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.
Basil
Posted by Kate (Atlanta, GA) on 06/27/2009
★★★★★
Basil has been by far the best remedy for my insomnia. I bring about 2 cups of water to a simmer, add 1/2 of a tablespoon of dried basil, turn the stove off, and let it sit, covered, for about twenty minutes. I've substituted a bruised sprig of fresh basil on occasion with the same wonderful effects. I start sipping on this tea about two hours before bed, and it knocks me out every time. I've upped the ammount of basil in the tea or the ammount of the tea I drink on occasion but the above measurements are the average ammounts that work best for me.
Horlicks
Posted by Lorayne (Sun City, Az) on 01/23/2012
I wouldn't use Horlicks, since it contains milk which means it probably contains rBGH (genetically modified bovine growth hormone). Go to
www.mercola.com to read up on the dangers of GMOs. They are in dairy, soy, corn, canola, zucchini, yellow squash, Hawaiian papaya, cottonseed and alfalfa at present. Organic food cannot be GMO. So if you want to eat these things, choose organic. The Environmental Working Group has a petition of it's website to force labeling of products that contain these poisonous GMOs. Go to
www.ewg.org to sign the petition.
D3
Posted by Kathi (New Brunswick, NJ) on 02/07/2009
★★★★★
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.
Honey and Cinnamon
Posted by Bonnie (Long Beach, US) on 12/13/2007
★★★★★
I was looking on your site a couple days ago and saw a remedy with honey to help lose weight. I tried it and found that i had more energy during the day, had less of an appetite, and fell asleep faster at night!! i love it! the remedy i found was every morning, a half hour before breakfast, as well as right before bed at night, drink a tablespoon of honey in one cup of boiling water with a teaspoon of cinnamon. It has only been four days, but man, what a difference!!!
Honey and Cinnamon
Posted by T.Srikantharajah (Wimbledon, England) on 12/04/2007
★★★★★
Daily in the morning, 1/2 hour before breakfast on an empty stomach and at night before sleeping, drink honey and cinnamon powder boiled in one cup water. If taken regularly it reduces the weight of even the most obese person. Also drinking of this mixture regularly does not allow the fat to accumulate in the body even though the person may eat a high calorie diet.
ACV, Baking Soda and Cayenne
Posted by Clayton (Willamina, Oregon, USA) on 12/05/2007
★★★★★
I have been using ACV for a couple of months now. I started off with one Tbls in a glass of cold water. Now I am using 2 Tbls of ACV, 2Tbls Raw Honey, 1/4 tsp of baking soda, 1/2 tsp of Cayenne Pepper. I mix the ingrediants in a large mug, add hot water from a tea pot. This concoction tastes pretty good, is not very spicy (the pepper is hardly noticable). I have had more energy, felt better, sleep MUCH better. And like others I have noticed my dreams to be very vivid & clear.
Acidophilus
Posted by Yasir (Stockton, CA) on 09/16/2007
★★★★★
I found acidophilus to be very helpful with insomnia.
Cold Showers
Posted by Leon (Wichita, Ks) on 08/11/2007
★★★★★
I like taking cold showers at night. It helps to sleep and I feel confident getting up in the morning. I encourage everybody to take a cold shower at night. It really helps with insomnia.
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!!!!!!
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.
Amino Acids
Posted by Canadian Dave (Canada) on 11/26/2016 15 posts
People may have to avoid arginine if they have cold sores or herpes. Glutamine can also be a problem in high doses in people who are gluten intolerant.
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 Pointing North in Absolute Darkness
Posted by Ricardo (CA) on 02/07/2006
★★★★★
Total darkness allows the iris of the eye to completely relax. Eyes are the only place your nervous system is exposed to the world directly. If you are resting in a partially darkened room, cup your palms over your eyes for a while until it seems totally black. Remove your palms and keep your eyes closed. You will perceive some light or lessening of the black through your eyelids. Closing your eyes to sleep, in any illumination, does not allow complete relaxation. Always use a sleep mask or soft cap pulled over your eyes, doubled if needed, and test with palms over mask to be absolutely sure of total darkness.
Sleep Pointing North in Absolute Darkness
Posted by Brad (Wisconsin) on 08/01/2005
★★★★★
Sleeping with your head pointing North can improve the quality of your sleep. Also sleeping in absolute total darkness(no alarm clock lights, no light from the door jam) can have a huge impact on your over all health. It will allow more melatonin release by your body and for a longer period of time during the night, which is vital to living longer and healthier. This kind of sleep quality lifts your levels of attention, energy and motivation, awareness and helps keeping aging down to a minimum.
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
Onion by the Bedstand
Posted by Rich (Las Vegas, NV)
★★★★★
Cut an onion in half and place it by your nightstand. You will sleep like a baby. My mother did this for years.
Vitamin A
Posted by yearningtobreathefree (Tennessee) on 07/02/2026
To clarify: Vitamin A deficiency leads to being unable to sleep enough hours, while if this is your issue, getting sufficient vitamin A corrects this problem.
Avoid Sugar
Posted by brad (Ontario) on 11/09/2023
★★★★★
Consuming any types of sugar will greatly impact your quality of sleep, regardless if its organic cane sugar or processed sugar. If you crave sweets try keto snacks like (stevia/malitol/xylitol, etc.) sweetened chocolate or make your own. Honey and pure maple syrup are considered sugars, as well, keep it to a minimum.
St Johns Wort
Posted by Brad (Ontario) on 12/08/2022
★★★★★
St Johns Wort is good for anxiety and depression, also a calmative. I found it helps with restless sleep when taken on an empty stomach. However be cautious when taking it because, similar to grapefruit, it will interact with other medications and supplements.
