Natural Remedies for Insomnia: A Comprehensive Guide

I have a British Facebook friend who lives in the Carribean. I was telling her I have a lot of trouble going to sleep at night, and I wake up completely exhausted, this friend told me they use Soursop tea, and this will make me very sleepy. I looked up the Net about it, and this Soursop seems to be quite a remarkable tree, the fruits are used to eat with icecream etc, the leaves are for making Soursop tea.

This Soursop sounds quite an amazing tree. I was wondering if any of your readers can tell me more about it, and if it can be bought in USA, I would definitely want to know the soarce of where the Soursop came from too. I read where Amazon sell the dried tea cost around $7.. But some woman had left a review of her disappointment not on what the product can do for our health, but she said of the way it was packed etc, I mean, how would we know it was the real thing. If there was anyone out there who could help me find some leaves I can purchase online from a reputable soarce, I would appreciate please. I am a New Zealander living in Kentucky USA

Thank you, Regards Jacqui
bjbr[at]nctc[dot]com

Jacqui, ... May I suggest you might search the tonic called 'GRAVIOLA' online. This is a soursop product.

Good luck..

Try one of the Jamaican stores, I brought a pack recently for roughly $2.00

i just found the videos on youtube that use sound waves or vibrations very helpful with sleep problems or trouble relaxing and very helpful in other areas such as boosting self esteem, boosting serotonin levels and self confidence. There are so many of them. The one that really helps me sleep is called Boost Your Energy Level with this Amazing Hypnosis Session and Feel Great. All you have to do is sit down and relax and go to youtube! Wish everyone health and happiness in the new year. Jackie

Yeah try some guided meditations. Sometimes you just get the right voice and words and POW out light a lightbulb.

Last night I wasn't able to get to sleep till 1:30 am, then I woke up at 3:43 am, I wasn't able to fall asleep at 1:30 am till my long distance boyfriend called me, and now he's off doing something and I'm still unable to sleep, I am thinking maybe I can't sleep because I don't want to fall asleep without him. Any help?

Dear Beckywolf,

An epsom salt bath before bed may be of help. 1 cup in a warm bath for 20 minutes. I take Natural Calm before bed (1 teaspoon) and sleep like a rock.

I hope you get some much desired and needed rest soon!

~Mama to Many~

Any suggestions for insomnia will be greatly appreciated.

I have tried magnesium, standard process min-tran, and terrible pills like ambien and lunesta, but nothing seems to help.

Ted can you please give some guidance.

Many thanks, T

Small glass of tart cherry juice at dinner. Or, eggnog with nutmeg (or any drink like warm apple cider with nutmeg). Don't look at bright lights 2 hours before bedtime. Melatonin supplements are good--take one around an hour before bedtime or read the bottle.

Tofu with soy bean sprouts, one hour before bed time works wonders for me.

I have and still use the Yogi Bed Time tea from time to time. I helps a little bit for me but not a significant difference. If you drink too much after 8pm it may wake you to urinate. This effect needs to be balanced with many herbal bed time teas.

I find the Nighty Night tea by Traditional Medicinals to be a biy more effective. But again, nothing dramatic, sublte and no urge to urinate at 4 AM.

Can anyone recomend any Chinese Herbs for sleep?

Could this be used to make alkaline water or a sports hydration drink?

You say that the Castor Oil is helping you to sleep, how are you using it, are you taking it by mouth, or just applying it to your eyes? Its would be nice to know of something else natural to help people sleep.

If you need help to sleep take Melatonin, it is marvalous, read up on it, it does a lot of good for the body, it is given to children also to help sleep, and it is not a narcotic.

What brand of sea salt did you use for insomnia?

I have heard and read about people on the net that cannot get to sleep, they don't want to go down the tablet route and ask advice? For years now I have used Lavendar Oil. It's safe and none addictive. Just a couple of drops on your pillow and you will get a good nights sleep. Regards

Not me, I was up all night thinking of how bad the smell was. Tried again after a week, put some on a cotton ball, same thing. Moved it farther away so no smell, but still no sleep.

