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Molly (San Francisco) on 03/04/2019
5 out of 5 stars

I had terrible insomnia for 6 years following the birth of my first child. I was 37 when it started. I took several different sleep drugs during that time: Lorazipam, Trazadone, Benedryl. They made me depressed, so I was also taking a morning antidepressant. I did not like how flat and foggy I felt, and I worried that my sleep quality was not natural. I finally went to a naturopathic doctor who tested my cortisol levels and found that that hormone was not cycling properly for me. I took a natural supplement to suppress cortisol at 9:00 pm every night for about a month. I also improved my diet (no gluten, no milk and no sugar). Within a few months, I was off all drugs and sleeping great. Now I only take it if I stay up too late and feel that a second wind is keeping me awake. I have started waking around 4 in the morning lately, and I've found that a tablespoon of MCT oil helps me get back to sleep quickly. I've also started having a healthy carb and fat snack before bed (usually sweet potato with butter and salt and a little Brain Octane Oil). When my kids have insomnia or restless legs, they get magnesium - either lotion or drink. I used to put lavender essential oil on their pillows as well, when they were having trouble sleeping. Sleep hygiene is great too, but when my cortisol was off, no amount of sleep hygiene could get me a full night of sleep. Also, if I start eating poorly (too much gluten and/or sugar), it can bring some sleep issues back for awhile. And if I don't eat 2 healthy meals during the day, that can also cause my sleep to suffer. I would recommend seeing a naturopath for help in discovering the underlying cause of your sleeplessness, if possible. I am so thankful that I finally did!
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Replied By Leslie (New Castle, PA) on 03/06/2019

Hello, What was the natural supplement you took at bedtime to reduced cortisol? Thank you!
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Replied By GertJr (Alabama) on 03/07/2019

I don't know about Molly, but I take Seriphos (be sure to get the original formula). It helps a lot with cortisol.

Replied By Pat (Long valley nj) on 12/10/2025

What was the natural supplement you took to be able to sleep? I read your post and I had several nights where I woke up and couldn't get back to sleep so I hit up and took a spoon of coconut oil and it worked all 3 times so that I cld fall back asleep. On one occasion my afib started up and my heart had started to race & the coconut oil stopped that attack as well! So then I began to suspect that maybe I have a cortisol spike in the evenings and during the night so for the past several nights I took a spoon of coconut (cold pressed, unrefined) before bed and each morning my weight was down 1 pound each day! So I'm gonna continue to keep experimenting… thanks for your post!
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