NationStates Jolt Archive

Sleep has always come easily and deeply, but lately I've been experiencing interruptions, stirring during the night several times, and on waking, I don't feel refreshed in the least, regardless of the amount of rest. The tiredness lingers throughout the day and it has gradually built up to an unbearable point. A friend recommended Valerian, and I purchased a bottle of the foul-smelling root extract. 530mg a capsule. I'm hesitant about developing a reliance if the supplement turns out to be effective. Any past experiences with the herb? Advice?

Sleep has always come easily and deeply, but lately I've been experiencing interruptions, stirring during the night several times, and on waking, I don't feel refreshed in the least, regardless of the amount of rest. The tiredness lingers throughout the day and it has gradually built up to an unbearable point. A friend recommended Valerian, and I purchased a bottle of the foul-smelling root extract. 530mg a capsule. I'm hesitant about developing a reliance if the supplement turns out to be effective. Any past experiences with the herb? Advice?
No sleeping medication we have currently available is really worth it. All it does is set the problem off for a while. Any and all sleep medications only allow you to take them for approximately two weeks at the most, and then you're right back where you started. No, the sleep problems have a lot more to do with the way you are, mentally and physically, as well as what you are sleeping on. If you cannot relax yourself, you shouldn't go to sleep. I always read for a while before I turn off the lights. Hell, lately I've even taken to an old habit I'd avoided for over thirteen years or so: sleeping with my teddy bear, Humphrey. (I'm nineteen; shut up, it helps.) Whatever you can do to relax yourself and eliminate thoughts about whatever stresses you, do it. The worst thing you can do is fall asleep while worrying or thinking about some odd issue or the other.

As for what you're sleeping on...well, I personally tried out one of those bloody Sleep Number beds at the mall...and they're actually pretty good. No way could I or my family afford one at the moment, but they're good. I suspect stuff like the Temperpedic mattresses might also be decent. Still, this is something to merely think about at best, at least until you consult your doctor.

So, I've given you some tips. Relax before you go to sleep, and stay away from that damned sleep medication. Does you no good at all.

I used to have a problem with getting to sleep and tried Valerian for a while. I have no idea about it's addictive qualities, but I know that it had bugger all effect on my insomnia. It was about my mental health, and once that improved, so did my sleep.

*snip*

Hell, lately I've even taken to an old habit I'd avoided for over thirteen years or so: sleeping with my teddy bear, Humphrey.

Is this your Humphrey B Bear?

http://www.nationaltrustsa.org.au/images/heritage_icons/Humphrey.jpg

Is this your Humphrey B Bear?

http://www.nationaltrustsa.org.au/images/heritage_icons/Humphrey.jpg
What the hell is that?! It scares the crap out of me.

No, that's not my Humphrey. Considering my Humphrey was hand-made by my grandmother, it'd be kinda hard for you to find a picture of him.

What the hell is that?! It scares the crap out of me.

No, that's not my Humphrey. Considering my Humphrey was hand-made by my grandmother, it'd be kinda hard for you to find a picture of him.

That's Humphrey, the fun loving bear. He's an Australian kid's TV character.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Humphrey_B._Bear

Is this your Humphrey B Bear?

http://www.nationaltrustsa.org.au/images/heritage_icons/Humphrey.jpg

Classic :D

What's with that pose though?! :eek:

Skip the sleeping pills, try TBD instead ;)

Classic :D

What's with that pose though?! :eek:

Dunno, it's a bit "alluring" for a children's character. :p

Skip the sleeping pills, try TBD instead ;)

:eek:

Somehow I imagine I might have the opposite effect on someone :p

*Cough*

:eek:

Somehow I imagine I might have the opposite effect on someone :p

*Cough*

Temporarily, then, sweet, sweet dreams ;)

Dunno, it's a bit "alluring" for a children's character. :p

That's what I was thinking, I like how you put 'alluring' in inverted commas too :p

Is this your Humphrey B Bear?

http://www.nationaltrustsa.org.au/images/heritage_icons/Humphrey.jpg
Hooray for Humphrey!:D