The last distillation of lavender produces a "water". There is term for it which I have forgotten. We found it in CA, but anyone distilling the plant should have it. Sprayed on the face and pillow, it induces sleep. Gentle enough for the babies, and tho fragrant, does not have the intense scent of the oil. Works as well as warm milk or chamomile, but not well enough to overcome the intense pain of neuropathy.

Hi, I have had trouble sleeping for quite a while, and also have the twitching problem so bad sometimes that I feel like I want to run around the block. It doesn't happen every night but, I would sure like to sleep like you are I am going to give it a try. Thanks Pam

Magnesium that has the best absorption is magnesium citrate. Be sure to always check labels.

I have found this site for describing food with highest Magnesium content www.vaughns-1-pagers.com/food/magnesium-foods.htm

Maria, can you kindly email the name of the brand your are using to solve the insomnia issue. Surulere(at)gmail(dot)com

I'm wondering if red chrysanthemums will work. I googled mum tea and only saw white and yellow mentioned for tea, but all I have is red. Any idea why red would not be edible?

How does this work for insomnia? I'd be a little nervous as pyrethrum is also used as a pesticide.

I have been able to sleep less and less over the last few years. I have tried so many things to help get past my insomnia (I have trouble falling asleep and staying asleep). I heard about your website and searched for things to help me sleep. The only thing I had in the house that night was 5htp. I take it for mood but have always taken it in the mornings. I didn't think it would help but felt desperate so i tried it. I have been taking it for 9 nights and have only had trouble sleeping 2 of those nights; a HUGE improvement! Thank you!!!

I am having a real hard time finding something to help with my sleep problems. I have tried the magnesium, niacimide and soda with apple cider vinegar. No luck so far for myself but, amazing results for insomniac daughter. Thinking about trying 5 htp next. Any thought or suggestions would be appreciated.

Hello! I want to suggest you look into/try kelp tablets for your hypothyroidism--I prefer it to other sources of iodine because, of course, kelp is "found in nature" & contains many nutrients in a form that I feel is more compatible with the body than a synthesized form. Peace!

Flying Frog...How much Kelp do you take a day? Do you take it every day? Thanks

I'm currently using kelp, two teaspoons twice a day, I saw the post about potassium iodide and found it interesting because I just ordered some potassium iodide. I'll keep your post in mind in terms of the number of drops that you started with. The kelp hasn't helped with sleep so far, iodide is much stronger so that may be the issue. Another consideration is that there are various types of kelp, bladderwheck is the strongest, so that one may work. I've only taken it once so far, was using dulse, and I noticed the difference, it certainly is stronger!

Don't take your iodine late in the day, as that can worsen sleep.

If you use kelp you 1) don't get a lot of iodine and 2) may be getting heavy metals along with it. Check your source

Lugol's or Iodoral are sources of both Iodine and Potassium iodide, both forms of iodine that the body uses. You can make Lugol's yourself. Iodoral is the same proportions in tablet form.

I agree, iodine has helped my insomnia. I would have to take 2-3 mg melatonin every night and hated feeling dependent. I have been taking Lugol's for 5 days now (started with 2 drops of the 2% solution and have increased to 4) and I see an improvement. I have been able to decrease the melatonin to 1.5 mg and I feel pretty confident that I'll be able to eliminate the melatonin entirely! Even when I was woken in the night (something that would have me up for hours, normally), I was able to fall back asleep within 10 minutes or so.

BTW, I take the iodine in the morning, in cranberry juice.

I have had other positive effects with the iodine but will post about them after I've been using it for a couple of weeks.

