Herbal Sleep Remedy, Melatonin

[RyanLanane]

Someone I was speaking with on-line mentioned taking Melatonin a while back, 1 pill at night. Given how much it takes to knock me out of anything else when I can't fall asleep I figured I would need the 3mg version of it, bought it at Wal Greens or Wal Mart, can't remember which...

The last two mornings (after taking it at night) I have woken up feeling doggy as all hells, similar to taking the equivalent of 4 Tylenol PM's - going to try taking a half a tablet tonight as it is helping me sleep somewhat but the best part is I am sleeping real light in the mornings... Once I wake up I can fall back asleep but only for 15-20 minute intervals... The feeling sluggish part though I didn't expect out of anything herbal. Anyone else here take this? If so, do you experience similar symptoms from it ?

[justb]

I've tried it in the past and it worked well but I don't remember how many mg I took. You may also want to try valerian root. It did not affect me as strongly.

[RyanLanane]

Thanks justb, seems I'm going to end up with as many full 'herbal' medicine bottles as prescription drug bottles that didn't work before too long here - lol.

Only problem is I need something strong to knock me out early (early to me, been trying to get to sleep at 1 or 2) since I have to wake up by 8:30-8:45 my time now..

[Nickatilynx]

I used to take it years ago when I did a lot of travelling to fix jetlag.

It sorta worked.

But I can't remember what dose.

Thinking about it , I think I got mine from "Boots" in England lol

[Red]

Melatonin is not an herbal. It's actually a hormone. What you buy in stores is a synthetic version of the hormone your body produces. It's produced in the pineal gland in the brain and it's production is stimulated by darkness and inhibited by light.
Your body naturally produces melatonin between 6 and 8 pm so if you take half a tab close to that time it should lessen the hangover.

[MorganGrayson]

Red knows whereof she speaks in this issue.
(She got edjamakated in such stuff, she did.)

Ryan, one of the mistakes people make is assuming "herbal," "natural," and such words are somehow different from "medication by prescription" in that they won't have any side effects or interactions. Ah...wrong. (You have to be off Kava for something like two weeks before any kind of surgery, for example, unless bleeding to death is on your "To Do" list.)

I've used both Valerian Root and L-Tryptophan years ago, and both knocked me on my butt sleep-wise. I honestly don't remember anything about "sleep hangovers" on either. I just remember being startled that I slept. (I've been on three of the newest - they have commercials - sleeping pills and all they do is destroy my motor control. They do not, however, put me to sleep.)

No matter what you use, you have to "work with it." Experts recommend a "sleep ritual." Do the same things every night, to clue your body that it's now sleep time. If a hot shower makes you drowsy, take one. Make sure your room is in total darkness. For some reason, clean sheets knock me out. Makes for a lot of laundry, but it really helps. Whatever it takes for your own personal space to be "for sleep." Some experts say no television, I've found that when I had one in the bedroom and a vcr, I could put in the same movie and listen to the first five or ten minutes of it repeatedly. It was like a signal to me that it was OK to go to sleep now.

[Nickatilynx]

Originally Posted by MorganGrayson

I've found that when I had one in the bedroom and a vcr, I could put in the same movie and listen to the first five or ten minutes of it repeatedly. It was like a signal to me that it was OK to go to sleep now.

I recommmend "Anal Cream Pied Bitches VII"

[MorganGrayson]

Originally Posted by Nickatilynx

I recommmend "Anal Cream Pied Bitches VII"

I'll take that in the spirit in which I'm absolutely certain it's given.

I still think the best thing ever said about porn movies was said by Eric Jong:
"For the first 20 minutes...all I want to do is screw. After that...I NEVER want to screw EVER again."

Apologies to the movie professionals onboard. You can count the porn flicks I've seen on the fingers of one hand. The writer in me can't stop muttering "oh, for fuck's sake..."

[Red]

Originally Posted by Nickatilynx

I recommmend "Anal Cream Pied Bitches VII"

I thought V was much better.

[Red]

Originally Posted by MorganGrayson

I've used both Valerian Root and L-Tryptophan years ago, and both knocked me on my butt sleep-wise. I honestly don't remember anything about "sleep hangovers" on either. I just remember being startled that I slept. (I've been on three of the newest - they have commercials - sleeping pills and all they do is destroy my motor control. They do not, however, put me to sleep.)

Interestingly, tryptophan is converted to seratonin and then converted to melatonin in the body. It's the substance in turkey and milk that makes you feel sleepy. That's why you get tired after Thanksgiving dinner and why the old remedy of a glass of warm milk at bedtime will help you sleep.

Valerian root has a seditive action on the central nervous system and it helps restlessness and nervous tension which in turn will help you sleep. It actually binds to the same receptors in the brain as benzodiazepine drugs such as Valium.

All three of these will help with sleep, it's just a matter of finding the one that works best for you.

[MorganGrayson]

Originally Posted by Red

Interestingly, tryptophan is converted to seratonin and then converted to melatonin in the body. It's the substance in turkey and milk that makes you feel sleepy. That's why you get tired after Thanksgiving dinner and why the old remedy of a glass of warm milk at bedtime will help you sleep.

Valerian root has a seditive action on the central nervous system and it helps restlessness and nervous tension which in turn will help you sleep. It actually binds to the same receptors in the brain as benzodiazepine drugs such as Valium.

All three of these will help with sleep, it's just a matter of finding the one that works best for you.