That's Humphrey, the fun loving bear. He's an Australian kid's TV character.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Humphrey_B._Bear
OMG wiki.:eek:

Yes, valerian does work, and unlike some of the other over-the-counter preparations, there's no hangover the next day. However, you might also want to try some or all of these methods. (None involves Humphrey)
1. Avoid caffeine after about 6 at night. This includes tea, coffee, hot chocolate and cola. Check labels - some surprising things contain caffeine.
2. Avoid alcohol. (This can be harder than the caffeine thing - it's usually more fun than caffeine)
3. Have a warm bath before you turn in.
4. Try a warm milky drink and/or have a high carbohydrate snack before bed.
5. Don't have a TV in your bedroom. Make it somewhere you just sleep.
Good luck.

Remember that Hitler had a valerian dependency, so it is fine to use in moderation but if you develop an urge to annexe the Sudetenland perhaps you might want to stop for a while.

Sleep has always come easily and deeply, but lately I've been experiencing interruptions, stirring during the night several times, and on waking, I don't feel refreshed in the least, regardless of the amount of rest. The tiredness lingers throughout the day and it has gradually built up to an unbearable point. A friend recommended Valerian, and I purchased a bottle of the foul-smelling root extract. 530mg a capsule. I'm hesitant about developing a reliance if the supplement turns out to be effective. Any past experiences with the herb? Advice?

Personally I wouldn't take anything to help me sleep however I would suggest that you put several drops of lavender into boiling water in your bedroom. It will help calm you. Also do enough exercise during the day to tire you out. Make sure you're warm enough in bed. I've been the same recently as regards sleep. I am sleeping but am remember every single dream I have for the past 9 nights. Its driving me mad as I know it means that I am not sleeping deep enough. Also if your worried or stress try listening to relaxing or classical music before you sleep. Don't eat after 8, no coffee or tea past that time and no cheese.
Sleep tight. zzzzz

http://www.webmd.com/hw/alternative_medicine/tp21210.asp

I take it sometimes. Works pretty well.

ETA: buy CVS or another reputable brand...the FDA (if in the US) does not regulate dietary suppliments.

Thanks for all of the advice. I've actually begun taking chamomile & lavender baths, though always a few hours before bed. I don't have the time during the day to subscribe to strenuous workouts, though I could exercise a bit after arriving home. Caffeine and alcohol have never been problems for me, I rarely drink, and make a point to avoid caffeinated beverages. I do tend to sip hot herbal tea late at night, though it's naturally absent of the stimulant. A television is located in my room, and I'll often use it as background noise, as odd as that may seem. Music doesn't seem to help.

I am feeling an urge to annex my neighbor's backyard and promote Humphrey to Reichskommissar. Fear our blitzkrieg?

Sleep has always come easily and deeply, but lately I've been experiencing interruptions, stirring during the night several times, and on waking, I don't feel refreshed in the least, regardless of the amount of rest. The tiredness lingers throughout the day and it has gradually built up to an unbearable point. A friend recommended Valerian, and I purchased a bottle of the foul-smelling root extract. 530mg a capsule. I'm hesitant about developing a reliance if the supplement turns out to be effective. Any past experiences with the herb? Advice?


I'd get the actual root and then just boil it in water. But my wife says it smells like feet. Because of that I took 4 ounces of the stuff and soaked it in some Everclear. That works a treat.

My wife still says it smells like feet, but only when it's open.

As far as developing a dependence... You're not sleeping... you're already dependent on it. You're just not getting it.

As to its effectiveness... It's what they make valium out of.

But before you go for cures, I'd take a look at causes first. Are you taking caffine within 2 hours of bedtime? Not just coffee and tea, but chocolate and pain killers. Lots of things have caffine in them. Even decaf coffee has the caffine of a cup of tea. Perhaps you think "I can take a cup of coffee and go to bed." Perhaps you used to, but maybe not anymore. Bodies respond to foods differnetly as you get older. If you aboslutly need a hot nightcap (lord knows I do) then try making your last cup of the night Sanka, or decaf tea.