Hi, I have just ordered Lugol's (5% iodine, 7% potassium iodide) because I am quite sure that I am iodine deficient. As you can't buy it anywhere in Europe I ordered it online. It is Hulda Clarks recipe and I have no idea how many drops to take. I saw the label on the site and it says one should take 6 drops a day, max. 3 days. This sounds like nonsense to me.... The lady selling it told me that in Hulda's book she advises 6 drops 4x a day for up to a week for stomach bacterial infections. All very confusing...... Dr. Brownstein says in his book that 1 drop of Lugol's 5% iodine and 10% potassium iodide amounts to 12,5mg. I think that the fact that Lugol's can come in so many combinations makes it very difficult to know how much to take. Right now I am at a loss so if anyone can help I would very much appreciate!

As far as insomnia goes I also hope that Lugol's will help me. Please keep us informed of any other changes you notice, I will do the same. I will be taking Lugol's for the insomnia, falling, weak hair, puffy eyes, dry skin..... By the way, I thought that Melatonin was a great thing after reading a book about it. It is not sold here in Europe so it is not something I can try!

Francisca, one drop of Lugol's (5% iodine, 10% iodide) is 6. 25 mg. There isn't really a set amount to take, it all depends on the person. I think it is generally believed that a maintenance dosage is 50 mg. Many people take more depending on what illnesses they may have. It might be best to start out slow and gradually increase your dose since many people can have detox symptoms. I have been taking Iodoral (pill form of Lugol's) since last March and I am up to 62. 5 mg. I have some thyroid issues and uterine fibroids along with sluggish adrenal glands. It is also recommended that you supplement iodine with Vitamin C, magnesium, selenium and unrefined sea salt (like Celtic). I think it is best to take it all at one time early in the day since taking it too late can cause sleep problems in some.

If you want to get some really good information I would suggest joining the iodine Yahoo group. The moderators are very knowledgeable and have lots of experience using iodine. The group owner had thyroid cancer and used very large doses of iodine to help cure herself.

Francesca, you can relatively easily buy iodine in Europe, just need to google it while entering the right keywords. By the way, Melatonin is sold in drugstores in the vitamin section, I did not enter a store yet where it was not sold and I have also seen it in several countries. I am not sure if you live at a really small place, or you don't look at the right place, but I would be more careful with generalizations about what you can and can't find in such a large area as Europe.

Francisca, if Melatonin is on the EU ban list, try 5 Hydroxytryptophan (5HTP) before retiring as it stimulates the penial gland to secrete melatonin. If 5HTP is not available try regular L-Tryptophan or foods high in T like Turkey.

Eva, I do live in a small town now but I used to live in France near Switzerland and Germany. I looked everywhere but I never found any melatonin, they told me that it wasn't allowed in the EU, only melatonin percursors. I am not sure but I think that I also asked in De Tuinen when I was in Holland last year. I am going to the UK next week and I can try again in a very good health food store where I mostly go to.

Lisa, now I feel even more hopeless... You say that one drop is 6,25 mg, Dr. Brownstein says it is 12,5mg.... I will try to find that Yahoo group and maybe I just start with one drop. I am taking vit. C, 1000mg a day, am using magnesium chloride transdermally (dilute myself in water) and will buy some selenium soon (I do eat walnuts most day as I picket a lot during the Autumn). I also take a bit of Celtic Salt now and then, apart from what I take in my food!

Thanks Timh, yes, melatonin percursor are allowed here. I tried one but it didn't really have any effect. I am not waiting to go the the UK next week and pick up the Lugol's I ordered on the Internet at my sister-in-law's. Actually my biggest problem is my husband's snoring. Once he wakes me up I have trouble going back to sleep and by now I am not used to sleeping all night anymore. When he leaves early in the morning I often sleep like I am in a coma just then I wake up too late and have difficulty sleeping in the evening again!

Francisca, I am taking the same strength as you, although I bought mine from J. Crows. I began with 1 drop a day (which is 6. 25 mg) and worked up to 8 drops a day (which is 50 mg) as Dr Brownstein reccommends. I'll continue with that dose for 2-3 months and then taper down to a daily maintaence dose of 2 drops a day (12. 5 mg) for life as recommended.

Just be sure to take it on an empty stomach and wait an hour or so before before eating or taking any supplements (read my post earlier in this thread).

