Herbal remedy for sleep or anxiety??

[Boogity]

I have a slight long-term PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) from my days in S.E. Asia in the 60s. I was under treatment for it back in the early 70s but nothing seemed to help. My symptoms are a very faint fear of getting into a bed and trying to go to sleep. This happens most nights about 30 seconds before getting into bed and lasts for hours. Even after 40 some years.

Believe me, I have tried everything imaginable. Meditation and self hypnosis seems to work, a little, but I forget to do it most of the time. I'm an anti-medication kind of guy so pills are out of the question. But I have found that one, just one, OTC Acetaminophen tablet helps considerably.

My advise would be to have hubby try relaxation training and meditation. It takes discipline to make yourself do it.

 

[lwheelr]

Kava Kava is a relaxant and is sedative for many people.

Strong, fresh peppermint tea is also sedative for some people.

If I get low on certain nutrients I'll have trouble sleeping also.

 

[yourbadd]

Thank you all so much for the great ideas!!

Hubby is very anti-medication but sees herbal remedies as friendly!! I will discuss with his the suggestions then hit the health food store.

It's hard on both of us when he can't sleep at night then finally passes out in the early morning and sleeps all day. I know most of it stems from the stress of being unemployed. Fingers crossed he hears back from Honda next week. They seemed so eager to hire him then the process just stopped dead :/

Thanks again and I'll post an update once he decided on a course of treatment and we see results!!

Deborah

 

[Rebbetzin]

Ok...I have never tried this myself... but, I have a neighbor who does "flower infusions" and drinks them. She says the petal from a poppy flower will make one sleepy.

Lemon Balm is suppose to be a relaxant. So is Lemon Verbena.

 

[miss_thenorth]

This one hasn't been mentioned before, so I'll plug it. magnesium really helps with stress.

I have bouts of insomnia. ( circles around my cycle). My dad has chronic insomnia, and has battled it for over 30+ years. He ahs tried everything. Not much-except scripts help him, and the drs never want ot prescribe since they are habit forming. My dad has argued that sleeping would be a good habit to get into. whatever.

I have tried valerian root, and melatonin. both work in diffrent ways , but never take either for extended periods of time. Hot baths are my absolute favourite way to relax the mind. (with epsom salts in it) When I was younger, I learned several techniques for centered breathing. also really helps. There are several relaxation techniques--one where you tense up your toes, then relax them, then move to feet,then calves, then thigh, then torso,etc. Tense up, then relax each muscle group. This takes some training but works.

Cutting out caffeine, and alcohol are biggies. ( ask me how I know--we had company over last night, and I had wine, and I could not sleep last night) some teas work well, try to see what works best out of the suggestions offered here.

Anxiety, and a racing mind can be difficult to deal with. He needs to learn how to turn it off at night. several of these suggestions can help, he just needs to figure out which one will work, but he needs to slow his mind at night.

For me, prayer works big time. Instead of making all the problems I think of at night MY problem, I give them all over to God, and ask for his guidance in handling them. totally calms my anxiety. But like I said, that's for me.

 

[Rebbetzin]

Speaking of prayer helping to put one to sleep, so does reading the Bible.