Insomnia is the inability to get a restful sleep. It can be occasional or chronic. This article discusses natural insomnia cures and how to treat it without the use of prescription insomnia drugs. Home remedy treatment options will be provided, including natural herbs and supplements, and what types of foods to eat in the evening that will help you fall asleep. If you follow the advice on this page you will sleep better. If you are addicted to prescription medications for sleep there is a good chance that you will need your prescription insomnia pills less often. We hope the practical information on this page will improve the quality of your life, provide a better night's rest, and improve your mood, energy, and wellbeing.
   Regardless of the initial cause it may assume a chronic course perpetuated by psychological and behavioral factors.

Define and definition
Insomnia is defined as insufficient or poor-quality sleep that involved trouble falling asleep, waking up too early in the morning, frequent awakenings throughout the night. One definition of insomnia is inadequate sleep that does not allow us to be fully energetic and productive the next day. Types of Insomnia include temporary or chronic. The solution for insomnia depends on the cause of the sleep disturbance.
 

Good Night Rx - Natural sleeping pill for occasional sleepless nights

Developed by Dr. Ray Sahelian, M.D., an expert on natural supplements

Good Night Rx contains the following natural ingredients in a proprietary blend: GABA (gamma amino butyric acid), Taurine iamino acid, Hops (humulus lupulus) flower, Valerian (valeriana officinalis) root, Kava kava (piper methysticum) root, Bupleurum (bupleurum chinense), Chamomile (matricaria recutita) flower, Lemon balm flower (Melissa officinalis L.), Magnolia (magnolia officinalis) bark, Passion flower (passiflora incarnata), Peony (peony officinalis) root, Jujube extract (zyzyphus jujube) seed, 5-HTP (griffonia simplicifolia) seed, Ashwagandha (withania somnifera) root, Lavender (lavendula augustifolia), Peppermint (mentha piperita) leaf, Reishi mushroom (ganoderma lucidum), Sage (saliva officinalis) root, and Melatonin (natural sleep hormone).

 

Suggested Use: Take one capsule of Good Night Rx -- on an empty stomach -- one to four hours before bedtime, no more than 3 nights a week. Good Night Rx does not work as well when taken with a meal or within 3 hours after a meal. You may eat a half hour after taking this natural sleeping pill.
 

buy Good Night Rx, melatonin, 5-HTP, tryptophan, hops, valerian, graviola herb or other supplements used for better sleep
 

Can this product be taken in the evening along with a capsule of graviola herb?
    Yes. Many people find that graviola herb has some sedating activity, thus it can be used in the evening to help with sleep.

Natural insomnia treatment or prescription drugs? Your choice
An estimated 2 million people, are using complementary and alternative medicine to treat insomnia. People with anxiety, depression, congestive heart failure, hypertension and obesity are more likely to have problems with sleep.
   Prescription insomnia treating drugs are often effective, but have many side effects including memory loss, decrease in sexual desire, and morning grogginess leading to car accidents. The advantage of herbs and supplements is that they are safer than sleep drugs. The disadvantage of the supplements is that they are not as consistently effective and are not as potent as the pharmaceutical anti insomnia medicines. But, a combination of herbs and nutrients, along with lifesytle changes, can provide excellent results in most people.
 

Cause
There is not one cause of Insomnia, but many. Curing insomnia depends on finding the cause. Any of the following factors can be a cause for insomnia:
  
Medical conditions include alcohol withdrawal, asthma or lung disease, chronic pain,  heart failure, enlarged prostate, gastroesophageal reflux,  menopause, paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea, sleep apnea, pruritus or chronic itching, restless legs syndrome, hyperthyroidism, lack of exercise, and pheochromocytoma. Those with chronic insomnia are more likely to also be suffering from depression or an anxiety disorder.
  