Linda :-)

Thanks Linda, I will pick it up on Friday evening so will start on Saturday morning. Funny enough I can't find the instructions of how to take it in Dr. Brownsteins book. Are you sure that one should take it one hour before eating? I hope that it can be done during the day or else I will have to wait for 1 hour before having breakfast, which is not always possible! I underline the books I read in order to find anything of importance more easily but I couldn't find that information....

To Francisca from Zug,

The number of milligrams per drop can differ very widely dependent upon the size of the dropper used, and additionally the exact mg amount will differ dependent upon whether the drop is released from a dropper held exactly vertically, or from a dropper which is slanted sideways at the time the drop is released. So it is a ballpark, but not precise to talk about how many drops = 1 milligram, etc.

Exact precision with Lugol's 5% (that's what I have) is not usually critical, unless there is some special case-specific medical circumstance. Lugol's has been in extensive use in the USA for more than 100 years. Its use and effects are well-documented and easily findable on the web.

Dr. Brownstein is a good source of info on this. Also there is an Iodine Supplementation forum (VWT Forum) on Curezone where many knowledgeable folks have posted their own experiences with it for several years.

I have taken from 1 drop per day to more than 15 with a standard-sized eyedropper orally off and on for months at a time, for probably 12 years now. So IMHO not necessary to stress about a milligram difference here and there. Just always start with less and err on the side of caution, and work up very slowly. I would not take it without having food in my stomach *first*.

If I am uncertain about its effects, I can paint it on my skin.

Linda

Hi Francisca, I think you're way safer ingesting it with food and water, than off by itself. Iodine is some pretty strong stuff. I like to have a buffer around it, just the same as when I take Cayenne Pepper. Just because you can get it past your teeth and down the hatch doesn't mean it won't burn something else. Those are tender little mucous membranes down there.

I take 5-8 drops of Lugol's every morning, I just drip it into the last half-inch of coffee in the bottom of my coffee cup and slug it down during breakfast :-).

I also drop it into Orange Juice if I'm not having coffee that day :-).

I like strong tastes to wipe out the chemical flavor of Iodine.

I think about it this way: after Iodine was removed from bread is when more people began to be deficient in it. So it works when baked into bread. Nobody ingests bread without eating :-).

Don't stress over the timing too much.

Linda :-)

Kelp tablets are not efficient. You need to take 5-10 of them to get a single gram of iodine. I recommend Lugols, and increased seafood consumption. For those outside of the US, you may be able to buy iodine tabs in higher doses. I know iodoral is available some places.

Mel, could you tell us exactly how you used the castor oil? Thanks

Hi SK, I tried the expensive omega which has 380 mg EPA and 510 mg DHA for about a week now, I did not notice any change on my sleeping pattern. I take a total of 3,000 -4,000 mg a day of omega, still I'm not sleeping any better. I will keep taking it for other health benefits.

I have postpartum insomnia for about 4 months now. I have tried just about everything, they work temporarily, and then I had to switch to something else. Still searching.

Leelannee-any idea if this could by employed for a toddler? My granddaughter is 17 months old and is waking up during the night; since her crib rail has been removed, she crawls out of bed and sometimes is awake for an hour or more....this has been happening since the rail was removed and she started sleeping in her 'big girl bed'....part of it could be simply because she knows she CAN get out of bed - it's been happening for a month, or more, and her parents are pretty sleepy much of the time!!

We solved the problem of baby falling over the top crib rail by taking (sawing) one slat out of one side at the end of the crib. The baby found his way out, but it was a little bit tight, so he stayed in at night.

Linda: Sorry, I don't know about recommending this for a small child. I use such a small amount, and I imagine a child would need only a fraction of that; but her sleeplessness could be caused by something totally different than mine, or something in her diet. When my son was little, I used homeopathic remedies (rather than herbs or supplements) because they are usually very safe.

Leelannee, were you having problems sleeping and having nightmares due to anxiety? I just wondered if this relaxed you overall.

