Hello All. I have a severe sleeping disorder, and my prescribed meds no longer really work. I have tried valarian & melatonin in large quantities, as well as teas. Nothing seems to work. Looking for suggestions. Thanks.

I use Ornithine, Melatonin and a calcium/magnesium supplement. Ornithine I normally take 1 g. every night before bed. Try taking 4 g. and if it helps then lower the dose til it stops working. If I still can't sleep I take the calcium/magnesium supplement. You need to take the type you can get as a powder you dissolve in boiling water. I use one called calmag. It helps you relax. And then also melatonin.

How much melatonin have you tried?

The best "alternative medicine" to a sleep disorder could be as simple as exercise. I suggest that if anyone tries this, that they start out slow, and gradually increase the exercise to the level that best fits them. With exercise, I believe strongly in eating right...eating foods that are non-processed if at all possible...and eat lots of "live" non-cooked foods too.

I've also heard that a person has to be careful with using Valerian; in that it should only be taken for a few weeks at a time, but not permanently.

We would not be able to speak directly for your sleep disorder for definite answers, as we don't really know.... But I hope that I've helped. :)

Have you tried L-theanine? It wasn't for me, but might work on you. Health food stores carry it.

Try 5htp. It's the only sleeping aid that's ever worked for me. It helps me fall asleep faster and actually stay asleep instead of waking up every half hour like i used to. I think it's also supposed to help raise your seratonin levels too. :)

Take 2 Benadry (over the counter allergy med) 30 minutes before bed. My doctor uses it and says it's safe to use on a daily basis for life. It works for me.

5-htp is good, but in our experience the effect wears off after a few days so it would probably be more effective if you only used it 2-3 times a week.

My dr. said the same thing about Benadryl, so I just use that. It gets me quite tired.

I'm a big fan of a product called GABACalm. It is mainly comprised of aminos. It helps me get to sleep and stay asleep. Also, 5htp is supposed to be good because it converts to serotonin which then is converted to melatonin. I have noticed in myself, however, that unless I am deficient in serotonin, 5htp actually gives me a boost and makes me feel awake. That may be why the other poster thought it wore off after a day or two.

Calcium before bed is supposed to help you sleep better, too.

Best,
Sidnee

I use to have severe problems either falling asleep or waking up at night. But for the last two years that had gone completely away.
I take equal amounts of calcium with magniesium before I go to sleep. I do about 1,000 mg of each. Also I drink sleepy time tea with it and within a half hour I am fading out and asleep all night.
A holistic Dr. told me to try this and I am forever grateful for his advice. The only side effect may be loose bowels the day- since magniesum relaxes your muscles. But of all my friends who do take this at night have that side effect.
Also I am wary of taking Benatryl- it is not natural and I question what is in it. Afterall, this is a board for alternative medicine/ not conventional meds.

Hello All. I have a severe sleeping disorder, and my prescribed meds no longer really work. I have tried valarian & melatonin in large quantities, as well as teas. Nothing seems to work. Looking for suggestions. Thanks.


I can help, if you want to treat the root of the problem you would need to tell me more about your sleeping problem.

1) Just difficult going to sleep only
2) Easy going to sleep but wake up in the midlle of night about 3PM -restless night.
3) Difficult going to sleep and restless night.

1) Any night sweat
2) Do you have a bitter taste -weird tase in the morning
How long have have you have this problem.

My recipe includes calcium/magnesium, calms forte, and ZMA. I add these to my Klonopin. When I wake up 4 hours later, I repeat the cal/mag & calms.

There are still the sleepless nights, but this has been the best for me for now.

LIGHT**********carole

Isn't Klonopin a prescription anti-anxiety drug?
We are looking for alternatives to sleeping meds that work. There are plenty of drugs out there that will help many of us sleep better but that is not what this post is about.

Oops, big "boo-boo"..........yep Klonopin is an RX.

LIGHT*********carole

Skullcap works wonderfully for me. There is a tea called "Tranquility Tea" which has it in it. Also you can buy it as a liquid extract. I found it to be a very calming natural sedative.

I use Ornithine, Melatonin and a calcium/magnesium supplement. Ornithine I normally take 1 g. every night before bed. Try taking 4 g. and if it helps then lower the dose til it stops working. If I still can't sleep I take the calcium/magnesium supplement. You need to take the type you can get as a powder you dissolve in boiling water. I use one called calmag. It helps you relax. And then also melatonin.

How much melatonin have you tried?

1. Hi Greensky - I did a search on ornithine and you are the only person who uses it.
2. I also did a PubMed search and a research search and ornithine is advocated as a night time promoter of human growth hormone secretion.
I am still looking for substantiation that it makes people sleepy.
3. I take a calcium magnesium supplement and it is very good. I would advocate it for all women who cannot sleep as it is good for your nerves and good for your bones.
4. Melatonin was terrific for me at the beginning and then it pooped out, as did everything I tried.
5. There is a new product called seriane which is a decapeptide of casein - there is substantial evidence in PubMed that this works - search as decapeptide of casein (milk protein) - I have it, but have not tried it - it seems to have a great safety factor as it is naturally found in milk and may be one of the reasons a glass of warm milk helps some people sleep.
6. There is a new product called withania somnifera root extract which is a ayurvedic (Indian) herb and it is supposed to calm you down. There is substantial evidence that it works and it is safe. I have bought it but not tried it.
6. Passionflower is a herb that calms people down. There are some studies, not many - but it is as effective as xanax.
7. Valerian is an effective sleep aid. I have not tried it (I am very cautious before I try anything), but I have a friend who swears by it.
8. Calms Forte and anything homeopathic is safe.....
9. Bach's Rescue Remedy and Bach's flower remedies are fairly safe provided you have no allergies to plants - Bach's Rescue Remedy is terrific.
10. This board is great because it shares information.
Thanks! :wave: :wave: