Sleep Drugs Are Wildly Popular Despite Barely Working

re: Sleep Drugs Are Wildly Popular Despite Barely Working

snellingom — Fri, 30 Nov 2007 14:48:37 GMT

A homeopathic remedy - kali phosphoricum - is an excellent sleep aid. It helps your mind slow down, has no side effects and can be used indefinitely. I used to keep it on my nightstand, but it works so well, I no longer need it. It can be taken before bed and again if you wake up in the night.

There are several homeopathics that help with insomnia, but kali phos seems to be the one that meets most people's needs. The bottle I have says it's for "trouble concentrating" which was exactly my problem when I couldn't sleep. I had trouble concentrating on going to sleep. I kept getting distracted by "all the things I should have done today or yesterday and all the things I need to do tomorrow..."

Happy sleeping, everybody!

re: Sleep Drugs Are Wildly Popular Despite Barely Working

Knobby — Sat, 17 Nov 2007 17:51:04 GMT

Rik DC stated that Tryptophan is illegal. Actually, it has been legal for at least a year. And I find that it always works for me.

Diphenhydramine, the common ingredient in OTC sleep medications, can cause---with extended use---ED. Trust me on this; I know from experience. Fortunately, it's not permanent. Once you're off this drug for one or two months you'll return to normal.

re: Sleep Drugs Are Wildly Popular Despite Barely Working

LoriSm — Fri, 16 Nov 2007 22:19:38 GMT

I have had insomnia problems a lot over the past 10 years. I did figure out that caffiene wired my brain and I couldn't drink it after 6pm or I'd be up all night. (Never bothered me when I was younger). I gave up caffiene 4 1/2 years ago (all soda pop; I don't drink coffee or tea), and I still have sleep issues. I tried Sominex once~made me feel lousy the next day, so I threw the rest away. I do crossword puzzles, read, write, or some other activity that makes my brain tired and this will usually work. I still have some nights when I will go to sleep, but it is like a "twilight sleep" where I do not sleep heavy and I am between being asleep and awake. Awful! I wake up feeling wiped out. I refuse to take medication for this. I am hoping mine is just menopausal symptoms. Someone posted (Lysa?) that it could be a mineral deficiency and I am going to look into this as I believe many of our ills and diseases are caused by mineral deficiencies.

Lori

re: Sleep Drugs Are Wildly Popular Despite Barely Working

berry lee — Fri, 16 Nov 2007 02:21:31 GMT

A tiny bit of melatonin can be helpful upon a first awakening to go urinate!!! Just a tiny crumb.

re: Sleep Drugs Are Wildly Popular Despite Barely Working

greenjena — Thu, 15 Nov 2007 22:26:35 GMT

I use Hyland's Calms Forte when I wake up in the middle of the night and can't seem to fall back to sleep...it's homeopathic and very safe. You can find it at your local natural foods store. I think MDS is spot on with the caffeine connection. So many people just don't get it! I have heard countless times how "coffee just has no effect on me" or, "I can drink a cup of coffee and go right to sleep". Well, I've read that because we are all different with different metabolisms and nervous systems that of course caffeine will affect each of us differently. As for me, I cannot have a cup of coffee after noon as the caffeine seems to hit me 8 hours later! A cup of coffee (caffeinated) after dinner will have me wide awake at 3 p.m. Also, that second glass of wine with dinner will take a toll on my sleep, too.

re: Sleep Drugs Are Wildly Popular Despite Barely Working

patricia turner — Thu, 15 Nov 2007 20:53:22 GMT

I'm one of those chronic insomniacs..prescription meds, including sonata, ambien, rozerem, etc, did nothing at all, except give me negative side effects. Valerian, hops, etc, also gave me headaches, so I had to dig a bit deeper. Here is what I have found that works wonders for me: a tea mixed with half Rooibos and half Blue Lotus Flower, steeped for about half an hour, and sweetened with a bit of honey.

Haven't had a sleepless night since taking the tea.

re: Sleep Drugs Are Wildly Popular Despite Barely Working

Perka — Thu, 15 Nov 2007 20:14:00 GMT

I took Ambien nightly for several weeks on several occasions. My doctor told me that he had patients who took it every night for years with no problems, implying that he would keep me supplied. I slept like a dream on the pills and felt great the next day with no hangover. I thought this was the answer after ten years of insomnia. Gradually I became aware of losing my sense of direction. I could remember names of streets but was not able to put them in any order. The "map in my head" was gone. My short term memory also turned to mush. I quit the Ambien as it was the only pill I was taking. Of course, the doctor said there was no connection except maybe my age (66). Well, my brain is now one year older and my "map" has come back very slowly over this last year. I am in excellent health otherwise and will never take another prescription for anything. I'm pretty sure the culprit is sugar because if I eat anything with sugar, I don't sleep that night and my short and long term memory doesn't work for several days afterward.

re: Sleep Drugs Are Wildly Popular Despite Barely Working

Coop — Thu, 15 Nov 2007 18:26:13 GMT

Exercise is critical, but when even that fails to help, on occasion, the are some effective herbal remedies.

I personally like a tea: including a blend of: Hops, Valerian, Lavender flowers, Chamomile and spearmint. (yes even the mints have a relaxant component) Buy organic, in bulk and steep a rounded tablespoon (covered for 10-15 minutes). Add a tad of Agave nectar if desired, and enjoy!

