natural remedy

[Aliciak3]

Hi, I'm obviously having everything everyone else is having…  very scary!  So I can't sleep…  and just wondering if anyones ever tried any natural remedies and has suceeded?  I'm so against meds and really don't want to take them…  oils or anything else anyone? Thank you!

[Aliciak3]

Thank you so much for all that information!  Its truly apprieciated.

[jemma116]

Have a warm relaxing bath before going to bed to help you unwind.

Drinking warm milk (with drinking chocolate if you like) is said to help relaxation for sleep.  

Camomile tea is also very calming.

Breathing exercises, CBT (cognitive behavioural therapy) as mentioned by LRon and the other forms of relaxation will help.  Doing some form of exercise even going for a walk will help to relax you.

TheLightSeeker has some good suggestions for you.  Don't watch movies that are action packed.  

You mention that you drink green tea.  Although green tea is very good, it does contain caffeine.  Caffeine is a stimulant and will keep you awake.  Don't have any green tea in the evening, to avoid having the caffeine.  Drink more water.

If you do have something on your mind then that will cause anxiety and hamper sleeping.  If you toss and turn and can't drop off, get out of bed and read a book or do something and then go back to bed when you feel tired.  Don't fight your tiredness and make yourself stay up.

[Paxiled]

Kava is probably the herbal relaxant most like a benzo, but don't take it if you have liver problems.  I don't think it's really that dangerous, but a few people had bad reactions to taking standardized extracts.  But for overall systemic relief, passionflower is probably even better, but natural medicine is complicated and seldom uses just one remedy or goes after just one body system.  Usually for anxiety there would be a combination of amino acids (5-HTP, for example, and/or taurine), stress B vitamins, and herbs that target GABA and the adrenals.  Different cultures have additional concerns; for example, in Traditional Chinese Medicine they believe there's a connection between the kidneys and fear.  A good overview is Natural Highs by Hyla Cass, a psychiatrist at UCLA, but if you don't know natural medicine it's best to see a naturopath or herbalist or practitioner of integrated medicine.  They would also combine this with therapy, relaxation exercises such as meditation, exercise, and diet.  That's holistic medicine.  For sleep, I'd try melatonin first, and a homeopathic remedy called Calm's Forte, but there are many sleep aids out there in the natural world.  For melatonin try 1mg -- many take too high a dose that makes it not work.  

[Aliciak3]

Thank you guys.  I will look into those things.  I do try to talk myself out of me having any attacks and try to be calm and relax,  just don't seem to work.. I don't drink smoke and only caffeine is green tea! So its within myself I guess,  whatever its from..  To me it just don't make sense! Oh and what is kava kava!?  Thank you again!

[TheLightSeeker]

Hey Aliciak3.

Yes. Transdermal Magnesium Oil. It's like an antidote to stress, muscle relaxant and cell calming agent (for your purposes).
Look also into Valerian root tea and Melatonin supplements.

Watch out for the following, which contribute to chronic sleep problems:

Frequent disrupted sleep/wake cycle possibly from work schedule or
various nighttime activities (like computer use, gaming, etc.)
Anxiety about.. not being able to fall sleep
Drinking alcohol before bedtime
Consuming excessive amounts of caffeine, specially in the evening
Smoking  before bedtime
Excessive napping in the afternoon or evening

I hope this helps.
Niko

[LRon]

The best "natural remedy" is probably cognitive behavioral therapy -- either through counseling, or by yourself with a book on the subject. Also relaxation techniques like yoga, progressive muscle relaxation, meditation, guided imagery, etc. Oh yeah, there's kava kava.