I really have no idea what causes the nightmares--I guess it's stress or a nutritional deficiency, but these probably vary over time. The nightmares became worse for a couple of years after my boyfriend died in 2006, but I've had them and/or the sleeplessness for at least a decade...then sometimes I'll sleep better for a while, but I have no idea why. I also have bi-polar disorder, and sometimes would barely sleep for 3 days during a manic episode; however, I haven't had a severe episode in almost 3 years, since being on medication.

@Leelannee: Thanx for the remedy post. Your logic seems accurate, but you didn't inform us as to type 1 or 2 diabetes and anything else that might be helping. Let us know how the Borax goes.

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

Can you please provide the form (citrate?) of magnesium you are taking? Thank you.

My mum is 65 years old and has been experiencing lack of sleep at night for about 3-4 years. She would drop off to sleep but never have any sound sleep as she would hear everything happening at night and had difficulty falling asleep after getting up at night. She now takes a drink of Horlicks every night and sleeps quite soundly that I have to wake her up in the morning. She gets up in the early hours of the morning to go to the toilet then drops back to sleep quite soundly that she can't hear my radio playing music in the morning. She started with 4 teaspoons of horlicks in a cup of milk as the label states but now sleeps even with taking one teaspoon. She also uses the light, medium and strong types and they all work the same. On the nights she doesn't take horlicks, she doesn't sleep. What I can't understand is that she used to take vitamin B complex tablets, which horlicks is mainly made of, every night but never slept. Does anybody know of any side effects for long term usage of horlicks?

What brand sea salt did you use?

so do you drink the catnip tea or what? thanks

To combat insomnia, take 1/2 tsp of powdered woodruff mixed with honey or fruit puree 30 min before bedtime.Take Care! In large doses, woodruff may cause internal bleeding. Don't use it if you're pregnant or taking conventional medication for circulatory problems.

Insomnia: Alright, I know I will catch grief for this so let me disclaim right away! Do not take essential oils undiluted. Okay, now that you all know that I know... Marjoram oil. Marjoram oil: about eight drops in a capsule will do. Awesome for headaches too.

I developed severe insomnia last winter (nov 07) and went through quite a trial for months, with none of the many things I tried helping much except some tips on how to improve sleep habits through cognitive behavioral therapy. I was doing better May-Oct 08 then all of a sudden the same severe insomnia symptom was back in full force. Last month I decided to try vitamin D3 2000 IU/day, after reading so many recent articles about the importance of this sunshine vitamin. I chose tablets with D3 source from lanolin, since I am allergic to fish. Within a week I was sleeping soundly at night, and I am continuing to sleep well. In retrospect, it is likely that I became more susceptible to vit. D deficiency after I became lactose intolerant and stopped drinking milk.

Hello,

When do you take the Vit D, during the day/morning of right before bed? And, is it still working?

It has now been 3 years since I started the vitamin D. Yes I still take it, and yes it still works! In fact my winters have been much much healthier since. I take 4000 iu D3 most mornings. also vit c, krill oil, probiotic, 1-2drops of lugols. 200 mg magnesium citrate near bedtime. I make fresh green veggie juice most days too, regular walking and yoga. Sleeping soundly most nights and waking up ready for the day. Feel like I am finally living my life, not just dragging through it.

WARNING!

Cow brain is a major source of melatonin. Buyer beware!

To Bob I have never heard of cow brain, can u plz explain what it is :)

I suffer from occasional insomnia and find this is a sure-fire cure:

1000mg L-Tyrosine (capsule form)
3-9mg Melatonin (sub-lingual tablets best)
500-1500mg Vitamin C (chewable best)

For me, this works best if taken as soon as you realise it's going to be one of those nights. I take it with a glass of water, and a slice or two of bread. Ideally, try this when you'll be able to devote 6-8hr to sleep--after that I always wake up 100% refreshed. Best of luck!

blackstrap molasses, aloe vera, coconut oil, melatonin and DHEA supplements have all helped me. I suffer from a similar problem and only recently have been having more than 2 hour stretches of sleep on a regular basis.

