Natural Remedies for Insomnia: A Comprehensive Guide

Watch the Sunrise

Posted by Michele (Florida) on 02/27/2020
★★★★★

I had years of insomnia and was told that my circadian rhythm off and that the best way to fix this was to look at the sunrise as many days as you can in a row to reset your natural clock. This makes it that the body creates and releases the correct hormones at the correct time. I had been making cortisol at night and melatonin during the day, which is not as it should be.

Borax

Posted by Tina (Croatia) on 03/16/2019
★☆☆☆☆

Hi, I have terrible insomnia for almost ten years and have tried almost every medicine that could help me with my problem. I only sleep one day in month and that day is one day before I get my menstruation. I suppose I have some kind of gynecological hormonal imbalance.I have tried borax solution 1/8 tsp in liter of water five days a week but it is not enough for my problem. Can I use larger dose? Is there any other medicine someone could recommend to me because I tried almost everything from this site? Thank you.

Sleep Tracker to Evaluate Sleep

Posted by KT (Usa) on 04/24/2018

Thank you for this post! My husband snores too...that's why we have to sleep in different rooms!

I'd be interested in getting this tracker watch because he feels he NEVER gets enough sleep. I think he underestimates how much he gets.

I have an internal alarm that gets me up after six hours, sometimes less. I think if you go to bed exhausted you can sleep hard for four hours and have enough. It has been reported that a 20 minute mid-day "power nap" can revive as much as sleeping eight hours. I did that when I was pregnant and worked full time. Little did I know that what I was eating (hidden sources of MSG) made me that tired.

BTW, I worked almost all day on my feet, went for monthly check-up, drove home thinking I was just having Braxston Hicks after exam, had my husband's labor inducing spaghetti sauce for dinner and had my first baby that night!

Melatonin

Posted by Mary (Ca) on 03/29/2018

I have struggled with insomnia. will try this. Thank you.

Multiple Remedies

Posted by Myway (Usa) on 01/19/2018

The one area you did not mentioned in your post was EMF (electromagnetic frequencies). Your sleep could be disrupted by consistent frequencies going through your body. This has become a huge problem with all the electrical devices in our lives. Go onto YouTube and look up Dr. Nicholas Gonzales and sleep disorders. He discusses this problem in detail. Also, our pineal gland is not able to make enough melatonin when exposed to the “blue light” emitted from our tablets, phones, computers, floresent lights, etc a. So, many people are staring at these devices before they go to bed - then they can't sleep. Dr. Mercola suggests turning off the electrical breaker and router to your bedroom at night - and leave the devices in another room ( I put my iPhone on airplane mode). Also, when you go outside, ditch the sunglasses - your pineal gland needs the sunshine exposure. Do your research on all this - it surely has helped me in the past!

Note: try to find out if there is a cell phone tower near your residence. If so, there is an indoor paint used to prevent the frequencies from getting into your bedroom. Look this up.

Good Luck!

Multiple Remedies

Posted by Michael (New Zealand) on 01/20/2018

Hi Waltz of Bangalore,

A friend of mine almost had to quit his job because he suffered from persistent, severe insomnia for weeks and weeks and ended up like a zombie! The quality of their work (and life) was suffering to an alarming extent. It was a long time before we hit on a solution / remedy but from desperation sometimes brings forth a solution / sharpens the mind prodigiously!

I managed to persuade him to undergo a course of approximately six treatments (however long it took! ) by a Chinese lady acupuncturist I had been visiting for a pain related matter I.e. I was impressed with her treatment, so felt comfortable referring him to her after she mentioned she thought she could help him.

He has never looked back - just looses the odd night now and again like many others I suppose. Sleep becomes more elusive as we age unfortunately, so one must begin to acquire strategies to cope with that such as the many other recommendations on this Site.

You should verify if a reputable, licenced acupuncturist has had past success with treating sleep disorders before parting with your cash.

My feeling is that whatever treatment regime you undertake, you should commit to it and have faith in it if at all possible, stay the full course and attend all appointments on time.

Power of positive thinking etc!!

This worked a treat and he went back to work as a refreshed human being.

