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.
Ear Plugs
Posted by Becky (Louisville, KY)
★★★★★
I have suffered with chronic insomnia and am a strong believer in using earplugs (plus my husband has a breathing machine for his sleep apnea) but make sure they are a high enough level. I got my sister in law to try sleeping with them but she didn't give it enough time. It can be bothersome at first and you need to know that earplugs won't block out all sound. You can hear the clock radio, you can hear your child cry from their bedroom, you can hear your partner speak to you but you'll probably want to take the earplugs out for a conversation!
Ear Plugs
Posted by Joella (Newport Beach, CA)
★★★★★
I had been suffering for months from restless sleep. Couldn't figure out why I was waking up so often in the middle of the night. And then, even if I slept through the night, I would awaken feeling like I hadn't slept at all. Then I went on vacation and brought some soft foam ear plugs with me in case of a loud hotel neighbor. Even though it was a quiet hotel, I decided to try to sleep with the ear plugs anyway. I noticed a difference in the quality of sleep immediately. It was unbelievable. I awoke feeling deeply rested. What a relief! At any rate, I decided to try this at home in Los Angeles and see if my restful sleep continued. Sure enough, it did. After a few months of this, I went back to sleeping without ear plugs and haven't had a problem since. I highly recommend this simple and inexpensive tool for people suffering from lack of quality sleep. I think the reason this works so well is because all but two sounds are blocked: the sound of your own breath and the thump thump of your heart beat. Doesn't get any more peaceful than that! No dogs barking, airplanes flying overhead, husband snoring beside you... I think that outside sounds wake us up far more than we realize, contributing to a restless night of sleep.
Ear Plugs
Posted by Diane (Magnolia Springs, AL)
★★★★★
20 years ago I had moved from the country to the city in a townhouse. I began waking all hours of the night I tried everything and nothing seem to work. I visited my doctor and thank goodness he did not believe in medications instead he tested my hearing. Well, I have exceptional hearing and all the busy city noises were waking me so he suggested ear plugs and I have been wearing them for 20 years. I change them often and clean my ears with peroxide. Many people ask aren't you afraid someone will break in and I tell them that I can still hear very well with them, it just blocks out the high pitch noices of A/C and cars, etc
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!
Sleep Mask
Posted by Leslie (Toronto, Canada) on 03/22/2006
★★★★★
I tend to forget to wear it, but a few yrs back my friend got me a sleep mask for my eyes. Whenever I wear this mask, I have the DEEPEST sleeps and most vivid dreams. Without the mask, it usually takes me ages to fall asleep, and even when I do, I'm always waking up. I suggest these masks to anyone who has trouble staying asleep. My only concern is that it does such a good job at keeping my eyes in darkness, that I've rolled right off the bed a couple times when waking up, because I'm disoriented and don't realize where I am on the bed. A small price to pay though for some needed sleep!
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.
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!!
The Pillow Method
Posted by Tammie (Greensboro)
★★★★★
This works everytime for me. Put a fat pillow under your legs/knees and take your pillow out from under your head (make your head level with or below your heart). I can lay awake for hours but as soon as I do this, I'm asleep within 10 mins.
L-Glutamine
Posted by Victoria (Florence, KY) on 02/26/2006
★★★★★
I tried L-Glutamine after complete colon cleanse and Candida treatment called ThreeLac. Insomnia was one of the symptoms that surprisingly disappeared. While L-Glutamine is an amino acid, and supports the body in many ways, I learned through this experience (and the guidance of a very good Holistic Chiropractor) that when this amino acid is first introduced into the body, the colon just loves it, and sucks it up. As the mucous membranes of the colon are regenerated, insomnia is one of the symptoms that fall to the wayside. I did use the L-Glutamine after a round of the candida treatment, which irradicates an overgrowth of Candida and helps to balance the pH levels of the colon and body. There is also product called HGH at night, which is rich in L-Glutamine, but this is not the original source that I took. I originally took a powder form, about 1,500 mcg. daily, first thing in the morning, as it is loaded with protein and jump starts the metabolism.
Amino Acids
Posted by James Wallace (Seattle , Washington) on 05/19/2007
★★★★★
Recently I wanted to increase my body's growth hormone production to repair stressed muscles. I read in a book on physiology that people who don't sleep well do no release enough growth hormone in the first few hours of sleep to repair the stress of muscles caused during the day. The book pointed to studies of taking the amino acids L-Arginine and L-Glutamine an hour or less before going to bed.
So I bought the two amino acids (500 mg strength each) and took one of each. I got the muscle repair I wanted. But something else happened - I SLEPT THE WHOLE NIGHT THROUGH! And I have been sleeping soundly since.
I think this works like a two way street. Insomniacs don't release enough growth hormone: Increased growth hormone release causes sounder sleep.
Also you don't have to take Arginine and glutamine every night. Just 3 to 4 nights a week (I know this because I sometimes forget to take the capsules). So it works in a Ted kind of minimalist sort of way. I appreciate that Ted from Thailand is a minimalist in supplement taking. It's refreshing advice.
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.
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
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..
Wiggle the Toe Method
Posted by Hazel (London, England) on 07/04/2007
★★★★★
I had psychotic depression after my childs birth. I didn't sleep for days. A reflexologist told me this. You wiggle one toe, then the next one, then the next one and so on. Over and over. It works brilliantly, try it tonight!
Magnesium Citrate
Posted by Jann (Ocean, NJ) on 07/08/2007
★★★★★
A natural pharmacist once told me that everyone over the age of 50 shoud be taking 500mg. of magnesium CITRATE (3 capsules)before bedtime,& "they will sleep like a baby"! So my husband & I both tried it & we get 8 hrs. sleep each night! It took a few days to kick in, so dont give up.After a few months, I cut back to 320 mg (2 capsules) & it still works. Its been over a year already! I just love, love, love, your website! Thank you!!!!!!