My DHEA levels are normally well below the reference range and supplementation brings them up. You might check your level.

Most important perhaps is the coconut oil. When I went up from 2 Tablespoons to 4 to 6 Tablspoons - 2 or 3 after dinner time before bed, I noted a definite improvement. You need to find your own levels her and especially for the melatonin - I currently take a quarter of a 3 mg. lozenge under the tongue type - each time I wake up to go to the bathroom.

Experiment.

Hi Jake,

Thank you for your help. I have been taking or tried all that you mentioned to no avail except for the DHEA supplement. I will ask my doctor to check my levels as you suggested. Our gene pool insomnia is tough on all of us, as nothing much works. I wonder why doctors just dismiss this without checking our blood for imbalances. All they seem to want to do is push the pharmaceuticals.

Hi CheeMiss: Regarding your insomnina, have you ever considered thyroid insufficiency? Hypothyroidism runs in families and is often not detected by blood tests.Insomnia is a huge symptom of hypothyroidism. I have had this problem and as my blood tests were low normal I got No help from my md. go to www.wilsonstemperaturesyndrome.com Doctor Wilson has devised a wonderful protocol for treating hypothyroidism that works!

Also I sleep alot longer each night now. Good luck, Mary

Sea salts worked for me. The one without any additives etc, just wind and sun-dried. You can get at health stores. I used to always wake up around 2 am and couldn't fall asleep again. Also could only sleep on my left side but since I started taking sea salts things changed immediately. I just add a little to my drinking water, enough to taste it without it being salty and I can sleep on any side and even if I wake up I fall asleep again.

I tried L-Tryptophan several nights, thought one of the other substances was what kept me alert-awake. (I was taking several things at once - B3, herbs, etc, in desperate effort to get some sleep! Bad idea for figuring what is causing a worse problem instead of helping) I was having strange feelings in my chest which I now know to be heart palpitations.

Thinking no sleep meant I wasn't taking enough L-Triptophan (and that one of the other tools was causing the strange chest thumps), I upped from 500 mg to 1000 mg (2 pills) and took only L-Tryptophan (to eliminating, I thought, whatever was causing the chest spasms). But an hour after I got to bed wow was my heartbeat crazy! Like my whole chest was throbbing! Felt like a superslow beat 5 times the usual strength, but wrist pulse revealed a weak pulse beat in between the super big ones, so the rate was normal but the strength unusual. Really scary to have a resting heartbeat that intrudes on your awareness! Got up and searched for the half life - 1-2 hours. That was reassuring. An hour later my heartbeat was still too strong but far less so. (Food based L-Triptophan has a 10-12 hour half life because it's bound to protein; the pure supplement has a short half life.)

BTW, L-Triptophan supplement wearing off fast means it might be good for helping some people get to sleep but not keeping them asleep.

In my experience, nothing works like NOW food's melatonin. But other brands are good too. To anybody that's on the fence, definitely go and buy melatonin. At least give it a try.

I have been on a quest to find a good nights sleep, naturally. I have recently been taking myself off of antidepressants and prescription sleep aides. And trying to find a way to balance out the seratonin naturally. This is what I have found: Rhodiola is an enormous help. However, I was still having insomnia, and anxiety. I tried Kava. This helps with the anxiety, and would help me relax, but wouldn't put me in the sleep zone. So I recently got 5-Htp, and magnesium citrate. And it hasn't been long, but I feel I am in balance. I am finally sleeping like a baby.

To Robin with insomnia: Hi Robin, If you are still having problems sleeping, I think that you should keep on taking the magnesium and add a good stress tablet at rate of l tab at mealtime and bedtime. Stress tablet usually only has B complex vitamins + C & E, and I consider them the best nerve pill or antidepressant going, much cheaper and seldom any unwanted side effects.