Not all people respond to all or any treatment of course but I would love to learn of your success if it happens.

Cheers, Michael

Skullcap and Valerian

Posted by Pacific Coast Lady (Crescent City, CA) on 06/15/2021

Hello Art,

I do take Magnesium, usually just Citrate works for me, 400 mg twice a day. It does help me with sleep as well as leg and foot cramps at night. I also started taking it every day to hopefully help with Essential Tremors but I feel I need more than just the Magnesium.

I am able to see ALL your posts thank goodness, just by clicking your username. Then it takes me to another page that has a link to all your posts over the years. I think maybe in each of our profile, I know mine has an option to check or uncheck a box that asks if we want to allow others to see our posts/replies, and I have mine selected "yes" and I am betting you do as well. Finally figured that out when I woke at 1 a.m. and the thought just popped into my head, LOL!

I need to get your feedback, and possible knowledge of Taurine for Essential Tremor. I've posted there..

https://www.earthclinic.com/cures/essential-tremor.html

..and so hoping you see this and stop in on that thread if you might be able to help me with searching for answer for my tremors in head & left-hand?

Can't thank you enough for all your dedication to helping others Art, Denise

Skullcap and Valerian

Posted by Art (California) on 06/15/2021 2891 posts

Hi Denise/PCL,

Wow, that's a lot of magnesium citrate at 800 mg/day! Most people would be spending a lot of time in the bathroom at that dose of mag citrate.

I didn't know that was possible to see all of anyone's posts. I must have hundreds. I hadn't noticed that feature.

I will click over to your post link in a moment.

Art

Nettle Tea

Posted by Mama To Many (Tennessee) on 07/19/2016

Dear Namaw,

Yes, you could dry the leaves and then use them to make tea. I think it is not recommended to use older leaves but to use young leaves.

I have not dried nettles myself before. I have mostly just dried plantain and burdock leaves. In fact, just today a friend showed me some nettle at her house; previously I couldn't even identify it. I can't wait to find some where I live.

I assume you know to use gloves when harvesting the nettles. Here is a great article about using nettles and drying them, with pictures!

~Mama to Many~

Nettle Tea

Posted by Liz (Boston, Ma) on 07/20/2016

I am going to give that one a whirl, Mama. I haven't had a decent night's sleep since early menopause 12 yrs. ago. I don't have insomnia, per se, but I sleep only 2-3 hours before waking, regardless of how exhausted I am. I then toss and turn the remainder of the night. Sometimes, I'll doze off for another hour, but generally speaking, if I get even 4 consecutive hours of sleep, I feel like I had a good night. :

As I said here a week or so ago, sometimes we don't know 'why' something works; it just does! It sounds like Nettle tea for insomnia is one of them. :) I'm looking forward to trying it. Thanks so much for your never ending wisdom!

Dead Sea Salts Bath

Posted by Dave (Fountain Inn, Sc) on 07/24/2015
★★★★★

Editor's Choice

Hello All,

I'm reporting back again on the use of Dead Sea Salts to help with improved sleep and reduced tension.

I also enlisted one other to try the DS Salts bath and he reports a dramatic improvement in a chronic condition he has suffered with for years. It is a neuropathy that goes down the side of his head then into his shoulder and down his side. It centers in extreme sensitivity to cold; even a breeze on his head can produce this painful condition. He'd suffered with an ear infection that predated the condition and now is very sensitive to loud sounds.

He uses colloidal silver with DMSO compress to his neck on the painful side and takes the Dead Sea Salts baths.

He reports much less pain and improved energy.From my perspective, I found the DS Salts baths have dramatically improved my sleep.

I now sleep through the night five out of seven nights. Over the years as I was a caretaker for years for my wife, I never slept throughout the night. So this "sleeping through the night" is a happy thing!

I take this Salts bath once every ten days. I use about 2/3d of a cup of Dead Sea Salts and 2/3d Epsom Salts; 3 tablespoons of MSM and a tablespoon of Borax. If I only had the DS Salts, it would be fine. But the combo covers a lot more issues.

I dissolve the combo in a big pot of hot purified water while running the bath water ... then I add the solution and just soak for 20 minutes or so.

