Is there any natural help for insomnia

[Chi_Chi_Lover]

I have tried just about everything for insomnia. I have taken Ambien in the past and that is just not an option anymore. I will not take an addictive drug so...I'm looking for a safe alternative and have tried the melatonan (spell?) Valerian root, tylenol PM Nyquil, sleepy times tea etc. any advice will be greatly appreciated

[Suri123]

Hi, Thanks for your comments. I do agree with you of not considering sleep medication for long-term use due to dependency problem, side effects of drug so on. Also these medications do help only for sometime. So it is better to know the cause or some of aggravating factors that actually causing you the sleeplessness and to focus on getting rid of them as far as possible. A variety of lifestyle modifications such as avoidance of alcohol, caffeine, and medications may help controlling symptoms. Following a healthy sleep habit like maintaining a set time to go to bed and waking up in morning, taking daily warm shower and gentle massage before going to bed, hearing to soft music, avoiding smoking, alcohol and recreational drugs are a few to name. Stress is one of major cause; hence practicing doing relaxation techniques can help. Take care.

[Chi_Chi_Lover]

Yes, I have suffered for many years with insomnia so I know all the right things to do. I'm very health minded, eat right vegaterian, lots of exercise during the day I run 8 miles a day. I don't drink much at all etc. I have taken Ambien for extended lenghts of time and it is a hard medication to get off of. I have and will never take it again. I have taken Elivil and it helped at first then nothing and I gained 15 pounds in few months so no way. And I don't believe in antidepressants I think exercise is a much better option.
I was just hoping to find some advice more natural that maybe I have not tried. I may have to do a sleep study but I wonder how that will work...I won't be able to sleep for sure with that going on. LOL

[Suri123]

Hi, how are you keeping? There are many reasons for not getting sleep like bad sleep habit, excessive caffeine, smoking, alcohol, use of medicines and drugs, spicy bulky meal, too much disturbance due to over crowd, television or frequent shift in work timings etc. Some disorders like moderate fatigue, psychiatric illness etc which affects sleep pattern. Stress is one thing, which always aggravates the sleep disturbance. You need to try and relax and plan a healthy sleeping habit, which should be followed on long-term basis. You can follow some of sleep tips; I hope it will be of some help to you.
Sleep and wake up soon at about same time every day.
Avoid caffeine contained in tea, cola, and chocolate prior to sleep.
Small meal or snacks to be preferred over late heavy meal.
Regular causual exercise. Concentrate on some fine work like reading a book, listening to soft music, take warm shower and gentle body massage, and keep temperature in your room at a suitable level as  extremes can disrupt your sleep. Avoid musical clocks, very bright and blinking lights, and very tight clothing or bedding. Ambien is good choice for treatment of insomnia, but it is intended for short-term use. Elavil/Endep can be tried if not comfortable with Ambien and it is non-addictive. If still you don’t feel any improvement consult a sleep specialist and get sleep test done to know present status. Do take Omeprazole to counter gastric irritation. Keep updating your thoughts. Take care.