Prescription medications that cause insomnia - Pharmaceutical drugs include amphetamines, theophylline, pseudoephedrine, simvastatin, and caffeine. High doses of hormones such as DHEA, testosterone, progesterone, and pregnenolone can also cause insomnia.  
   Insomnia is listed as a possible side effect on the labeling of all statin drugs. The statin drug Zocor is a frequent cause of insomnia or sleep problems. Many studies and case reports indicate simvastatin, the statin drug known as Zocor used for cholesterol management, can cause insomnia.
   Acvetylcholinesterase inhibitors such as Aricept ( donezepil ) can cause insomnia.

There are many prescription medications that cause sleep disorders. The following information may be helpful to you:

SSRIs can cause insomnia in high dosages. Prozac is a common medication that interferes with quality sleep in some users.

Effexor is a prescription medication used for depression. Effexor influences serotonin and norepinephrine levels. Increased norepinephrine levels can cause insomnia since they increase alertness.

Wellbutrin insomnia cause - Wellbutrin (bupropion hydrochloride) is an antidepressant.  A good number of people prescribed Wellbutrin bupropion experience some degree of restlessness, agitation, anxiety, and insomnia, particularly on higher dosages.

Psychiatric disorders that cause insomnia include anxiety disorder, depression, stress, and mania. People who suffer from anxiety from stressful life situations are more likely to experience insomnia. Good Night Rx can help reduce stress and help a person fall asleep quicker and deeper. 5HTP is a serotonin precursor that can help reduce symptoms of depression and help a person get a better night's rest.

Insomnia and depression
Insomniacs are at increased risk of developing major depression. While problems with getting a restful night frequently accompanies depression, it may not be just a symptom of depression, but a separate condition. Depression is a well known risk factor for insomnia, and people with depression often report difficulty sleeping. Insomnia can, conversely, increase the risk for depression.

Symptoms and signs
Symptoms of insomnia include fatigue, daytime sleepiness, low mood, poor motivation and productivity. Insomnia effects also involve sexuality. Lack of adequate sleep is one of the major causes of low libido. Curing insomnia does wonders for a person's sex drive. Overeating may be another symptom of chronic poor sleep.

Obesity
A study of 38 men with and without chronic insomnia, led by Dr. Sarosh J. Motivala, of the University of California Los Angeles, found that those with the sleep disorder had lower nighttime levels of the hormone ghrelin, which is involved in appetite control. Poor sleep is known to increase the risk of obesity, diabetes and heart disease. Dr. Sarosh J. Motivala asked 14 men with chronic insomnia and 24 healthy men to spend two nights in the sleep lab. The hormone levels of leptin and ghrelin were monitored throughout the night. Leptin, which helps regulate body weight, is secreted by fat cells; low blood levels of leptin promote hunger, while increases tell the brain the body is full and encourage calorie burning. Ghrelin is secreted by the stomach to boost appetite. Men with chronic insomnia had lower overnight levels of ghrelin compared with their healthy counterparts. It is possible that insomnia patients' ghrelin levels are lower than normal at night, but elevated during the day -- possibly increasing appetite. Psychoneuroendocrinology, 2009.

Insomnia treatment
Here are some practical steps, perhaps some of these suggestions may offer you an insomnia cure, and help you avoid overly relying on pharmaceutical medications. If not an insomnia cure, at least they will provide help. Certain insomnia medications can have serious side effects such as car accidents the next day. This has occurred with Ambien.
   It is best not to use anti insomnia drugs or supplements every night, but at most 3 nights a week. Tolerance and dependence may develop if used nightly. We don't have any objections to the occasional use of a prescription sleep medicine.

Food insomnia relief - Eat carbohydrates before sleep
What we eat can influence alertness and drowsiness. Therefore, food can play a role in treating insomnia. Eat a light snack about 2 to 4 hours before sleep mostly of carbohydrates. Dietary carbohydrate intake has been shown to increase the plasma concentration of tryptophan, a precursor of serotonin which helps induce sleep. Carbohydrates (whole grain bread, pasta, potatoes, lentils, barley, fruits, or cereal) with small amount of protein foods containing the amino acid L-tryptophan (milk, tuna, or turkey) will do the trick. A fruit salad and vegetable soups are good options. Another idea is whole grain bread with tomatoes (or salsa) and melted cheese. Don't eat too many spicy or fatty foods before bed. They may cause heartburn and insomnia.
   If you drink too much liquid before sleep, you'll suffer insomnia by waking up repeatedly in the night for trips to the bathroom.

Alcohol and its effects
Alcohol may help induce sleep but it also causes sleep disturbances. Some people wake up in the middle of the night and have trouble staying asleep. Alcohol is not a good insomnia relief option. Don't drink more than one or two ounces of alcohol before sleep. You may wake up repeatedly, snore and possibly develop sleep apnea. Some people drink alcohol due to stress induced insomnia. The occasional use of alcohol is fine but also consider herbs for insomnia such as passion flower and hops. Passionflower can reduce stress. Tequila can keep you up while whiskey works better, at least initially.

Avoid caffeine and products that contain it
Caffeine may keep you perky in the morning, but it can lead to a fitful night, even if you drink coffee in the early afternoon. Some people are so sensitive that even a cup of coffee at lunch can lead to insomnia. Decaffeinated coffee still has some caffeine present which could cause insomnia. Caffeine is found in tea (including green tea), certain soft drinks, chocolate, cocoa, and of course coffee. Caffeine is also found in certain herbs such as guarana and kola nut.

Herbs as insomnia cure - natural insomnia home remedy 
There are several herbs that are a home remedy for insomnia. We find combinations are much more effective than single herbs. The herb hops in tea or pill can help with sleep. Hops is taken about an hour or two before bed. A valerian and hops combination also work wells. Kava taken a few hours before bed can also be a helpful insomnia herb, so can passion flower which can help people relax if taken several hours before sleep. Kava is not a good herb for chronic insomnia treatment since it should not be used more than 2 or three times a week.

Chamomile may help you relax, but we have not found it to be very effective for treating chronic insomnia. The effects from chamomile are quite mild.

Good Night Rx is a combination of 5-HTP, melatonin, GABA, taurine, kava, valerian, hops, chamomile, and several other herbs. This is an excellent formula. One capsule is taken half an hour to 3 hours before bed on an empty stomach. Good Night Rx, when taken with or after a meal, will not work as well. Wait at least half an hour after taking a pill if you plan to have a late night snack. Some people say that they notice the sleep inducing effects even better the second or third night of use. Good Night Rx is more effective than any individual herb or nutrient and can offer an insomnia cure for many people.

Hops is the herb that beer is made from. Hops is a good herb to induce sleep but it is not as good in maintaining sleep throughout the night. Many people find hops to have a sedating nature. A dosage of 300 to 600 mg of hops is one option an hour or two before bed.

Kava, a plant from the South Pacific, is better known for relaxation as opposed to sleep although some formulations or extracts can have more sedative activity than others. A dose of 300 mg of a 30 percent extract can be used an hour to 3 hours before bed on an empty stomach. Kava should not be used nightly for chronic insomnia, but rather no more than 2 or 3 nights a week.

Passiflora incarnata Linn. has been used to cure insomnia since time immemorial. Passion Flower is useful for relaxation.

Valerian is perhaps the best known herb for insomnia treatment. Less than half of users like it, while the rest don't feel that it does much for them as a sleep aid. A dose of 300 mg may be tried one to three hours before bed. Valerian works better when combined with other sleep inducing herbs.

Melatonin natural insomnia treatment
Melatonin at a dose of 1 to 2 mg an hour or two before bed can help fight insomnia in some people. Limit use of melatonin to two or three times a week. Sometimes using a lower dose such as 0.3 mg taken earlier in the evening, about 6 or 7 PM works better than a higher dose taken later.
   Melatonin is the sleep hormone made by the pineal gland at night. Melatonin is perhaps the most consistently effective natural supplement for insomnia treatment, although at least a third or half of users may still not find it helpful. The dosage varies between a quarter of a milligram to 3 mg. Higher dosages can cause nightmares and morning grogginess. I suggest using a third or half of a mg at first, taken 1 to 3 hours before bed on an empty stomach. The sustained release form is a good option.