That's it.

Hot Water Bottle

Posted by Rural Girl (Central Texas) on 07/02/2015
★★★★★

I used to take a long time to go to sleep or wake up shortly after falling asleep. I had read on Dr. Mercola's site that the lowering of body temperature acts to put us to sleep, so my hypothyroid, too-low temperature didn't allow more lowering. I guess I was wide awake to preserve life when my temp was 95.9 - 97.2F. (In cold survival situations people who fall asleep die.)

I have had some 1,2 and even 3 hot bath nights to get back to sleep. I used to monitor my temperature frequently at night. Now I just take a hot water bottle to bed. I go right to sleep and sleep all night long. Electric heating pads are not recommended. They put off harmful EMF, ElectroMagnetic Fields, plus I got a fatty tumor where I fell asleep on one set on low. Sweet dreams!

Valerian Root

Posted by Ray (Cleveland, North Carolina) on 07/02/2015
★★★★★

I started using valerian root capsules when I couldn't fall asleep several years back. A 500mg capsule worked ok for me. Usually takes me about half an hour after ingestion. Recently, I've found that drinking 1 teaspoon valerian root powder an hour or 2 before I asleep works really well. I'm able to fall asleep quick and sleep through the night.

In general, I've found that ingesting powdered herbs works faster and better than taking capsules. Not sure exactly why. Maybe it's being slowly absorbed by my body as I sip drinks instead of all the dosage at once. Make sure you mix it with some kind of fruit or sweetener. It smells like feet but doesn't taste bad.

Inositol

Posted by Art (California) on 08/10/2023 2891 posts

Hollyhock,

That post was from 2015, so a reply from the original poster is not likely.

Inositol helps with sleep by increasing GABA levels. GABA is a known sleep aid and like most sleep aids, it does not work for everyone. There are multiple forms of inositol available and the original poster did not mention what version they used or the dose they used.

Various articles around the web suggest dosing as low as 1000 mg up to 60 gm.

The following 2020 study used 2000 mg of the Myo-inositol form of inositol with 200 ug of folic acid, both in powder form to achieve improved sleep parameters :

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32933356/

Here is a relevant study quote :

' The research confirmed that myo-inositol supplementation can improve global sleep quality, subjective sleep quality, and sleep duration during pregnancy. Therefore, these findings applied to minimize the rate of poor sleep quality in pregnant women. '

Here is a typical myoinositol product in powder form :

https://www.amazon.com/Zazzee-Myo-Inositol-Servings-Serving-Non-GMO/dp/B01JZNBP92/ref=sr_1_6?crid=DUPUU72H5CBV&keywords=myoinositol+and+folic+acid+powder&qid=1691701482&rdc=1&sprefix=,aps,124&sr=8-6

It should be mentioned that if you are not deficient in GABA, Inositol may not be as effective for improving sleep as it would be if you have a low GABA level.

Art

Niacinamide

Posted by Bama (Bama) on 03/03/2015
★☆☆☆☆

WARNING!

Niacinamide lowers my blood pressure so much that I faint. I was taking 100 mg. Be careful.

Niacinamide

Posted by Robert Henry (Ten Mile, Tn) on 03/05/2015

HI U Timh, , , , , , , , , your posts of niacin and niacinamide are right on, but I fear some folks don't realize that these are two different compounds. One, as you say, is to clean out your blood vessels by dilating your capillaries which allows more blood into the cells. In his book Ron L. Hubbard used the niacin flush and saunas to detox his lSD buddies from the 60's.

We starting using niacinamide when the U of Calif at Erving published their study how they cleared alzheimers in mice in a few months. They stated that humans were next, but that study will never happen.

For our sleep, we drink a cup of hot Jasmine Green Tea with a scoop of Magnesium L Threonate. It calms you down and does not mess up your bowels. I appreciate the tip about niacinamide for sleep and will try that.

===========ORH===========

Castor Oil

Posted by Myway (Delaware, Usa) on 03/02/2015
★★★★★

When I rub castor oil on my chest at night, I go to sleep like a bear in hibernation! Be sure you have at least 8 hours to sleep because you may feel a bit groggy if you don't have enough time to sleep. Someone else posted this here on earth clinic awhile back.....happy sleeping!

