Insomnia Remedies/Cures
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Insomnia Remedies/Cures
Good Morning, I will keep this as brief as possible, although it is a big subject!
I don't sleep well, partly a function of age, and partly working some late evening shifts which means that I don't always get to bed as early as I would like. Nothing like an aircrew roster I hasten to add and no jet lag involved!
I sometimes take Nytol (diphenylhydramine) but not too often as I believe that regular use might reduce its effectiveness. True or false?
I sometimes take herbal remedies based on valerian which are said to be effective, Boots Natrasleep and Valerina. They seem to help
I have tried Melatonin to no apparent effect.
There is speculation that consumption of sweetners and diet drinks containing aspartame can cause very serious side effects, the least of which is disturbed sleep. I gave up sugar 3 years ago and take the equivalent of 10 sweetner tablets a day. Some Government agencies (UK & USA) state that there is no PROVEN link to health problems linked to aspartame and other research says it is very dangerous.
Some people claim that an infusion of camomile is very effective but admit that it tastes lke the bottom of a hamster cage
Please can any Pruners come up with comments on the above, hopefully based on their personal experiences rather than links to websites giving the pros and cons - I have read most of them and my brain hurts! Many thanks
I don't sleep well, partly a function of age, and partly working some late evening shifts which means that I don't always get to bed as early as I would like. Nothing like an aircrew roster I hasten to add and no jet lag involved!
I sometimes take Nytol (diphenylhydramine) but not too often as I believe that regular use might reduce its effectiveness. True or false?
I sometimes take herbal remedies based on valerian which are said to be effective, Boots Natrasleep and Valerina. They seem to help
I have tried Melatonin to no apparent effect.
There is speculation that consumption of sweetners and diet drinks containing aspartame can cause very serious side effects, the least of which is disturbed sleep. I gave up sugar 3 years ago and take the equivalent of 10 sweetner tablets a day. Some Government agencies (UK & USA) state that there is no PROVEN link to health problems linked to aspartame and other research says it is very dangerous.
Some people claim that an infusion of camomile is very effective but admit that it tastes lke the bottom of a hamster cage
Please can any Pruners come up with comments on the above, hopefully based on their personal experiences rather than links to websites giving the pros and cons - I have read most of them and my brain hurts! Many thanks
Last edited by A2QFI; 2nd Jul 2008 at 11:23. Reason: To add text
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discussed only recently . . . . . . .
Have a look at Gingernut's very recent promotion of the benefits of Camomile :
http://www.pprune.org/forums/medical...-my-mouth.html
http://www.pprune.org/forums/medical...-my-mouth.html
gingernut,
I have tried valarien and passion flower drops mixed with warm water, taken one hour before retiring and another right at bed time. Seems to take the edge off. At least I do feel more rested in the morning. Do you have any thoughts on the valarien drops? MY doctor recommended taking 100 mgs of B6, 1000 mgs of calcium and Vitamin D at bedtime. Again, it doesn't put me to sleep but does seem to improve the quality of sleep I do get.
I've also tried 5-HtP, 300 mgs at bedtime. I seem to relax more but still have frequent wakenings. My mood seems better, though.
A2Q,
Here's a trick that helps me. Get in bed, lights out and in my sleeping position. Recite to myself a long passage of poetry or prose. I use "The Jabberwocky" as it's nonsense. "The Owl and the Pussy Cat" works too. I suppose it's the focusing of the mind and not being distracted by current problems or worries. Give it a try!
Good luck and sweet dreams!
Dea
I have tried valarien and passion flower drops mixed with warm water, taken one hour before retiring and another right at bed time. Seems to take the edge off. At least I do feel more rested in the morning. Do you have any thoughts on the valarien drops? MY doctor recommended taking 100 mgs of B6, 1000 mgs of calcium and Vitamin D at bedtime. Again, it doesn't put me to sleep but does seem to improve the quality of sleep I do get.
I've also tried 5-HtP, 300 mgs at bedtime. I seem to relax more but still have frequent wakenings. My mood seems better, though.
A2Q,
Here's a trick that helps me. Get in bed, lights out and in my sleeping position. Recite to myself a long passage of poetry or prose. I use "The Jabberwocky" as it's nonsense. "The Owl and the Pussy Cat" works too. I suppose it's the focusing of the mind and not being distracted by current problems or worries. Give it a try!
Good luck and sweet dreams!
