What Natural Aids Have Helped You To Sleep?

Sleep has been the biggest problem for me ever since I got sick.
I've been through the whole gamut from not sleeping at all (until I felt like I was nearly insane); to falling asleep easily and sleeping for a few hours, then waking and not being able to sleep for a few more hours (or at all); to difficulty falling asleep and frequent awakenings; to poor sleep generally with constant arousals.
about once a year I sleep through the night for no reason (without any sleeping aids).
This has been going on for about 12 years.

I've tried Valerian; Hops (bad reaction); melatonin (next day headache and altered mood); Ambien (doesn't work for long, bad side-effects); Taurine (nightmares); calcium (helps relax muscles but doesn't always promote sleep); magnesium (next day headache and swelling, diarrhea-- cannot tolerate); Benadryl (helps some); herbal teas (makes bladder more active at night!); and a few more that I can't remember right now.

Does anyone use only natural aids to sleep, and if so, what has worked for you?

My Rheumatologist told me some of his patients use lavendar scent and it helps them sleep. I thought he was joking.
I tried lavendar, and although it smells nice and is relaxing, it does not make me sleep.

Anyone?

I take melatonin but it only works if I combine it with L-theanine.

Good luck to you.

A couple bud lights :)

Has anyone else tried Imovane? My specialist prescribed it, but I don't take it daily. I have gravol as well, and try melatonin/l-thynine-12-HTP pill with zinc and magnesium.

My sleep-habits were also brutally interrupted by the antibiotic, Flagyl, back in October. Because I couldn't fall asleep until the early a.m., my husband would have to wake me up 2-3 hours after I fell asleep. This would then cause a vicious cycle of insomnia and long-periods of sleep, which I am still battling, even though the antibiotics are out of my system.

I hope you find something that helps though; a warm shower/bath right before bed, perhaps an herbal tea? I know that as soon as my husband builds my 'dream bathroom' *whirlpool tub, sauna*, I will be in there for HOURS:D Still a ways out, but it least I know what I want for my Fibro to improve;)

After spending years on Ambien with many side effects, I now use magnesium/zinc/melatonin, but not more than about 5 nights in a row, and then it stops working, so I switch over to Flexeril for 1 or 2 nights, and then back again to the supplements. It seems to work for me, except every now and then I will have a sleepless night no matter what I do. Even though I am postmenopausal, I feel it is hormonal; otherwise I can't explain it. So on those nights, I just hunker down and deal with it. Thankfully I work at home part time, so I'm able to sleep in, if need be.

I use oils- diffusing them and putting them on my feet- I'm allergic to lavender, but use cypress, basil, peace & calming which is a blend, cloves is good once you get to sleep. But I also use ambien, but could never stay asleep on it, or sometimes even get to sleep