I know this sounds strange but...

[RawSinger]

Are there any raw foods that relax you and make you sleepy? I'm currently taking sleeping pills to get to sleep and I would like to get off of them eventually. So are there any natural, raw remedies? Almond milk??? Just wondering. I know people don't eat raw food to be put to sleep but I thought there might be some kind of natural solution that is considered raw.

Thank you very much!

[StarFire]

oooo...!!! good question!! I'll be watching this post and taking notes on the the answers!!

http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s43/FireStar_830/author.gif

[RawSinger]

StarFire, I must say that I love your little animations. Where do you find those? (I'm not trying to steal them from you, they're just really cute!)

[asil]

I'm not a good sleeper either, and I do these things all the time to help myself out:

1. Camomile tea
2. Lavender and/or geranium oil in a hot bath, on my temples, spritzed on bedding.
3. Epsom salt, sea salt, or sea veggie bath
4. socks so that feet are warmer than body
5. self hypnosis for relaxation recordings



Good luck!

[Aleesha Sattva]

Reiki
Meditation
Hot/warm bath
Yoga eye exercises (relaxes the eyes)

[Veganforlife]

For me personally? That was one of the first things that changed when I went 100% raw. My sleep. I now sleep so very SOUNDLY and then when my body has had enough - *POP*, I'm up.

So my question back to you. Are you 100% raw? Also, when is the last time you eat anything in the evening? Also, be careful of cacao products later in the day/evening. The caffeine in them could be interrupting sleep too.

A lot of factors go into this. How long you've been raw too. Your body is transitioning if it has been a short time frame. Drink water and oh yeah, GREEN SMOOTHIES!

[rawstrength]

Bananas help me when I can't sleep. So does honey.

[Arky]

Bananas help me when I can't sleep. So does honey.

WHHAT?! Are you SEEERIOUS?? :eek: :confused: :)

All that fructose would have my heart racing like a runaway train, in bed! Oh well, different strokes for different folks! :)



Dandelions have long been known for their soporific qualities, though I have never personally put this to the test. Make sure you use only the leaves and, if you like, the flowers, which are rich in carotenoids, but avoid the flower stems as they may give you the runs.

Dandelions aside, I've found that a dark green juice (rocket, kale, celery, nettles etc. - avoid parsely as it's diuretic and it'll have you waking up to go to the toilet, during the night) gives me the most fantastically deep, satisfying and refreshing sleep (note - juice, not smoothie - a smoothie will set your digestion into motion, which you don't want at bedtime). I have very intense dreams whenever I do this, but the sleep is paradoxically very, very refreshing and I wake up in a totally relaxed and happy state in the morning. Green juice might not induce drowsiness, but it certainly does some wonderful things for sleep once you've drifted off.


J.

[Juicyfruit]

No, I don't think it's strange at all! Our bodies definitely are affected by what and when we eat. Different foods produce different hormonal and chemical influences. This is from a web-site that I adore, it's not vegan, so I can't post the link, but it's a raw site. I feel this is safe enough to post. All their information has been proven in studies.


To be happy and sleep well : Consume as little (especially at night) cooked food, vegetables, grains, milk and wheat-products. (You don't need these at all) Wake up when the sun rises, and eat as much fruits as you want.

Great 'happy fruits' are : dried date, -fig, papaya, banana, strawberries, sweet cherries, orange, mango, pineapple, grapefruit and hazelnuts. (for optimizing serotonine production)

[RawSinger]

Veganforlife: I've been 100% raw vegan since 3/31/08. Before that I was 100% raw for about 10 days then had a slip. I know things will get better the longer I'm raw but I've just been dependent on sleeping pills for many years (I've been taking doctor-prescribed medication to get to sleep since I was 12; I'm now 20). Sometimes I hate doctors.

Thank you for the suggestions everyone. Chamomile tea? Do you just put the tea bad in luke-cool water? Where do you find raw tea to begin with?

[debilana]

fresh green juice with a base of apple/pear etc help me sleep as well- for that matter i have switched to GS in the AM and juice at night. SUgar has always made me tired tho=)

meditation and socks help me as well=):D

[Seren]

I know this isn't very good but when I can't sleep I put my ipod on the quietest setting and fall asleep to the music, after spraying lavender spray on my pillow which is meant to help you fall asleep :)

Good luck! xxx

[Arky]

...when I can't sleep I put my ipod on the quietest setting and fall asleep to the music...

Yes, I've always found that works superbly for me, too; You're not alone in finding very quiet music helpful. I find it works even better if I do this with a seminar track or sotry etc. - basically, someone talking, whereby I need to concentrate on what is actually being said - the psychological effort of straining to hear it and of having to work hard on top of this to fully understand the meaning totally wipes me out! :)

I also used to find my biology lessons stupor-inducing but I strongly suspect now that this was not due to them being boring but more probably to leaky bunsen-burner gas taps in the classroom leading to low blood oxygenation - not good!


J.

[Zaphirah]

I use melatonin-a supplement I get at WF...and since no one mentioned it yet I wonder if it is suspect? :confused:

I have also used Hyland's homeopathic remedy for insomnia.

One word of caution with sleeping meds-coming off can be TERRIBLE! I took Ambien for just 2 weeks or so and when I came off of it I was awake for almost 40 hours. (so if you think about it-that may be why you NEED them-detoxing them may possibly be keeping you awake...food for thought.) You might want to look into the side effects of detoxing them and plan you life accordingly, iykwim.

[rawstrength]

So I did some research, and found out that I'm not the only one who finds bananas sleep-inducing! Apparently bananas contain high levels of the amino-acid trytophan, which can cause sleepiness.

Anyway, now I really want to try that suggestion about the green juice. I've never had green juice right before bed before. I wonder if I will have even more awesome dreams than I already do :cool: .

[Arky]

So I did some research, and found out that I'm not the only one who finds bananas sleep-inducing! Apparently bananas contain high levels of the amino-acid trytophan, which can cause sleepiness

Still beats the hell out of me! LOL ;)

:)


J.

[steveoregon]

just to add to this thread. . .

Two bags of prewashed Romain lettuce (juiced) is the best natural sleeping pill I've found. This gives you about 12-16oz of juice. Will make you naturally drowsy within 30 minutes. I've used this for about three years when I need to wind down late at night.

Romain lettuce juice is diluted compared to thicker/richer green juice (like wheat grass). Non the less, green juice takes some getting used to if your a beginner. When I first started drinking pure Romain juice (my first green juice), I had to force myself to drink it every night for four weeks to acclimate to the nasty taste - amazingly the taste did turn more neutral - I can now drink it slowly without it tasting bad.

This is what David Wolfe said about lettuce juice (p129 Eating For Beauty):

"The old raw-food "cure" for insomnia is fresh lettuce juice. Lettuce contains soporific compounds and opiates that in the concentration of a juice have a calming, sedative effect."