my insomnia started in my late 30's.
Your problem may very well have begun with the antibiotic. Unfortunately, along with killing the bad bacteria, they also kill the good. Acidophidus/Bifidus can rebalance this. Any health food store has it. As for melatonin and valerian…. I haven't had any +results from valerian and melatonin is usually taken in 3mg dose. I had a pain specialist tell me that because I (my body chemistry) was so resistant that I needed to take at least,9mg. You might want to up the dose. If you can get your doc to agree, you might want to get hormone levels checked. They can mess with us big time. It helps to read all the posters experiences and what works and didn't for them. Here's the rub, we are all so very different and insomnia is uniquely individual, what works for 100 people may not work for you. I wish you the best
Yes, I know about the Acidophilus; I have been taking this for the past 4 weeks. Too bad, melatonin hasn't been properly researched yet, so everybody has a different opinion, and there are a lot of those circulating the internet. One site claimed, that if melatonin doesn't help you fall or stay asleep, then you your melatonin level is not too low, or with other words you don't need it. Valerian on the other hand has been researched and was recognized as a potent sleeping aid. Apparently Valium is being made from Valerian.
'sleeplessinky' wrote on '20:Hi Daz…Thanks for sharing. I do suffer from anxiety and I'm so ready to try these suggestions. It is hard for me to determine which came first, the anxiety or the insomnia. I will be starting CBT in 2 weeks and hope that's the answer. I've tried everything else and nothing worked.
Hi…. I just introduced myself as a new insomniac. As a byproduct of my insomnia I also suffered from anxiety for about a month, which was in my opinion a side effect of an antibiotic I took at the time. I treated the anxiety with L-Theanine, which helped me tremendously. Maybe you tried it already, and if not, it's worth a try.
