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
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.
Magnesium
Posted by Mike (Montreal, Quebec, Canada) on 01/17/2011
Maria, your post is exactly what this site is all about!!! I to have suffered from insomnia for many years and would have never guessed that it was magnesium related. That is why this site is so valuable for curing illnesses because it tends to promote the idea that "NATURAL PRODUCTS ARE THE BEST WAY TO CURE ALL MINOR ILLNESS THAT POTENTIALLY CAN LEAD TO IRREPARABLE SERIOUS ILLNESSES IN THE LONG RUN".
Thanks Earth Clinic since this is not the first illness I was able to treat just by reading from the experience of others. Perfect example how Prescription and Over The Counter Drugs once again has no place in the human body! You might Google to find out which food has the highest magnesium content and change your eating habit accordingly. Mike
Chrysanthemum
Posted by Cindar (Vancouver, Wa) on 10/18/2010
★★★★★
My husband has suffered with insomnia his entire life. As anyone who has or has lived with someone who has insomnia, it is life impacting. Through some research I found that Chrysanthemums can reduce anxiety and help you to relax. I initially got the idea to help his anxiety, however, it has proven to be a huge aid in helping him sleep. Put 2 or more flower heads from a living Chrysanthemum (Mum)plant per large coffee cup of boiling/steaming water. Cover and steep for 5-8 mins. I also have been adding 1-2 bruised Mum plant leaves. He is yawning by the time he finishes the tea. This in place of the WIDE variety of medications he has taken is such a relief. He had been taking chemical medications like: seroquel, lunesta, ambient, restoril along with many others to work in conjunction. This has been heaven sent with NO SIDE EFFECTS.
5 HTP
Posted by Steve (Las Vegas, Nevada) on 11/07/2012
I have found that valerien root, passion flower, melatonin, and 5htp all help me to get a good night sleep. You have to experiment a bit to see what is the right amount of each to take. If you have emotional issues, worry, anxiety etc that are keeping you awake I recommend doing EFT or emotional freedom techniques. You can google EFT tapping points for insomnia and get lots of info/videos.
5 HTP
Posted by Baldev (Mumbai, Maharashtra, India) on 11/09/2012 180 posts
Hi Judy, Some times we miss the things available in our own kitchen. Try a pinch of ground Nutmeg in a cup of milk before going to sleep. It works. Good Luck, Baldev
5 HTP
Posted by Andrea C (Cardiff, Wales) on 04/15/2013
I had really bad side effects from 5-htp. I couldn't sleep, and every joint in my body hurt!!! It was 100mg slow release. I tried again 2 weeks later, same effects!!!! I threw them out, and found out these are known side effects to 5-htp. love Andrea C xxx
Iodine
Posted by Jenny (Uk) on 09/06/2018
I live in the UK but get my melatonin from the USA from Iherb. It's very cheap and if you choose the slower shipping, very cheap to ship or even free depending on the spend.
Elderberry Extract
Posted by Samuel (Seattle, Wa) on 09/22/2009
★★★★★
I have discovered that elderberry extract is great for insomnia-2 tablespoons. Plus it really does get rid of flu or cold fast.
Borax
Posted by Leelannee (Sussex, Nj) on 09/08/2009
★★★★★
I read about using 1/8 - 1/4 teaspoon of borax in water for various health issues, although not insomnia specifically. I decided to try it, and right away noticed that I was able to fall asleep easily and sleep through the night better. I've had insomnia & nightmares for years & have tried many natural supplements & remedies. I'm often tired but don't feel sleepy...after so many years of insomnia, I LOVE that delicious sleepy feeling! Magnesium has worked ok for me but gets expensive & sometimes I'd be awake for an hour or more after sleeping for just a few minutes. Perhaps the borax is detoxifying flouride or something from my body, or killing off a fungus that was affecting my health. However, I've skipped the borax twice in the last few weeks and had a horrible time that same night. I've read that boron helps you absorb calcium better, and calcium helps you relax and sleep, so maybe that's why it's helping me. In the morning I prepare a liter bottle with 1/4 teaspoon borax and sip it throughout the day. Even if I finish it in the early afternoon or drink the whole bottle an hour before bed, it seems to work.