(Hops is a medium potency herb that should not be used continually. Use 3-4 x/week, or not more than 3-4 weeks at a time)

Reishi mushroom (ganoderma lucidum) is a great nervine day-time tonic, that will improve energy and endurance (adpaptogen) during the day, AND help one sleep at night (nervine)

Many other nervine herbs that wouls benefit ones ability to relax, too numerous to mention, but would be supportive. The chronic stress of 'civilized' life is the biggest factor - nervines to the rescue...

As for the Fucothin comment, (Healing Waters) the clinical studies were based on 3 months, so maybe you didn't give it enough time. Also one can increase in muscle mass, reduce in body fat AND WEIGH THE SAME.

Gord Cooper, Registered Herbalist

re: Sleep Drugs Are Wildly Popular Despite Barely Working

mohammad kazemi — Thu, 15 Nov 2007 17:20:57 GMT

Gaba, Lemonbalm,Theanine Works for me as well as many others that took it. Beleive me its safe natural

and it works Try it.

re: Sleep Drugs Are Wildly Popular Despite Barely Working

Dr Rik — Thu, 15 Nov 2007 17:06:57 GMT

Can anyone spell $? Tryptophan (an amino acid) is effective for some people, but it is illegal; so you "have to" use their prescription drug$. Search the history yourself for the sleezy details.

Milk and Turkey are relatively high in tryptophan naturally. Some people have a small turkey sandwich with a small glass of milk before bed.

to Beyond Organic. The Posture Pump is most effective used in conjunction with your program of Spinal Correction. Isn't the Chiropractor who sold it to you monitoring your use of it? I keep one in the office which I have people use until I am confident that they do so correctly. I do this with all home therapies I recommend. It's Standard Procedure.

re: Sleep Drugs Are Wildly Popular Despite Barely Working

Dr Lysa — Thu, 15 Nov 2007 16:50:54 GMT

Hi everyone. This is my first time posting, though I have been an avid reader of Vital Votes for quite some time. It has been my experience with 100s of patients in my office that most people who struggle with insomnia/sleeplessness have a mineral deficiency. As minerals help to calm and balance the nervous system, once we find out which mineral combination is most appropriate for the person, they begin to sleep much better almost immediately. I'm not referring to synthetic, man made mineral supplements, btw. We only recommend Standard Process organic whole food concentrates to help correct and balance out nutritional deficiencies. If you are having trouble with sleep issues, I would highly recommend seeking out chiropractor or other health care provider who utilizes whole food concentrates and nutritional deficiency screening tests and NRT (Nutrition Response Testing). I have personally helped 100s, if not thousands of people get their lives back.

Dr. Lysa

re: Sleep Drugs Are Wildly Popular Despite Barely Working

Nils — Thu, 15 Nov 2007 15:59:29 GMT

There are natural nutrients that help people sleep. If you take niacinamide at night, along with calcium and magnesium, it increases the body's natural melatonin, which induces sleep and colorful dreams. Plus, as the article says, bright sunshine during the day and a very dark room at night help the body make more melatonin. Also you should not sleep near an electric field, as electric fields decrease the pineal gland's manufacture of melatonin.

re: Sleep Drugs Are Wildly Popular Despite Barely Working

MDS_203 — Thu, 15 Nov 2007 15:57:46 GMT

Americans spend nearly $5 billion a year for sleep medications + the U.S. coffee market reached $29.3 billion last year = profit at the expense of health. Doesn't anyone get the connection? Spend the day wired on five "Extra Tall Grande Latte Mocha-ccinos" and then "ask your doctor about" sleeping drugs.

Uppers and downers.

When I can't sleep I take Valerian. But I'm sure the FDA will soon rule an herb used for over 1000-years "dangerous."

re: Sleep Drugs Are Wildly Popular Despite Barely Working

reni — Thu, 15 Nov 2007 15:11:51 GMT

I may have a sleep disorder (caused by worry about financial matters) and have tried all the prescription medications mentioned here. None of them worked, including melatonin. Lunesta and Ambien actually made me feel wired. But what does help me sleep like a baby and wake up refreshed is 2 or 3 tablets is Sominex (diphenhydramine HCl). I am mostly a raw foodie, am very careful about what I eat, and never use other drugs, but the nights I don't take this OTC, I don't sleep well and wake up crabby. Has anyone else had this experience or know of harmful side-effects of using Sominex long term?

re: Sleep Drugs Are Wildly Popular Despite Barely Working

ksamiams — Thu, 15 Nov 2007 12:35:36 GMT

It is easy for someone who has had only a few nights of restless sleep to discount medication so easy. However talk to someone who has has real insomnia for years with periods of NO SLEEP for days straight and you'll find they were more then glad to get a nights sleep on any med they could get their hands on. Why? Because they tried eveything natural and none of them worked. Most of the people on medication would never be taking it if there was something natural that REALY worked. Tell someone who hasn't sleep for three nights straight to TAP on their forehead and go to sleep and see what reaction you get! This is what Katee posted: "However, i still have insomnia issues. Would be happy to hear the specifics of the many comments here who say there are cheap, easy, natural ways to deal with insomnia. Thanks. :)" The reason I'm sure she said this is because she can not find any. If the Natural Health Community wants to get people off all these harmful drugs and they are harmful, then they've got to give us something that is PROVEN to work. So I say, PUT UP OR SHUT UP!