Copper and Zinc

Posted by Gabass (Atlanta) on 02/24/2015
★★★★★

I read that hypnic jerks are caused by a copper deficiency. I am currently taking a combination capsule of copper and zinc twice a day. I must say by the third day they have stopped.

CoQ10

Posted by Raphael (Boston, Us) on 01/29/2015
★★★★★

I took care of anxiety, racing mind, depression and hot flush by taking Vitamin D3 with Omega3 4000IU - 8000IU, plus Vitamin E 1000IU... the only thing not yet fixed is insomnia, I sleep about 3 -4 hrs, always wake up 3-4 am in the morning and then cannot get back to asleep, I also need Melatonin to help me get to sleep when I get to sleeping time.

I found after I took CoQ10 100-200 mg my sleeplessness can be taken care of and now I wake up in the middle of night, go to bathroom, and then I can get asleep in about 5-10 mins. and I have a total of 7 hrs sleep average.

Eliminating Wheat

Posted by Carrie (Livonia, Mi) on 12/31/2014
★★★★★

Since giving up wheat my insomnia has completely subsided. I'm not fully gluten free, just giving up wheat has made an incredible difference in my quality of sleep and life!

Lemon Water

Posted by Terry (Hemet, California U.S.) on 02/21/2014
★★★★★

I was having a heck of a time getting sleep! I would toss and turn most of the night and I was very tired by morning. I have heard so many people that are now senior citizens claim that they can't sleep? So I know that I am not alone with this frustrating problem.

I learned this from my husband as he loves to read about health issues.

He told me to try this for insomnia:

1. Fill a pitcher or container full of clean water.

2. Take a fresh lemon and slice it across in a few slices.

3. Place the slices of lemon in the water and allow this to sit for awhile.

4. Throughout the day drink a few glasses for this lemon/water. I try to drink at least 5 or 6 glasses of the lemon water.

This helps me sleep like a baby! Don't give up if it doesn't work for a few days. Keep drinking this solution.

What the lemons do is Alkaline the water! My husband read that our drinking water is too acidity. He read that this solution is similar to using baking soda. This has helped me so much in getting sleep.

I hope it works for those with insomnia. It works for my husband, my sister in law, and it works for me!

Once more thing if you use sugar in this water the sugar will only make the water acid again. Please do not use sugar in it.

Magnesium

Posted by Yc (Virginia) on 01/17/2017
0 out of 5 stars

I took 400 mg magnesium glycerinate an hour before bed for 2 nights and had severe insomnia both nights. Does that mean I am not MG deficient? Or should I take them during the day? I have been having menopause based insomnia, I think, for over 5 years, and so eager to find something that can help me sleep.

Selective Insomnia

Posted by Liz (Boston, Massachusetts) on 09/01/2013

That's an easy one. He sleeps well when he is in your home because he feels safe and content there... 'at home', so to speak.

Selective Insomnia

Posted by Dave (Fountain Inn, Sc) on 09/01/2013

Your father is anxious because he KNOWS a stranger is in his home. The fact he can sleep in your prsence and not another even though he is at his own home tells you it is anxiety at the presence of a stranger.

Is he willing to drink "valerian" tea? That is a wonderful relaxing herb and also helps certain psychological conditions. There are all kinds of such sleep aids that you could test if he's willing.

Poor old fella... He just is conscious something is wrong in his own home and his mind won't let him rest because of it. So good herbs could do the trick. And remember too that melatonan diminishes with age. A few tablets of that under the tongue can do wonders for sleep. Your local health food store will have lots of different combos of sleep aids, but if this were my dad and assuming the idea that he is anxious over a visitor in his home is correct, then valerian tea is so nice and gentle. Smells bad when steeping but tastes great.

Eliminate EMFs

Posted by Canadian Dave (Canada) on 11/26/2016 15 posts

I have to unplug some things to get a good night's sleep. I also sleep poorly if strong magnets are near the bed (like speakers) or, and even solar powered devices, and - I don't know if this is weird or not - if I have polyester in my pajamas or too much polyester in the room. I've found some success learning about the best feng shui direction to sleep in - its different for every birth year, and in herbal supplements too, the easiest being lettuce.

