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Posted 7/28/2016 7:57 PM (GMT 0)
I've struggled on and off my entire life with insomnia, and I used to take melatonin to combat it. Until I was put on a new antidepressant (not lyme-related, I had depression and anxiety before I contracted lyme) and when combining it with the melatonin I started hallucinating. So I can't do that again.

I get to sleep okay, but I wake up very early (for me at least smilewinkgrin ) and can't fall back asleep. Then by noon I'm exhausted but I am one of those people that is incapable of sleeping during the day, even if I feel like I'm dying. My body simply does not allow it.

Anyone have any suggestions?
Posted 7/28/2016 8:01 PM (GMT 0)
What time do you usually wake up? I ask because the Chinese meridian hours correlate to our organs. So dependent on the time, it could be telling you that you need to support a particular organ more. A lot of people wake between 1 and 3 which is the liver hour. And as you know these viruses and bacteria really tax the liver.

www.natural-health-zone.com/images/xMeridian-clock.png.pagespeed.ic.3IUmk3UUE9.png

Herbs For Insomnia & To Promote Better Sleep
Valerian (Valeriana officinalis)
Passionflower (Passiflora incarnata)
California Poppy ( Eschscholzia californica)
Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera)
Magnolia Bark (Magnolia officinalis)
Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia, Lavandula officinalis)

Post Edited (Krimpet 🍔) : 7/28/2016 2:08:15 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 7/28/2016 8:10 PM (GMT 0)
You can try magnesium, valerian, tryptophan (I use Lidtke brand, it makes a difference who makes it), I also use sleep teas - like Celestial Seasonings Sleepytime, or Bigelow's Sweet Dreams. The only thing is, you need to do a little research on each of these things as they can react with other meds you may be taking, and you need to watch to be sure that they don't make things worse. Some can't use valerian, and for some, tryptophan can increase the inflammation they have.

Be sure that your sleeping environment is "just right" - not too hot or cool, is very dark and very comfy. I need to have a radio or other music on or the normal sounds will wake me, but others find they need it quiet.
Posted 7/28/2016 9:47 PM (GMT 0)
I too had depression/anxiety. I worked off of the pharmaceuticals using light therapy, and then discovered the wonders of cannabis for helping with mood and such and now have a medical card. I don't use much at all.

I also had HORRIBLE insomnia.

When I began the lyme treatment it helped, and integrating Buhner's style helped ALOT.

Sounds like you can't use melatnonin, but the other bits may help.

No large meals after 5:00 pm
1 hr. before bedtime - cannabis
at bedtime, liquid melatonin and benadryl

I started to SLEEP for the first time in FOREVER when I began this.

Now I don't do the benadryl.

I substitute either valerian or tryptophan. ALSO excellent for sleep is theanine!

You could try no big meals after 5 pm
cannabis 1 hr. before bed (you only need a small amount for mood by the way)
you could add a relaxing tea like chamomile, or a tea blend for sleep
then at bedtime
experiment with theanine, tryptophan, valerian..

Make sure they don't interact with your meds.

I was on pharmaceuticals for depression/anxiety and eventually got off it. Light boxes are AMAZING and cannabis really helps with low mood. Theanine also is GREAT GREAT GREAT for anxiety!

good article on theanine
http://overcomingyouranxiety.net/naturalanxietyremedies/theanine-for-anxiety/

article on light boxes
http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/seasonal-affective-disorder/in-depth/seasonal-affective-disorder-treatment/art-20048298

article on cannabis and depression
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/02/06/marijauna-depression_n_6622126.html
Posted 7/28/2016 10:55 PM (GMT 0)
I love all the suggestions above and have done them all.

I do this before bed -- /www.youtube.com/watch?v=gz4G31LGyog By the way I also do it when there is a jack*** on the road. lol

When I first started menopause I had one heck of a time with insomnia. I could have been the neighborhood watch all night long!!! My Mom told me she got a little radio with a pillow speaker and she listened to talk radio and it put her to sleep.

I tried it and it worked for me too. So, you might try my Mom's and my radio trick.
Posted 7/29/2016 5:37 AM (GMT 0)
Lavender works to relax my horses and it allows my insomniac grandson to drift off to sleep.

I buy the balm in a small pill-box sized tin and rub it beneath the nose.

(One of my insomniac friends swears she puts herself to sleep by trying to read a book on economics. She has been reading the same book for years and never gets beyond one page.)
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