Valerian Root or Melatonin? - Alternative Medicine Message Board

ronniesteers · 07-14-2006, 01:06 PM

Which is better for calming down and sleeping. If anyone has tried both and/or either I would appreciate feedback.

SteveGn · 07-14-2006, 01:56 PM

ronniesteers, I've tried both and had no success, however I only tried the melatonin for a few nights and the valerian for only a couple nights. I figured if it was going to help me, it would have from the start. I'm interested to hear others feedback on this myself, since my sleep patterns are a joke. I can get to sleep quickly, but I will wake up after only an hour or two. After that the intervals get even shorter. The next day I feel sluggish.

littlegirl53 · 07-14-2006, 02:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ronniesteers

Which is better for calming down and sleeping. If anyone has tried both and/or either I would appreciate feedback.

I take melatonin drops every night about 30 minutes before going to sleep. It helps me go into a deep sleep and dream a lot.

Podee · 07-14-2006, 04:25 PM

I don't like to take either regularly, but during periods when I was in Vegas for days on end and my sleep patterns were irregular, I found that taking a small handful of the valerian root capsules would not only relax me and put me to sleep, but get me flat out dizzy!

I used to also take Kava Kava occasionally but then I read that this had caused liver damage! so I threw away the bottle.

The melatonin - not sure if this works or not, but I have tried it. I might not be the right person to ask because in general I am not very hard to get to sleep, also because I have been clean and sober for many years from an addiction to narcotics, I hate to take anything to get me to sleep. I hate to take anything, period, other than vitamins, minerals and nutritional herbs and supplements.

One thing I have read - nothing works over the long term. The body builds up a tolerance. So, I think you are better off, if you use anything at all, using it rarely.

brykc14 · 07-18-2006, 01:03 AM

Ive been using Melatonin for about a month now and find it helps me. I work until 2am and Ive found that when I take it I get sleepy after about an hour compared to being up til 6 or 7 in the morning trying to fall asleep. It does make me a little groggy for the first few days but it does lesson over a few days.