Melatonin

Posted by Trudyg (Waynesboro, Va) on 05/02/2013
0 out of 5 stars

I was on all sorts of pharmaceuticals to control chronic migraine for years, finally got off everything. Melatonin is a definite trigger for me--0.5mg and I'm vomiting, need drugs for migraine, can't see--if you have migraines, be careful.

Apple Cider Vinegar, Supplements

Posted by K. (Cropper, Ky Usa) on 04/28/2013
★★★★☆

2 teaspoons of Apple Cider Vinegar with a teaspoon on honey in warm water before bed, along with magnesium, niacinamide, tumeric, vitamin C, and occasionally 1/4 teaspoon baking soda. Has helped with lifelong insomnia problem.

Also important is to reduce naps during the day and focus on a quieting image when going to bed. Very important to find a way to calm the mind -- a form of prayer.

I don't expect a perfect night's sleep every night and am usually relieved with the improvement in sleep. Will still awaken after 3=hour sleep cycle but am able to drift back off pretty quickly and sleep till morning.

Am very grateful for the information on this website.

Multiple Remedies

Posted by Ejules (Woodbridge, Va, Us) on 03/28/2013

Try "Insomnia" by Hyland. I"ve used it for years and it has worked for several people who I've recommended it to (I always offer to buy their bottle if it doesn't work for them). It's a tiny homeopathic tablet that dissolves under your tongue. One or two should solve your sleeplessness and a bottle of 50 costs less than $10 so it's definitely cost effective. Totally counterintuitive as to why it should work but it does. It's more effective than melatonin, ambien, and all the other things I tried. Now, I always have some at home by the bed and definitely when I travel. Especially good for those nights when the tape in your head won't turn off or if you wake up in the middle of the night and can't get back to sleep. I've taken one tab to get back to sleep when I had to be up in 2-3 hrs; two or three when first going to bed, if needed. You won't have a 'hangover' like some of those others give you. Hope this helps you get some rest.

5 HTP and GABA

Posted by Juliette (Reston, Va) on 11/08/2012
★★★★★

5htp and GABA supplements were sooo helpful for my insomnia. Taken in the late afternoon and right before bed. The GABA especially just knocks you out feels like a xanax and 5htp really helps quiet the worrisome thoughts.

Theanine, Taurine

Posted by Steven (Jersey City, Nj, USA) on 09/26/2012
★★★★★

After three years of crippling insomina and trying every remedy under the sun (supplements and drugs) I finally found relief with a combination of taurine and theanine. I'm still not a champion sleeper with actual energy, but I don't feel like I'm dying everyday. I am able to fall asleep fairly promptly, and now when I wake up in the middle of the night I actually return to solid sleep and not fragmented. I still could use more sleep in the morning if if it weren't for having to go to work, but I can actually catch successful naps at lunchtime now too, just from the one dose at night time. The one catch is after about a month I was having insomnia again for a week and I had to increase the theanine dose from 100mg at night to 200mg, and it did work. Which is the recommended dose anyway, but I hope I don't have to keep increasing. But at least I know for a fact the theanine is helping. I've never taken the taurine on its own (500mg), so I'm not being a good scientist, can't say for certainty that helps, but other have recommeded this combo, and it's working for me.

Xiao Feng San

Posted by Sophie (Sydney, Australia) on 08/21/2012
★★★★★

I have been suffering from insomnia for a few weeks, mainly caused by hypnic twitches. My problems involve trouble falling asleep and waking up and having trouble falling asleep again. I tried magnesium citrate and magnisium oil on the skin which I think helped a bit. I saw my TCM acupunturist who gave me Xiao Feng San for inflammation and sleeplessness. I could fall asleep as soon as I went to bed, but I was still having trouble with waking up in the middle of the night and taking a bit to get back to sleep (caused by stress). It worked the day I started taking it, and when I ran out of it I couldn't sleep again. If you suffer from this please see a TCM specialist, just give it a try. Oh and it also worked for the inflammation.