Natural remedies for insomnia
Posted , 8 users are following.
Hi ladies!
My menopausal insomnia is back after a short break of a few months and it's horrible! I feel super sleepy at 8pm but right when I hit the pillow, I start feeling nervous, can t get comfortable, I have adrenaline rushes and general discomfort. When I eventually fall asleep after a couple of hours of tossing, turning and feeling really bad, I wake up every hour, literally, and the whole cycle starts all over again... I have taken valium a few times. It works but I don t want to get addicted to it. Do you have any suggestions for natural herbs/supplements that have worked for you to battle insomnia? I am going to try melatonin today, the strongest pills available but I ve read it s hit and miss with this one. I have a 20 hour flight in a week and the mere thought of being sleepless in a tiny seat for all that time plus the jet lag I ll have when I get there sends my anxiety through the roof and makes it even harder to sleep as I keep telling myself that I need to relax and be well rested. Any suggestions appreciated.
0 likes, 8 replies
debra16694 synaesthAsia
Posted
hi there - have you tried Valerian root? i have taken that from the health food store & it does help me - also for flights, i usually take benedryl, but check first to make sure it doesnt amp you up - my saving grace most nights is i take a hot bath with epsom salt with lavendar, drink sleepy time tea, take magnesium glycinol and smother lavendar cream or oil all over me - also, dont look at your computer or phone an hour before bed, sleep in a completely dark room @ 65 degrees - do not turn on the light even to go to the bathrroom -
kelly55079 synaesthAsia
Posted
Magnesium helps me stay asleep I believe. I take it before bed.I also have Varlerian root just in case I really can't sleep.
synaesthAsia
Posted
Thank you for your recommendations. I tried Valerian root once but maybe I took took much because it made my blood pressure,which is naturally bit on the low side of normal, drop a lot. I had similar experience with magnesium pills but I do well on magnesium spray. I m going to give Valerian another go in pill form this time. I really need to start sleeping properly.
kelly55079 synaesthAsia
Posted
I know you mentioned the 'natural route'.. But have you considered a low-dose of something to try at night? My friend takes like .5 or even 10 mg at night. She says she doesn't use it everynight just when she really needs it.Also, have you tried exercise at night? I used to exercise after work and hit the hot tub after--- makes you relaxed and sleepy! My mom has to use the treadmill after dinner otherwise she doesn't sleep well.
synaesthAsia kelly55079
Posted
I always have Valium around as a last resort solution. I break a 10mg pill in 4 but I m too afraid of getting addicted so I use it very sporadically. As for exercise at night, I do yoga every day and I work out but cardio after 6 pm energizes me too much and makes it even more difficult to sleep unfortunately.
janeben synaesthAsia
Posted
Hi
I've also suffered for years, as you do now...although still not going through the night, I am a little more settled with the odd bad night.
I used to find that Valerian capsules opened into warm oat milk before bed ( or crushed pills),
seemed to work better for me.
Have also tried CBD oil...may have helped to calm me but now smoother my pulse points with pure Lavender oil, simply read until sleepy then try to settle my brain by deep breathing and thinking mundane thoughts, like meals for next day!
I do still wake around 4-5 (sometimes earlier) then try to drift off. It's better than has been for years...so this is manageable!
Hope these ideas help a little!
Guest synaesthAsia
Posted
Like the other respondents I take magnesium, but I take it in the morning. The spray wasn't enough for me and I had to go back to taking supplements as well. I also take a herbal tincture called ashwagandha (that is the name of the herb not the company that I buy it from) which helps with anxiety.
My anxiety tends to be worst at night. As soon as I shut my eyes I get all these anxious thoughts, racing heart and horrible fear of what might happen if......... This tincture doesn't stop the thoughts (I guess I need to take some responsibility for that), but it does stop my body's reaction to them. I can be lying in bed worrying about awful scenarios, but I don't have any of the symptoms associated with the thought. The thought comes, gets no reaction, and goes. Another comes and goes and so on. It was actually quite interesting experiencing feeling calm to these horrible thoughts. I found it very helpful.
synaesthAsia Guest
Posted
Thank you Kate. I was taking Ashwagandha for a while. Hard to say if it worked... It seemed to give me a boost of energy for a while. Like many of us I am sluggish during the day and restless at night. After a while it kinda stopped working. Tonight I am going to try 5htp and melatonin and see what happens. I hope it works somewhat, somehow. My next step will be to re approach Valerian root. I m willing to experiment with different suggestions within reason... I m really anxious about my trip too. I am visiting my boyfriend who I haven t seen in months and I d like to be in decent shape mentally and emotionally, which seems like mission impossible right now 😦