I understand that you are knowledgeable about treating insomnia. My insomnia began about 6 months ago after I experimented with certain supplements (5-HTP, L-tryptophan, L-glutamine) in an attempt to correct a suspected neurotransmitter imbalance. Instead of helping me, these supplements seemed to cause severe excitotoxicity, imbalancing my brain further. Ever since I have been suffering from serious neurodegenerative symptoms as well as insomnia.
There is a good chance that I have Lyme disease, and that these symptoms are the result of the disease worsening, but I have not yet gotten to the bottom of this. In any case, there is no question that the supplements triggered my recent problems, even if a complex of other factors might be involved.
Any help you can give would be greatly appreciated. If a formal consultation would be more appropriate, please let me know.
Replied by Ted (Bangkok, Thailand) on 05/31/2011
Actually I wouldn't try the glutamine. It is somewhat of an excitoxin. You need neural inhibitory amino acids which are neuroprotective against excitotoxins, such as glycine and taurine being the most important, and GABA is also important too. The other issue most important however, is alkalization, being baking soda 1/2 teaspoon in 8 ounces of water after a meal twice a day. With that remedy I have succeeded in curing a 10 year sleep problem. Then there is an extreme case, which required sodium carbonate and potassium carbonate. As far as 5-HTP and tryptophan is concerned, I don't see much results. I however see results, if only briefly (not exceeding one month). Longer than 1 month and it stops working.
Also, you are overlooking other simple vitamins such as B1, B2, B3, B5, folic acid at least to help with your sleep. Then there is lugol's half strength iodine starting at 1 drop dose in the evening as a start. If it doesn't work, then I would try two drops but I wouldn't go over 3-4 drops unless necessary. Check your urinary and saliva pH, if its acidic that's part of the problem.
Ted
Replied by Anonymous on 05/31/2011
Ted,
Thanks so much for your time, and for responding so quickly. Maybe my original message was not clear: I tried glutamine, 5-HTP and tryptophan BEFORE I developed insomnia, and they clearly played a key role in CAUSING the problem! I am worried that they damaged my brain through excitotoxicity, and maybe this is why I cannot sleep. I do not plan to take them again.
I am already supplementing with B vitamins, but they do not seem to be helping my insomnia.
I will certainly try the baking soda. My only concerns about baking soda are:
1. Is this not too much sodium
2. Will this not neutralize my stomach acid I am already concerned that I do not produce enough stomach HCl.
Thanks again for your help.
Replied by Ted (Bangkok, Thailand) on 06/01/2011
To answer your questions:
I will certainly try the baking soda. My only concerns about baking soda are:
1. Is this not too much sodium
If you want to increase sodium, it is Salt and Sugar. The sodium bicarbonate aren't known to increase sodium. The only way you can increase sodium is it has to be in chloride form or any chlorinated compound which prevents the body from getting rid of sodium.
Also you can add potassium carbonate or potassium bicarbonate that works best. That's a 1:1 ratio such as sodium bicarbonate to potassium carbonate. That works better. The best one for insomnia is the sodium carbonate and potassium carbonate, but that is only given to people with severe form of insomnia. So you got your simpler one sodium bicarbonate one. The there is sodium citrate and potassium citrate that works well against most problems of calcium, which is also implicated in sleep disorders, by removing out of the system.
2. Will this not neutralize my stomach acid I am already concerned that I do not produce enough stomach HCl.
It is taken AFTER meals 30 minutes, never ever before meals! This is when your body needs to alkalize to neutralize the acid of digestive foods in your stomach as it goes to the intestines. Your intestines are alkaline and you are giving it what it needs.
TedReplied by Anonymous on 06/02/2011
Dear Ted,
I forgot to ask one thing. In some of your posts on earth clinic, you talk about mixing the sodium bicarbonate with lime juice or ACV. Would this be a good idea in my case or is this something different
Thanks again.Replied by Ted (Bangkok, Thailand) on 06/02/2011
I am currently doing studies on advanced insomnia, which is people who don't respond to typical inhibitory amino acid, namely GABA, PABA, taurine, and glycine as well as alkalization which includes sodium carbonate and potassium carbonate, sodium citrate and potassium citrate, for example. In this case their body is low in H2S (hydrogen sulfide), it is especially true for diabetics or borderline diabetics as well as Alzheimer and Parkinson's disease, I believe, The Hydrogen Sulfide was prepared in the following manner 0.5 grams plus 1.5 grams Sodium Nitrite (which reduces blood pressure), if there is not terribly large blood pressure. The blood pressure lowering is due to nitric oxide, but it doesn't last that long and so Hydrogen sulfide is added to make it through about 5 hours. The effect of insomnia in these advance cases, I also require disodium EDTA to get out free metal zinc also which exists in the amyloid beta. It is dissolved in 30 cc of water and used as a dropper bottle and given at night. A dose of 10 drops will make a person go to sleep if it doesn't respond to standard treatment. This excludes sleeping pills since I regarded as non-REM sleep. You can increase REM sleep with a glycine, one of the inhibitory amino acid, if given at night. A dose of about 1/2 to 1 teaspoon will do it, but for people with sleeping problems I think you need hydrogen sulfide. The reason I added sodium nitrite was two things, lower blood pressure and it acts as preservative of the sodium sulfide. If I haven't quite a time to do experiments involving normal blood pressure who don't respond to typical remedy which excludes sleeping pills. I think they are way too risky.
TedReplied by Anonymous (Anonymous) on 06/03/2011
Dear Ted, Thank you for this additional information. I am still confused, however, as to whether I should take sodium bicarbonate by itself, or together with lime juice or ACV.
I am happy to report that I slept somewhat better these last two nights! Whether it is because of the sodium bicarbonate, or just a coincidence, I do not yet know.
I am nervous about using glycine because, yes, it is inhibitory in general, but also excitatory at the NMDA receptors. I must be extremely careful with excitotoxicity.
I did not mention to you that my underlying problem is almost certainly Lyme disease. I have had it for years and it was under control until I began messing around with the amino acid supplements. Now, unfortunately, it is worsening rapidly, and insomnia is a big part of the problem."
06/20/2011: Ted from Bangkok, Thailand replies: "I receive reports regularly of people with sleeping problems cured with sodium bicarbonate. Glycine in general inhibits excitatory amino acid, it becomes excitatory Glycine if there is a glycine deficiency. That is my observations treating hyperactive disorders and kids on a aspartame diet. Also glycine behaves differently as it is more excitatory if your pH is below 6.0 and it is inhibitory above that. That is why it is essential to get pH above that. But that is another story altogether. Concentrate on pH. As far as lemon it corrects the ORP of your bloodstream that is also required but not nearly as important as pH.
Lyme disease if mostly helped if you get pH to 6.5 to 7.0 urine first before you do anything else.
Replied by Elly (Topeka, Kansas) on 06/13/2011
Hi Ted, is this a new finding about glutamine being like an excitoxin I've seen it recommended here for things like MSG toxicity and as an appetite suppressant and part of a homemade HGH. Is it still safe to take for these things Thanks.