Insomnia and Milk: I'm ADD and always have been. Also have allergies which peak at night, coincidentally when I do my best thinking... However if I can't get to sleep I will drink a half glass (8oz) of milk, right out of the fridge. {A regular sized glass is about 16 oz.} If that doesn't do it quickly I drink another half glass and repeat until I'm knocked out! Usually about a glass and a half is all it ever takes, no matter how "wide awake" I am. Just for proportion sake, I'm 6' male about 215 lbs. The warm milk we've all heard of is not necessary. Milk contains Tryptophan and calcium, both of which make you sleepy.

WARNING!

Valerian Root as a sleep aid. WARNING: this does not work for everyone...and DO NOT MIX WITH ANTI-AXIETY OR ANTIDEPRESSANTS... I found this out the hardway. I frequently get insomnia and a friend suggest the valerian root. I called my mother and she agreed I should try it. I was up all night, and not only that, I went into a psychotic rage, cried hysterically and drove off to my job in this state. Luckily my husband found me! I later looked up interactions online and found that when mixed with anti-depreess-or anxiety medicines, this can happen. I was taking Xanax at thet ime, although I had not taken any that day, it must have still be in my system (I take on an as need basis).

Also, 1/3 of people using valerian root tend to feel suicidal. This works great for some people, just be careful!! and please, don't take it alone.

First of all, I love Earthclinic! Thank you so much Deidre, Ted and anyone else who puts effort in making this site the wonder that it is.

I have a bit of feedback on Valerian Root (tea and liquid capsules). It did not work for me. I have had trouble sleeping due to anxiety. I have tried many other things (warm milk, magnesiun, bentonite clay, etc.), unfortunately, none of them seem to work for me. I believe that my level of anxiety is too high, (I have a big exam coming up and worry about not doing well) therefore I just cannot sleep. I can usually cope well with the anxiety during the day (I usually do oil pulling, take Ted's pH drink (baking soda/sea salt, etc.)). Also for the anxiety, L-Theanine (about 600 mg 3X/day) has been very helpful. Does anyone have any suggestions for the insomnia?

Thanks in advance!

Any valerian preps didn't work for me, even after several months' use, not only that it induced almost constant irregular heart rhythm, like trigeminy and palpitation. Didn't realize what caused this crazy rhythm until I ran out of valerian for a more than a month when that uncomfortable rhythm problem disappeared. This hard lesson could have been learned had I google-searched before venturing out for herbs.

this is very good to know...i am taking valerian in a menopause formula for my premenopause symptoms.. i am taking magnesium and more natural sleep aids like 5htp. very hard to stay asleep..i've been taking right before bed..i really don't know how much to take of each!

I read in bed before attempting to sleep (terrible insomnia). I put a low-light wattage bulb in the bed light. My husband bought me a new Paperwight Kindle for Christmas. Now, I do not put a light on to read and adjust the "back light" on the Kindle to minimum. I fall asleep much faster, and am noticing less insomnia.

Insomnia remedy. Hi all Insomniacs! I discovered my remedy a few years ago by accident. I just turned vegan and was looking for something raw to sweeten up my food and desserts. It is KAKAO (cacao). Raw Chocolate nibs. You will find them in health food store. Take 1-2 teaspoon in the evening and chew it. I put mine in a coffee grinder.God, how well I sleep! I am not insomniac but used to have sleepless nights time to time and my friend with sleeping problems is already on it and sends me his blessings every morning so I hope it will help you also. Don't ask me if there is caffeine. I don;t know.It works. I use it when my schedule is craze and I sleep 2-4 hr every night and this is going for months sometimes.Being "on cacao" I fall in a sleep in seconds and wake up well rested. I just feel in the morning like a baby again! Please send me email if it works for you.

Yes, I started using cacao (Cocoa) in the powder form. It is very healthy. I have researched it on the internet and it has the most flavanoids (immune booster) of any food. As well it is a pure protein. Do not mix with dairy as they block many of these nutrients.

Cacao is rich in magnesium, which helps to promote sleep. That is why some people also have relief from insomnia from taking magnesium orally or taking epsom salt baths. :)