Sleep aid?

[raweater]

It sometimes takes me a long time to fall asleep. I've tried chamomile/valerian tea/supplements/extracts but they don't seem to help much. Are there any plants or techniques that can help fall asleep fast?

I read slow breathing helps but I often have trouble keeping up with the slow breathing and go back to regular breathing.

Thanks

[GlimR]

I sometimes use a valarian tinture. As for the breathing, sometimes I listen to a guided meditation type CD to keep the breath pattern and relaxation going...almost always works. Wishing you sweet dreams~

[rawstrength]

Drinking lettuce juice about an hour before sleeping really helps tremendously. I also recommend listening to binaural beats that stimulate theta and delta brain waves. Check out www.healingbeats.com for more information.

[Veganforlife]

Maybe you just don't need the sleep like you used to?

[Raene]

Steven Halpern's Relaxation CDs on amazon are helpful for sleep.

[Marin Mom]

Do you exercise or eat within 4 hours of bedtime?

[raweater]

Thanks for all the replies, I will try some of those.


Do you exercise or eat within 4 hours of bedtime?

Almost always, could this be a cause?

I had once tried to do intense exercises right before bed thinking it would exhaust me and help fall asleep, it did the opposite.

[rawstrength]

Excersize before bed keeps me up, too. Unfortunatly, this is often the only time I have to excersize. The lettuce juice really helps me fall asleep.

[raweater]

Would plain whole lettuce also work? I'd rather not have to juice lettuce before bed.

Whgat is it in lettuce that helps sleep?

[rawstrength]

Would plain whole lettuce also work? I'd rather not have to juice lettuce before bed.

Whgat is it in lettuce that helps sleep?

I found this:
Lettuce has a long-standing reputation for promoting healthy sleep. This is due to an opium-related substance called lactucin, which encourages good sleep, combined with traces of the anticramping agent hyoscyarnin present in lettuce. Lettuce should be an integral part of your evening diet if you are suffering from sleep disordorders. Mixed with a little lemon juice for flavor, lettuce juice is an effective sleep-inducing drink highly preferable to the synthetic chemical agents in sleeping pills.