Has anyone ever tried making *herbal* tea to help them sleep? I have insomnia so bad. I'm thinking a special tea might help. PM me if you have ever tried that. Seems like it would taste terrible. :cool:

Fairly certain this isn't the "herbal" tea you are talking about, but at our house we use Celestial Seasonings Sleepytime tea. It's pretty good - and legal. :) Friends of ours swear by melatonin, but I've never tried it so I can't give details. Insomnia sucks - sorry you're going through it.

Valerian is used for sleep but, in tea form I heard it doesn't taste good. I know from experience it smells like feet IMO. THe health food store has many herbal combos for sleep w/ valerian, chamomile, ect. If you take vitamins, try taking your calcium and magnesium shortly before bed. It will relax you.

My doctor that I am always telling you about, told my mom to take Flaxseed oil and Blue Cohosh. Not teas, but they may work. That Tradtional Medicinals ( I think thats the brand) they make nighty nighty tea. You might try that.

BTW-I just reread op...do you mean "herbal" or herbal? does that make sense?

Valerian should be used with caution as well it can be toxic. But it also can be a wonderful mild sedative.
Melatonin works great for my dd, but from everything I've read it shouldn't be used for occasional insomia. If you're regularly having insomnia you might want to research circadian rhythm disorders and see if you fit into any of those patterns. My dd is Delayed Sleep Phase Syndrome for years, though we just diagnosed it about 3 months ago. She's been taking 1mg melatonin every night since and it has made a definat difference.

I can't imagine the taste of "herb" tea not to mention I always had to eat before I could sleep and well I certainly don't need the extra pounds now! LOL

Chamomile is a very common herbal tea to help with sleep. But what about a glass of wine or a beer?

They have legal, and safe, herbal teas at health food stores. I swear by Celestial Seasonings Sleepytime Extra one....must be the "Extra" one though. LOL. I have also gotten herbal tinctures from the health food stores to mix in with a warm before bed drink to help....

I'd try those. And consider the vitamin recommendations above. I'd also try a warm bath 1-2 hours before bed, or a warm shower....socks on after. I read warm feet equal sleep...lol. Seems to work for me, and I have terrible off and on insomnia.

Oh, man. I've tried everything I can think of (almost :rolleyes: ) I drink all the herbal teas you can buy (in stores anyway). Done the warm baths, done the wine and beer, done the melatonin. Ugh. I start getting sooo sleepy, then as soon as I get in bed (even if it's 2:00 AM), my eyes pop open and my mind starts racing. it's very frustrating when you know you will be up in a few hours with a brood of 3! :juggle: I don't even get anything done in the house or do the stuff I want to with the kids during the day. I'm so tired all day long, then at night, I'm wide awake. Grrrr.... here it is - 12:44 AM. :rolleyes:

I would seriously look into circadian rhythm disorders

do you have any other "symptoms"

times of extreme fatigue?
carb cravings?
is it seasonal?

I would try dousing the room with lavender before bedtime. Maybe doing some meditation or relaxing yoga (some poses are recommended for before bedtime). Or, you could have a pre-bed exercise session ;) with DH (*lol* or yourself if he's busy)

I've had friends who had luck with Valerian.

Personally, I always liked the taste of *other* herbs (in the past....) , but never liked it in the form of tea.

I know this seems goofy, but it has worked for me ... sometimes.... i will lay in bed and visualize the blackest black i can think of and then i will say in my toughts black blank nothing... and do that over and over and over... if i start thinking of something else i tell myself NO and revisualize black and then start repeating to myself black blank nothing. Sometimes i have things in my head that i just can't block it out like that, but when i can eventually my brain gets bored and goes to sleep. If after an hour this doesn't work i just get up cause there just isn't any use.

If there is something bothering me and i can do something about it, Like that i didn't clean the cats pan or i need to do something online. Then i will get up and do them and then go back to bed. However, often they are things that can not be taken care of or that can not be delt with til the next day, then i will end up all night.

Also if i don't get regular sleep or my sleep gets disrupted i tend to not be able to sleep for several days after. Stress really is a horrible problem that causes insomnia with me, it also causes physical problems as well.

I have terrible insomnia when pregnant and once in a while I've had short bouts of it very intensely. I never found "herbal" stuff helped me at all; in fact it has precipitated anxiety and/or insomnia for me at times in the past.

What helps me most is motherwort tincture, magnesium supplements (Solgar chelated magnesium glycinate tablets are the best kind), and/or Coffea cruda 30c.

I would also consider seeing a good classical homeopath and getting your constitutional remedy. My son had extremely disturbed sleep patterns (ironically I was most insomniac wihle pregnant with him) and with the first dose, they went from daily to several times yearly.

Food related? Dairy gives my mom insomia. As long as she eats it before noon she is fine, anything after that keeps her up all night. It took her YEARS to figure it out. Who ever heard of a food allergy giving you insomnia?

Try forcing yourself to write before bed. 2 things. One, in a journal...write feelings, what you did, how you felt, any worries, etc. Two, a list and plan for the next day. Sometimes my mind races unless I write things down and release myself from them....

But I'd also do all the other things. All. A warm bath or shower nightly, using a nice lotion after. Make sure your room is comfy, dark, etc. Lavendar oil is a great thing too, I use an air diffuser for mine before bed. Comfy socks. Reading and such before bed. NO computer or TV that is stimulating or such within an hour of bedtime...only calm, boring stuff...or reading. Tea made double strength with legal, lol, sleep inducers.

I wonder if you do it all, and give it a week, I bet you will see some difference...

:big hug:

Thanks for all the good advice, mamas! I :hbeat: you gals! :D

I don't know if I have/had insomnia, but at times I have been a very bad sleeper.
Tai chi changed my life.
For the first time in I don't know how long, I was sleeping so soundly and waking up early rearin' to go.
good luck mama
PS, Tai Chi that I learned only took me 10-15 minutes each morning (while the coffee was brewing)
anni

I know this seems goofy, but it has worked for me ... sometimes.... i will lay in bed and visualize the blackest black i can think of and then i will say in my toughts black blank nothing... and do that over and over and over... if i start thinking of something else i tell myself NO and revisualize black and then start repeating to myself black blank nothing. Sometimes i have things in my head that i just can't block it out like that, but when i can eventually my brain gets bored and goes to sleep. If after an hour this doesn't work i just get up cause there just isn't any use.


This often works for me. I also like Meeshi's idea and after our disscussion on that the other day...the diy idea sounds best...lol

i know in naother post you mentioned you juices and made raw soup....my dad can not sleep if he eats/drinks raw foods after 6 or 7. he says it gives him such a boost he has to stay up to midnight. which is a problem for an old farm boy who gets up with the roosters before teh sun each day.

i avoid caffeine and sugar most of the time. but if i have a treat when out i can't sleep and don't sleep well, waking exhausted and worthless for the next day.

hope you find some relief.

luna

i know in naother post you mentioned you juices and made raw soup....my dad can not sleep if he eats/drinks raw foods after 6 or 7. he says it gives him such a boost he has to stay up to midnight. which is a problem for an old farm boy who gets up with the roosters before teh sun each day.

i avoid caffeine and sugar most of the time. but if i have a treat when out i can't sleep and don't sleep well, waking exhausted and worthless for the next day.

hope you find some relief.

luna


Hmmm. I never thought of that. Maybe I'll lay off the healthy stuff before bed. LOL!

Insomnia is a very common symptom of depression. Just a thought. I had insominia when I had severe PPD. It was my first symptom.