Insomnia tip - Use sleep relaxation techniques
Here's an insomnia tip: Once you are in bed, take a deep breath and gradually let it out. Do this a few times. Then, lightly shake one of your feet, and go back to taking a couple of deep breaths. Lightly shake the other foot and then take a couple of deep breaths. Move up to your legs, hips, arms, neck, muscle around the mouth, eye muscles, etc., while going back to the breath after shaking each body part. Soon you'll be in la la land. 

Insomnia Medication - how to treat it safely with prescription medications
Most insomnia medications require a doctor's prescription because they may be habit-forming or addictive, and overdose is possible. Many insomnia medications can lose their effectiveness once a person has become accustomed to them. Both over the counter and prescription Insomnia medications are available. I prefer to use prescription insomnia medications only on rare occasions.  There are several categories of insomnia drugs : Benzodiazepines. These are the most common hypnotics: lorazepam (Ativan), alprazolam (Xanax), triazolam (Halcion), and temazepam (Restoril), among others. Non-benzodiazephines. These insomnia medications may pose less of a risk of dependence. They include zolpidem (Ambien), zopiclone, and zaleplon. Rebound insomnia could also occur after stopping insomnia medications. Ambien is a popular medicine to treat insomnia. Xanax is helpful in inducing sleep and providing a deeper sleep, but it should not be used more than once a week. Habituation can occur with the use of Xanax as an insomnia medicine.
   Although sedative-hypnotic medications are the most common treatment for insomnia, they pose certain risks and dangers such as adverse effects and dependence. Furthermore, insomnia medications target symptoms and fail to address the underlying perpetuating mechanisms.

Q. Does trazodone drug provide insomnia relief?
   A. Trazodone, brand name Desyrel, is a drug prescribed for insomnia but is most often used for anxiety and depression. Trazodone drug has side effects which include waking up with a headache, congested nose, and feeling less than refreshed. There are many natural and prescription insomnia pills that are more effective with fewer side effects.

Rebound Insomnia definition
Rebound insomnia, a worsening of sleep compared with pretreatment levels, has been reported after discontinuation of sleeping pills, mostly the benzodiazepine hypnotics. Some of these benzodiazepines include triazolam, temazepam, and flurazepam. The risk of rebound insomnia is greater with the short half-life as compared with the long half-life benzodiazepines.
   To reduce the risk of rebound insomnia, you could consider a gradual withdrawal. This could mean taking, let's say, 9/10 of dose one night, then 8/10 of a dose the next night, and gradually taking less each night. Also, make sure you have full days of physical activity and lots of exposure to sunshine in order to minimize the rebound insomnia. Also, eliminate all supplements and herbs, and all caffeine and stimulants.

Cause of chronic insomnia
The causes of Insomnia are numerous:
   Medical conditions -- alcohol withdrawal, paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea, pain, sleep apnea, pruritus or chronic itching, restless legs syndrome, hyperthyroidism, lack of exercise, and pheochromocytoma.
   Medications -- amphetamines, theophylline, pseudoephedrine, simvastatin, and caffeine. High doses of hormones --  such as DHEA, testosterone, progesterone, pregnenolone -- can also cause insomnia.
   Psychiatric disorders -- anxiety disorder, depression, mania. Anxiety causes insomnia in many people. Depression is another insomnia cause. Sometimes medications used for depression, such as SSRIs or SNRIs cause insomnia.
   Poor sleep hygiene is a common insomnia cause.

Insomnia in child
A child with insomnia either has trouble going to sleep, staying asleep, or are simply not well rested the next day. The cause in a child can include stress, obstructive sleep apnea (snoring), side effects of medications, including stimulants used to treat ADHD, antidepressants, corticosteroids, and anticonvulsants, asthma (coughing) and a long sleep awake cycle.

Adolescents and Insomnia sleep disorder
Adolescent girls appear to be at greater risk of insomnia after they begin menstruation, suggesting that hormonal changes play a role in some girls' development of the sleep disorder.

