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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 5 of 5. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Lao Tzu on April 21, 2011, at 5:54:25
I know it isn't easy to get quality sleep all the time. Some nights, it's just difficult to fall asleep or stay asleep. I have schizophrenia. No one knows this better than me. I think proper nutrition is essential for better sleep, as well as exercise, and as a last resort medication. I have discovered that 50mg of Benadryl can help with sleep if you are desperate, but I've noticed that after a few days it tends to wear off and you're back to square one. That's why they say it should be taken occasionally for sleeplessness. That doesn't do chronic insomniacs any good. It's not the final solution. Zolpidem is supposed to be good for insomnia, but I haven't had to take it yet. I think my doctor didn't want to prescribe that to me, but I don't know why exactly. Instead, he tried trazodone, and older antidepressant with sedating qualities. It didn't work for me, but it may work for other people without the risk of dependency that other sleep medications carry. I know one person, my hair stylist, who takes a low dosage of Xanax at night to help her sleep. Tryptophan is another nutrient that supposedly helps you sleep. I have used a cocktail of vitamins to help me sleep. The following is a bedtime regimen I use:
500 mg Magnesium citrate
500mg Calcium citrate
50mg Riboflavin (B2)
400IU of vitamin E
1mg of melatonin
100mg of vitamin B1
100 micrograms of selenium (yeast)This seems to help as I have not had much success with herbs. I also think that you should make sure you're getting enough B6 and essential fatty acids during the day as well, as these may also promote better rest. And avoid too much caffeine late in the day.
Lao
Posted by Hombre on April 22, 2011, at 14:04:44
In reply to Sleep and nutrients, posted by Lao Tzu on April 21, 2011, at 5:54:25
I'm looking into some herbs that are more potent for sedation and sleep. Besides the usuals like passionflower and valeria, which I would buy in concentrated extract powder form and make into capsules, there are things like kratom and indian warrior, and other herbs that can be steeped as tea or even smoked. To be honest, I sleep very well on my current meds, so no need to rock the boat right now. But it's good to know there are a host of things I've never even heard of let alone tried.
Kratom is said to be quite potent, both stimulating at low doses and sedating at higher doses, but it is somewhat pricy and one will eventually develop a habit and a tolerance if used daily. But people swear it even feels like mild opiates, partly due to its numberous alkaloids, some of which tickle the opioid receptors without actually being opioids. Kratom was traditionally used like coca leaves, to help people who labored all day. In its natural form, it may be worth investigating.
I'm also looking into lobelia, a.k.a. indian warrior buds, as a tobacco alternative. It is said to help with nicotine cravings, and it is sedating and analgesic. I think something like this used judiciously, not every single night, could come in handy for those rough nights.
I'll eventually get my hands on indian warrior, but I think kratom might be illegal where I am (not the US), so that'll have to wait. In the US, it's a buyer's market right now for high quality kratom from indonesia, thailand, malaysia, etc. Modern vendors are offering high quality, sometimes organic quality ethnobotanicals. It's an exciting time for DIY herbal medicine, at least as long as it remains mostly unregulated. I hear Europe is screwed now.
Posted by former poster on April 23, 2011, at 0:45:13
In reply to Re: Sleep and nutrients, posted by Hombre on April 22, 2011, at 14:04:44
Do you know of a good supplier? Seems like it is still legal in Indonesia? Maybe I'll try to find some here. Hard to know what they might call it here.
Posted by Hombre on April 24, 2011, at 6:32:58
In reply to Re: Sleep and nutrients » Hombre, posted by former poster on April 23, 2011, at 0:45:13
For Kratom I would go to kratomforum.com. They have a vendor section where vendors are reviewed. I've had good luck working with online vendors this way, going with someone who is trusted and reliable. Kratom is actually illegal in the countries where it is produced, but still legal in America.
It's probably to be used cautiously, but may provide an option for people that need something mild and not every day, rather than all the time.
But I would go with high potency passionflower and valerian extract powder if you haven't tried it. I will probably buy some in the near future from purebulk or Beyond a Century and try to report back, but don't hold your breath.
Posted by Lao Tzu on May 8, 2011, at 14:15:54
In reply to Sleep and nutrients, posted by Lao Tzu on April 21, 2011, at 5:54:25
I really do think that my regimen helps with sleep, and that means taking all the supplements I mentioned. Of particular interest is selenium, which I think is very important is helping schizophrenics sleep better, not to mention melatonin, Calcium and Magnesium, and the B vitamins, B1 and B2. I don't know if it would work for everyone, but I'm hopeful this regimen will help some people.
Lao
This is the end of the thread.
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