EC: More about borax here.
Borax
Posted by Quixote (Las Vegas, NV) on 03/11/2012
maybe you need some vitamin B-1-it helps with nightmares but you should also take a balanced Vitamin B complex so you dont cause an imbalance-usually about 20 miligrams handles it for me.
Borax
Posted by Lucinda (London, On, Canada) on 09/06/2012
Re: Nightmares, sleeplessness. In the book, FOOD AND THE GUT REACTION, page 11 tells us that milk/dairy products can cause terrible nightmares or night terrors. This was the case with our son, as a teenager. A chance conversation alerted us to this information, and his nightmares stopped immediately. Good luck.
Catnip
Posted by Peacepasstethallunderstanding (Usa ) on 05/04/2018
★★★★★
For those searching for insomnia helps I like to try tinctures. Catnip has helped along with skullcap. If I wake middle of night tincture of catnip and the 4-7-8 breathing has helped. I got a Saliva hormone level test that verified my need for help.
Coconut Oil
Posted by Tim (Chicago, Illinois) on 04/10/2014
★☆☆☆☆
Unfortunately coconut oil made me extremely jittery with heart racing.
Eliminate EMFs
Posted by Kaz (Boston, Ma) on 02/29/2012
I had same issue.. Really troubled sleep, trouble getting to sleep, waking up and trouble getting back to sleep, waking before dawn and just giving up. I actually bought myself an EMF reader like the ones the ghost hunters use in order to find EMF free place in bedroom. The ONLY high EMFs were from my clock radio that I had for years. I first moved it the length of the cord away from the head of my bed and for the first time in years slept all through the night. I got rid of it and bought battery alarm clock and have in past two months only had two bad nights sleep.. Both I believe from drinking sugary and chocolately martinis!
Valerian Root
Posted by Saskia (TKPK, MD, USA) on 10/15/2008
★★★★★
I just started taking Valerian Capsules (500 mg) right before going to bed for my insomnia, and it works GREAT!! I used to not be able to fall asleep until 4 am, and was always sleepy and groggy when I woke up no matter how many hours of sleep I got. The first night I took one capsule at 11:30, and although I did fall asleep, I woke up around 2:30, and was unable to fall back asleep until I took another capsule an hour later. However, last night I took two capsules before going to sleep, at around midnight, and I fell asleep, slept through the night, and woke up at 7:30 (my alarm was set for 8:30!!) feeling awake and refreshed. I wasn't groggy and when I woke up I was ready to get out of bed- which is usually never the case!
So from now on I will be taking 1000 mg of Valerian Root every night for about a month, and then I'll see if I can sleep on a regular schedule without it. Now I'm not sleepy in my morning classes anymore! I highly recommend it- and I'm so happy I found a natural remedy for insomnia, I love this website! (I found Vegetarian Valerian Root capsules in the GNC section of my RiteAid, so it shouldn't be too difficult to find for anyone else) Good luck!
5 HTP
Posted by Marcella (Moscow, Idaho) on 02/02/2009
I would like to know at what time did you take the 5HTP and how many mg?
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!
ACV, Baking Soda and Cayenne
Posted by Myra (Oc, CA) on 08/11/2014
Dear butterfly, I think you are experiencing candida kill. Look up candida in earthclinic. Fortify your system by taking the supplements recommended to help during the candida kill process. I too have candida and am reading and following the recommended process. God bless you and keep you!
Cumin Seeds
Posted by T.Srikantharajah (London, United Kingdom) on 11/27/2007
★★★★★
Cumin seeds: Cumin seeds, when boiled in plenty of water and drunk as a herbal tea before bedtime, can help counteract insomnia. It also contains anti-cancer agents carevol and limonene.