See? Tole ya Red got edjamacated in this here stuff!

[justb]

Originally Posted by MorganGrayson

.)

No matter what you use, you have to "work with it." Experts recommend a "sleep ritual." Do the same things every night, to clue your body that it's now sleep time. If a hot shower makes you drowsy, take one. Make sure your room is in total darkness. For some reason, clean sheets knock me out. Makes for a lot of laundry, but it really helps. .

I have the clean sheet issue too. For some reason nothing knocks me out better than the scent of fresh downy and silky smooth sheets.

[selena]

I like Valerian. I have a tad bit of sluggishness in the a.m., but it shakes off easily.

[RyanLanane]

Wow Red, you really know your stuff - you should have a wbe site covering all this if you don't. Sure there is good moeny to be made by showing what herbal remedies cure common ailments and then link to sites selling them for a commision. Would take alot of time, but what that makes money doesn't take time?

I might try the Valerian root because I am actually on Xanax and trying to get off entirely. Down to 1/4 mg 2-4 times per day. The doctors are stupified as to my options and any herbal remedies that might be off assistance but someone wrote me a PM here a couple weeks back saying they had went off Xanax and used Magnesium Taurate to help. Tried getting some at Wal-Mart yesterday but all they had was Magnesium Oxide and this person highly recommended Magnesium Taurate.

[MorganGrayson]

Ryan...I'd recommend going with Valerian root. I do want to warn you about something though. When you open that bottle, your head is going to snap back. The smell is gawdawful. They're capsules, so they don't taste like that, but boy howdy, if you're not prepared for that smell it can really knock you over.

I'd don't have any, but you might also want to read the label on the Celestial Seasons "Sleepy Time" tea. It most likely has chammomile in it, another herbal relaxant, and might have other things. The ritual of making tea is in itself relaxing. It might make a very nice "end of the day/sleep ritual" for you.

Aromatherapy works for a lot of people. I've often used candles (safely located, of course) in my bedroom at night to help me in falling asleep. I like to watch the flickering, too. It's very relaxing.

[Forest]

I take it almost every night

works like a charm for me 3mg

no side effects the next morning here

[MissEve]

Hi Ryan! I go through phases where I take melatonin. I think 3mg is way too much for you. Try taking 1 or 1.5mg and remember that it has a cumulative affect. The only side affect that I get is occasional nightmares but in general melatonin makes your dreams really vivid.

[DrGuile]

No offense to anyone in this thread, but you might want to consider seeing a psychiatrist as a much more "natural" solution to your woes...

I dont mean any disrespect, but Im very serious, I doubt most of you have physical conditions that keep you from sleeping...

Of course a pill is easier to take than life changes... I know that because it applies to me too...

[pushpills]

I've gotta try some of that, since I've slowed my drinking I cannot sleep for shit! Only thing that cures my anxiety is booze.

[Newton]

Hit the gym if you can, nothing will tire you like a good workout, and you never have troubles sleeping again

[Steady]

Originally Posted by Newton

Hit the gym if you can, nothing will tire you like a good workout, and you never have troubles sleeping again

Meditation works good for me.

15 minutes in the morning when I awake...
and 15 minutes at night when I end my day and before I go to sleep.

[Peaches]

I took the 3mg for a bit but after a few weeks starting getting horrible headaches (not as bad as my migraines, but not the same type either). Stopped taking it and within a day or so they went away. Great dreams though!

[RyanLanane]

Now that it has been mentioned I had some weird ass dreams!

How have you been Miss Eve? Hope everything is going well in your life! We'll have to catch up some time on ICQ, it's been a while! Gonna cut the bugger in 1/2 tonight and see how that works... Taking it in about an hour also, hopefully I'm not woozy cause I still won't be able to sleep this early lol

Guile, you would be suprised... A lot of Americans having clinical sleeping problems. I definately know I am one of them. I have tried it all... I am happy to get into a sleeping schedule where I fall asleep between 2-4 - I definately can't fall asleep before 1:30 ever.. Even if I am dog dead tired at 6 PM like I am now

I might try excercising but one thing I read on insomnia said it can be bad for it, maybe I was reading the wrong web site, lol

[grimm]

melatonin can calm you to the point of sleep, but it is not a sedative. excercise can reset your circadian rhythm depending on when you do it. in the morning it can provide a boost of endorphins similar to several cups of coffee... excercise later at night causes the same thing and may effect your ability to get to sleep until your endorphin rush goes away. its all in the timing.

[grimm]

for the record, ive never had luck with melatonin or valerian root. just elevated liver function tests.

[Queen Bitch]

My prescription for a good night's rest:

Take two orgasms and call me in the morning.

But seriously, sleep is overrated. We get by well on 5 hours a day and can still function on 3, at least for a while.

I've always read before going to sleep and it's never failed to work. Also, not worrying about whether or not you can sleep makes a huge difference.

[EroticySteve]

I am lactose intolerant. So a warm glass of milk will put me to sleep only to wake up with gut wrenching gurgling.

[Trev]

Originally Posted by EroticySteve

I am lactose intolerant. So a warm glass of milk will put me to sleep only to wake up with gut wrenching gurgling.

Then don't drink milk

[Steady]

Originally Posted by EroticySteve

I am lactose intolerant. So a warm glass of milk will put me to sleep only to wake up with gut wrenching gurgling.

I always skip going for ice cream after a dinner date.