PLEASE HELP ME as no other treatment is working and I am almost suicidal.
Replied by Bama (US) on 01/26/2015
I have tried everything, too. What is working lately is 1000mg glycine + 1500mg L-Tryptophan before bed. Much improvement. Ted says to do 1/2 teaspoon baking soda in water 3 times/day--says most insomniacs are too acid. I started to take baking soda like this at the same time I started the glycine and tryptophan. Don't get discouraged--you have to try until you find something that works. Read all Ted's posts, you will find an answer.Replied by Steve (Nevada) on 01/26/2015
You might want to try GABA and seriphos. They block night time cortisol and adrenaline which keeps many people awake at night. It was the only thing that worked really well for me after years of insomnia and adrenal issues.Replied by Myway (Delaware) on 01/26/2015
Cme, let's look at your insomnia from a different approach for a minute. Let's look at the external factors which sometimes are missed.
Give all of these a try at the same time.....
1. Your bedroom must be pitch black when you go to sleep. No LED lights, no ambient outdoor lights seeping into your room. The bedroom should be pitch black. No clocks, computers, etc.....LED lights stimulate your pineal gland which is sensitive to light.
2. Keep your room cool
3. Mattress should be high quality
4. Use a travel pillow around your neck if your spine is not in alignment
5. Do not eat two hours prior to going to sleep
6. No TV, Computer or electronic device 1 hour prior to sleeping. Perhaps maybe a good old book.
7. Sheets and blankets - high thread count, soft
8. Adequate hydration
9. Dab castor oil on your eyelids prior to sleeping. (This really does work)
10. Reduce your stress levels.
11. Keep your noise levels to a minimum.
Note: A friend of mine who had difficulty sleeping and heeded the above advice along with any homeopathic remedies.....she sleeps soundly. She seems to think that making her room completely dark was the trick for her. Dr. Andrew Weil stated that a dark, dark room without small ambient lights is essential to good quality sleep. Give this a try, and I wish you all the best.
MyWay,
:D
Replied by Mama to Many (Tennessee) on 01/26/2015
Dear Cme, Just a couple of thoughts to add to the great suggestions you have been given...
Often a magnesium supplement is helpful with sleeping, taken before bedtime.
A friend of mine who had poor sleep and an excellent diet found that increasing her salt intake helped her sleep better. Adding some Celtic Sea salt may be helpful.
I hope you will quickly figure out what is needed to help you sleep!
~Mama to Many~
Replied by Bama (USA) on 01/26/2015
None of these things worked for me. Not even the castor oil on the eyelids. Nada, zip, zilch.Replied by Roxanna (Los Angeles, California) on 01/28/2015
Estrogen dominance causes insomnia.
You have not mentioned anything about birth control pills - - example, if you've been on it for 10 years and come off it, you will be in estrogen dominance. Listen to David Wolfe speak.
Replied by Rowena (California) on 01/29/2015
I buy the Valerian Root (liquid drops) or capsules at Sprouts whenever I cannot sleep. The liquid drops works is more effective but a little bit more expensive. You should try it, it might help your insomnia.
Ro of Los Angeles
Replied by Anji (Santa Barbara) on 01/29/2015
I feel for you. Garlic disturbs my sleep somewhat. Try cutting it out. Esp. at night. Also, indigestion can disturb sleep. Are you bloated at night? If so, try cutting out all beans/lentils and have brown rice with lots of dark greens (rich in magnesium) such as kale, dandelion, parsley, some olive oil/flax seed oil and fish/avocado. I would take it easy on the spices and simplify. Once you feel better, add them back in and see how you do. Also have some carbs such as a cup of brown rice with your dinner. I wish you luck!Replied by Cme (Islamabad, PK) on 01/30/2015
To everyone, thank you for your kind replies. I just got some bloodwork done. My HB (haemoglobin is 11.1 and my RBC (red blood cells) are low too. I am going in for an iron and Vit D test today too! Any connection to insomnia?
- To Bama: How do you do the Baking Soda with water? 1/2 teaspoon mixed in how much water? Should I take this on an empty stomach, thrice a day?
- To Myway: Already doing all of the suggestions for a few months now, except for the castor oil. Let me try that too.
- Mama to Many: I took a calcium magnesium supplement for 3 months. I have been reading on wonders of sea salt. I already consume rock salt as part of regular cooking. I gather that its different from sea salt? So I will give sea salt a try!
- Roxanna: I had a mild case of endometriosis for 3-5 yrs, during which I was on the lightest dose of the "pill". I got surgery to remove the cyst from my ovary in April 2013. I have been fine every since and medication free. Over all, I was on the pill for 2-3 years for managing endo. During that time, I was never an insomniac. So I have been off the pill for 2 years now. Currently am not using any oral form of contraception medication.
- Rowena: The R14 I take contains valerian and some other stuff in it. I haven't tried the liquid form of valerian yet.
- Anji: No I am neither bloated nor suffer from indigestion at night. My food isn't spicy, its just simple salt, black pepper, lemon juice.
Replied by Bama (Bama) on 01/30/2015
Re: baking soda. I put 1/2 tsp (don't really measure it) into a cup and add a bit of water. If I am already drinking a lot of fluid then I use less water, if I'm thirsty and want a drink I add more water. Usually about 1/4C water + 1/2 tsp baking soda. I prepare this while preparing my meal, then drink it when I have done my meal and finished washing up--so about 30 min after eating. 3X/day. As to falling asleep, I can tell no difference, but what I can see is that now I have a harder time getting up--I may be awake, but just so comfy I don't want to get up.Replied by Cme (Islamabad) on 02/11/2015
Thanks Bama! I will start on this.
Guys, I was waiting on all my test results. The doc has confirmed that I am Vitamin D and Iron deficient. Vitamin D is 12, which is severely deficient. My TIBC test showed an elevated value which confirms iron deficiency. my HB is also 11.1 In light of these does anyone have any valuable suggestions to improve my sleep? I would especially request Ted (from Bangkok) to look into this. Thanks.