Potassium Iodine, Magnetic Pillow
Posted by Laurin (KC, MO) on 09/18/2007
★★★★★
I am writing to say thanks to Ted who wrote me saying that my problem was probably a calcified pineal gland. I have searched for answers to my insomnia for years spent thousands of dollars for both traditional medical and alternative help and only Ted helped me!!!! I know God allowed me to find this answer through him and I want to say thanks to God, earthclinic and many many blessings to TED! After Ted posted the probable cause, I eliminated ALL fluoride from my life (water, toothpaste, mouthwash, etc.). It is shocking how much of this poison has been put into our products as it is present even in health food store brands. I was already applying Potassium Iodine externally (since I developed an iodine allergy, this is only way I have been able to take it.) I also got a magnetic pillow pad which helps sleep but is also said to help the body detox. Now months later I went out into the bright light and did not enter that hyper alert state. Although I also tried the lime juice and ACV drink, I was not faithful but fortunately what I did was enough. To Ted and earthclinic, you are helping many people and offer a great service to mankind. Thanks again and blessings.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Robin (Dallas, Texas) on 09/18/2007
★★★☆☆BETTER BUT WITH SIDE EFFECTS
I feel I sleep better when taking ACV and since I have a problem with high blood pressure it is helpful in that regard also. I do have a problem though, whenever I take it for awhile, like 3 or 4 days I get constipated. Do you know why? Lately I have been taking it by itself, I don't like it with juice or water, however, I could go back to taking it that way.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Kaybe (Bristol, TN) on 02/25/2009
I get constipated with vinegar also...and I only use Organic, with "the Mother".
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Whisperingsage (N Ca) on 01/14/2017 45 posts
ACV pops out gallstones- I have read other comments on it causing constipation, and that might be from freeing up gallstones (which can cause diarrhea), and the GERD symptoms definitely can be a sign of gallstones.
Coconut Oil
Posted by Andrea (Vancouver, British Columbia) on 12/06/2009
You can do oil pulling with coconut oil. Place 1 tbsp. coconut oil in your mouth; It will desove from your body tempurature. Start swishing it around in your mouth, around your gums for 15 min. Poke your index finger into your cheeks. Spit it into the toilet, when you are done, and rinse several times. No more irritating itches and sinus congestions.
Chamomile
Posted by Aimee (Honolulu, Hawaii) on 05/22/2007
★★★★★
I've had sleep problems for as long as I can remember and it doesn't help that I'm also bipolar. I've tried everything from mind tricks and herbal remedies to over the counter pills but one thing I found that seems to work like a charm is half a cup of chamomile tea mixed with half a cup of milk. The drink should be warm, not hot, so what I do is make cup of the tea by heating it in the microwave for about 2 minutes and then adding the milk afterwards allowing the tea to heat the milk. After drinking it, I'm asleep within half an hour.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Karin Street (Us) on 09/12/2013
Reply to Cheryl's question about ACV. It's the potassium in ACV that helps w/ so many ailments, isn't it? Eating much salt causes us to need more potassium than we can get in foods.
Bananas
Posted by Eric (Mt. Airy, Maryland) on 03/07/2007
★★★★★
For me, its not eating a bannana before bed, rather incorporating bannanas into my diet. If I eat 1 or 2 a day I can fall asleep with no problems whatsoever.
Sam-E
Posted by Sharon (Boston, MA) on 02/04/2007
★★★★★
My husband had a habit of waking up at 2:00am in terrible anxiety every night. ' The rest of the night was toss and turn, toss and turn. I started him on SamE and overnight, the pattern ceased. Now he loves it and takes it every night. No more insomnia, no more anxiety, no more depression. Good stuff!
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Scott (Oil City) on 10/15/2006
★★★★★
I have been suffering from acid reflux for about 8 years .I have been to the doctor and have been on all of the prescription ppi drugs,currently on prilosec otc.I always had to back them up with tums ,Rolaids ect.None work for the long term. Tried ACV two nights ago seems to work. I have also for the last year been having problems sleeping, which then gave me migraines. I had my best sleep in two years the last two nights. Don't know if the ACV had any thing to do with that , but I love the side effect.
Magnesium
Posted by Donna (Aspen, CO) on 07/20/2006
★★★★★
It makes me sleep great, just magnesium, without the calcium. My brother told me that magnesium is a natural muscle relaxant~ like valium!
Bananas
Posted by Leah (Victoria BC) on 03/06/2006
★★★★★
Try eating a banana at bedtime. My stepfather suggested this when a girl he knew had a hard time sleeping after getting into drugs. I tried it & it worked!!