Dea
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Also try herbal tea that includes Hops. The active ingredient in Hops is used in the over-the-counter medication "Kalms" for controlling stress.
Quit caffeine.
Best advice of all: exercise. 30 mins of exercise a day.
Don't eat anything in the 2 hours before bed time.
Learning Yoga and / or Meditation techniques could also help.
Quit caffeine.
Best advice of all: exercise. 30 mins of exercise a day.
Don't eat anything in the 2 hours before bed time.
Learning Yoga and / or Meditation techniques could also help.
)
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mere coincidence . . . . . . . . ? ? ?
How comes it that all the adverts down the
left side of the page in this thread
<<<<<<<<<<<< ( here )
seem to be for insomnia remedies and cures ?
Coincidence, or what ?
Oops ! not this one !
left side of the page in this thread
<<<<<<<<<<<< ( here )
seem to be for insomnia remedies and cures ?
Coincidence, or what ?
Oops ! not this one !
Last edited by AMEandPPL; 3rd Jul 2008 at 22:22. Reason: wrong advert !
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Interim report on Insomnia!
Just back from a relaxing weekend off work. I have given up anything with aspartame in it and started using sugar substitute Splenda, way too early to see whether that has had an effect. Plenty of walking, a warm milky drink and two valerian based tablets before bed and some very good nights sleep. Also my dreams are more vivid and easily recalled in the morning which is an odd side effect but not unwelcome. I have bough the camomile tea but not tried it, yet.
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Psychophysiological entity
Just lost a long screed but in brief, Don't use any Benzodiazepine
Temazapam for example. I had a sticky running for ages a long time ago about the dangers of this group.
Benzodiazepine - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Zolpidem is what I use, fantastic. Bright as a button at 05:00 and tested by the demands of flying. Been using it for years, mostly for back-pain as it gives better back rest while zonked out.
I try to limit it to 3 nights a week, but my non-flying demands have seen me use it for a week at a time.
Watch out...it's very fast. 20mins You do not need to be doing anything critical as it kicks in.
Temazapam for example. I had a sticky running for ages a long time ago about the dangers of this group.
Benzodiazepine - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Zolpidem is what I use, fantastic. Bright as a button at 05:00 and tested by the demands of flying. Been using it for years, mostly for back-pain as it gives better back rest while zonked out.
I try to limit it to 3 nights a week, but my non-flying demands have seen me use it for a week at a time.
Watch out...it's very fast. 20mins You do not need to be doing anything critical as it kicks in.
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Originally Posted by Loose rivets
Zolpidem is what I use, fantastic. Bright as a button at 05:00 ...
If I can't sleep nowadays, I just stay up until I get sleepy and not worry about not sleeping (which I found to be the major reason for not being able to fall asleep). If I have to get up in the next 6 hours, then I find something boring and as non-stimulating as possible to read and I'm soon off to sleep.
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Er,....have you tried the simple remedies before the drugs,infusions,incantations and stuff? Bed/pillows comfy, duvet not restrictive, room temp,window open to allow fresh air interchange,no light intrusion flashing or otherwise,no noise intrusion. How about you,....food taken to late in the day,wrong sort that gives gas,too much fluid or not enough or wrong sort ie alcohol. The mind also can recieve the suggestion that its time to count the zzzzzzzzzs. The act of the last ablution,warm drink,book reading can be the trigger for the sleep centre.Hypnotics and sedatives should not even be considered neither should the Chinese herbalists potions....some are jammed packed with unquantified amounts of raw medicaments. Bit like taking a sledge hammer to crack the old nut. On that thought, if all else fails....the woodem mallet,swift clout just behind the ear.....no more insomnia after the first session
Just a thought.
Just a thought.
Psychophysiological entity
One is rushing to leave, but just a bit about the eye thing.
You must satisfy yourself about taking anything and flying. Only published data and the law can be the guide. Having said this, there is the old argument about flying after a perfectly useless night trying to sleep. I have never felt so fresh on earlies as when I used this.
This is quite without qualification, but sometimes I feel that eyesight is fine-tuned by other muscles. Extra-ocular for example. Of this I'm near to sure.
When such muscles relax totally, the whole fine-tuning goes out of kilter and almost has to be relearned. I have often noticed that an extremely good rest leaves me with poorer focus for a while.
Just a thought, though what I didn't say is that I uses much, much less than the recommended dose, sometimes breaking half a tablet into small bits and leaving them beside the water. If I wake, I take another fragment.