Perimenopause, menopause, and insomnia sleep disorders
Difficulty falling asleep and restless sleep are common in women in perimenopause and menopause. Insomnia can be treated during this transition period by engaging in exercise during the day and the occasional use of natural supplements.

Insomnia help for elderly
In the elderly, chronic insomnia is complex and often difficult to relieve because the physiologic parameters of sleep normally change with age. There is a controversy regarding the origin of insomnia in elderly. Are they only due to a senile process of sleep functioning or due to other associated medical conditions? Considering the objective assessment of sleep in elderly (by polysomnography), it has been shown an increasing sleep latency, decreasing total sleep time and sleep efficiency, a lower percentage of slow wave sleep. The circadian clock is also modified by age with phase advance and a decreased amplitude of the circadian rhythms.

Yoga for insomnia
If done in the evening, yoga can be an insomnia cause. However, if done early in the day, yoga practice should not influence sleep to a great extent. One option is yin yoga, a gentler form of yoga that can be done in the evening.

questions
Q. I was advised to take a high does of natural progesterone (8% ) for a year and a half at the same time that I was in adrenal exhaustion. A saliva test revealed in June 2006 that the cortisol was 10 times too high, the progesterone and testosterone were both 6 times too high. It has caused dreadful insomnia. I have tried every natural herb that there is and everything only works for one night and then ceases to work. I am truly desperate and I never had insomnia in my life before this.
   A. High dosages of hormones can cause insomnia. We know several people who found a cure for their insomnia by stopping the use of DHEA or pregnenolone.

Q. I have a chronic insomnia, I have trouble falling asleep. I try 2 capsules of 50 mg 5 htp before bed time, but looks like not really help. Should I increase the dosage or should I take 50 mg in the evening and 100 mg before bedtime ? How long its take the supplement to treat the insomnia?
   A. 5-HTP is not the best supplement for insomnia. Good Night Rx works better but should only be used at most 3 nights a week at least 2 to 3 hours before bed on an empty stomach.

I have been taking the following nutrients to address mental "slowness" and loss of memory (especially short-term), and am wondering if you can tell me if any of these nutrients could be causing insomnia. I need sleep to help the mental condition I'm experiencing. I take these nutritional supplements off and on--and not all at the same time--but can't seem to figure out which ones are causing the insomnia. Would my insomnia be cured if I stopped these supplements?  They are Alpha GPC, Pregnenolone, ashwaganda, carnosine, Gingko, Bacopa, Phosphatidylserine (PS), and Acetyl-L-Carnitine 
    All of these supplements, except perhaps ashwagandha and to a lesser extent alpha GPC and phosphatidylserine, can cause insomnia.

I struggle with CFIDS and insomnia. I've tried almost every natural supplement, but nothing has worked. In fact, supplements like melatonin and valerian root make me feel odd without any therapeutic result for my insomnia. The only Rx I can take that works and doesn't make me feel horrible is Ativan. However, I know I'm playing with fire, and taking it daily is of great concern. At the same time, I must have sleep to heal. Recently I obtained some samples of FTH L-tryptophan and it helps me get back to sleep when I get up and 3 a.m. (even when I take Ativan). I've read that 5-HTP along with trypophan, calcium, magnesium can help even more. I went to order L-tryptophan and was thinking about ordering 5-HTP (my doc approved) when I saw Good Night Rx. I do remember taking Kava and my reaction was like melatonin and valerian. I would greatly appreciate your advice on what I should do/take so I can get off Ativan. I also take 25mg of Trazadone. It simply keeps me from getting up every hour to eat. I hope I can eventually find an insomnia cure.
    We understand how frustrating and exhausting it is to have chronic insomnia. Good Night Rx is a potent sleep formula but no one can guarantee results. This insomnia product needs to be taken on an empty stomach for full absorption, about 2 to 4 hours before bed. Maximum use is 3 times a week. Morning light exposure and exercise are crucial in terms of insomnia cure.

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