There are CR tablets. Ambien I think. DO NOT use these and fly...they really do spread the drug over a long period.
You must satisfy yourself about taking anything and flying. Only published data and the law can be the guide. Having said this, there is the old argument about flying after a perfectly useless night trying to sleep. I have never felt so fresh on earlies as when I used this.
This is quite without qualification, but sometimes I feel that eyesight is fine-tuned by other muscles. Extra-ocular for example. Of this I'm near to sure.
When such muscles relax totally, the whole fine-tuning goes out of kilter and almost has to be relearned. I have often noticed that an extremely good rest leaves me with poorer focus for a while.
Just a thought, though what I didn't say is that I uses much, much less than the recommended dose, sometimes breaking half a tablet into small bits and leaving them beside the water. If I wake, I take another fragment.
There are CR tablets. Ambien I think. DO NOT use these and fly...they really do spread the drug over a long period.
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First of all, try eliminating any underlying causes of your insomnia. Basically, the happier you feel, the better you sleep. I hope you have somebody to help you. Everyone, regardless of age, needs physical pleasure - and I don't mean just sexual one, it's any tactile contact with the one you want to be with, it's exercise, it's any feeling your body craves, etc. You owe it to yourself and have no reason to be denied it. By the way, have you had a nice vacation lately?
In addition to this, there are lots of mild herbal remedies, which can be tried separately or in combination, as teas or as tinctures: hops, mint, vervain, passionflower, peony, camomile, motherwort and others; hawthorn, marjoram and thyme are not inherently inducing sleep but are sometimes added as well. I intentionally excluded valerian because of possible side effects of high doses - your ability to process multiple continuous streams of information (e.g. fly a plane) may be impaired, I experienced it once myself. Other than that, these herbs are innocuous enough to experiment with them yourself, but a herbalist's advice may help achieve the result quicker. Usually, the best results are produced by a cocktail of several herbs.
If you drink coffee or strong tea in *any* quantities, even just in the morning, try withdrawing it for a few days and see what happens, but be sure to drink a lot of water (more than beverage withdrawn).
In addition to this, there are lots of mild herbal remedies, which can be tried separately or in combination, as teas or as tinctures: hops, mint, vervain, passionflower, peony, camomile, motherwort and others; hawthorn, marjoram and thyme are not inherently inducing sleep but are sometimes added as well. I intentionally excluded valerian because of possible side effects of high doses - your ability to process multiple continuous streams of information (e.g. fly a plane) may be impaired, I experienced it once myself. Other than that, these herbs are innocuous enough to experiment with them yourself, but a herbalist's advice may help achieve the result quicker. Usually, the best results are produced by a cocktail of several herbs.
If you drink coffee or strong tea in *any* quantities, even just in the morning, try withdrawing it for a few days and see what happens, but be sure to drink a lot of water (more than beverage withdrawn).
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Hey A2QFI,
I slept appallingly until I cut out the diet Coke during the day. It made a huge difference. I don't know how much aspartame is in it, but it's not the caffeine since I can drink normal Coke without any sleep problems.
I think gingernut's advice is spot on. I suspect that it's not so much the camomile tea (haven't tried that yet) as the other suggestions in his list, but they work. I alternate between about 3.30am and 6am starts at the moment and my biggest problem is worrying about not getting enough sleep - then, surprise, surprise, I don't sleep that night!
Cheers,
Dave.
I slept appallingly until I cut out the diet Coke during the day. It made a huge difference. I don't know how much aspartame is in it, but it's not the caffeine since I can drink normal Coke without any sleep problems.
I think gingernut's advice is spot on. I suspect that it's not so much the camomile tea (haven't tried that yet) as the other suggestions in his list, but they work. I alternate between about 3.30am and 6am starts at the moment and my biggest problem is worrying about not getting enough sleep - then, surprise, surprise, I don't sleep that night!
Cheers,
Dave.
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insomnia cure
zopiclone/zimmervaine. Prob is they are adictive. Not reccomended for long term use. Docs usually prescribe for up to 6 weeks.
Used to take one a night then about 2 years later 2. U need to be weaned off them after long term use.
Now totally addicted.
Side effects are bad if after long term use u suddenly come off them.
Used to take one a night then about 2 years later 2. U need to be weaned off them after long term use.
Now totally addicted.
Side effects are bad if after long term use u suddenly come off them.