Also, no alcohol before bed (obviously I mean just before bed. Not that you should hop into bed and pop open a Budweiser). Once it wears off you wake back up and have an even harder time getting back to sleep. Keep your alcohol consumption during the day with dinner.

[Edit]: When I say I soak it in everclear... You don't drink a glass of the product. You just need a couple of drops of the strained licquid in a cup, or glass, of whatever else you're drinking.

Remember that Hitler had a valerian dependency, so it is fine to use in moderation but if you develop an urge to annexe the Sudetenland perhaps you might want to stop for a while.


Yeah, but that's only because he didn't drink or smoke. :)

Dunno, it's a bit "alluring" for a children's character. :p


You should check out Xuxa.

Yes, valerian does work, and unlike some of the other over-the-counter preparations, there's no hangover the next day. However, you might also want to try some or all of these methods. (None involves Humphrey)
1. Avoid caffeine after about 6 at night. This includes tea, coffee, hot chocolate and cola. Check labels - some surprising things contain caffeine.
2. Avoid alcohol. (This can be harder than the caffeine thing - it's usually more fun than caffeine)
3. Have a warm bath before you turn in.
4. Try a warm milky drink and/or have a high carbohydrate snack before bed.
5. Don't have a TV in your bedroom. Make it somewhere you just sleep.
Good luck.


yeah I've used valerian with success too but beware that if you use it too many days in a row (5 and up) then you will have even more trouble sleeping when you quit using it.

A milder supplement would be melatonin. it doesnt have a habit forming effect.

another suggestion earlier was to learn to relax - very important and if you can research how to do the yoga dead body pose - you may find it to be very beneficial in relaxation (I am usually asleep before I finish doing the procedure).

also dont exercise a few hours before retiring to bed.

I'd go with everyone else's advice, plus if something's been stressing you out lately, don't dwell on it before bed... think happy thoughts. :) Works for me!




(but not lately... there's been thunderstorms and it's a tad hard to think of something else when you're trying to sleep thorugh your worst fear :eek:)

Sleep has always come easily and deeply, but lately I've been experiencing interruptions, stirring during the night several times, and on waking, I don't feel refreshed in the least, regardless of the amount of rest. The tiredness lingers throughout the day and it has gradually built up to an unbearable point. A friend recommended Valerian, and I purchased a bottle of the foul-smelling root extract. 530mg a capsule. I'm hesitant about developing a reliance if the supplement turns out to be effective. Any past experiences with the herb? Advice?

I've used valerian - nasty smelling and tasting stuff. It is, I believe, the source for valium. There is the strong possibility of addiction. Judging from what you're saying, though, I would suggest asking your doctor to test you for sleep apnea or some other condition that affects breathing and, therefore, sleep. It's better to get to the source of the problem and solve it than to self-medicate and ignore something that could be serious.

I had a problem sleeping through the night, and got past it by breaking my sleeping up into 12-hour cycles (Thus, stopping for a 3 hour nap every 9 or so hours of being awake), as opposed to the traditional 24.
It works for me, though, as a college student, I do tend to have a more flexible schedule than most.

I may try altering my sleep schedule to be consistent from now on. Some nights I'll head to bed at 12, then 2, 3, etc. That is certainly not assisting. I'll look into melatonin, but a mild case of sleep apnea might be the underlying issue. At times I have difficulty breathing through my nostrils while attempting to fall asleep, which would account for interruptions during the night.

I should add that I popped my first valerian pill around an hour ago and I'm beginning to notice the effects; feels as if it's going to work inside my brain, which is a strange sensation. Zoned out. This was just a 'what the hell, I'll try anything once' moment and I won't consume the foul root regularly. Time for dreams, I won't be seeing another sunrise tonight.

Is this your Humphrey B Bear?

http://www.nationaltrustsa.org.au/images/heritage_icons/Humphrey.jpg


Holy crap. He was so awesome when I was little!

Sleep has always come easily and deeply, but lately I've been experiencing interruptions, stirring during the night several times, and on waking, I don't feel refreshed in the least, regardless of the amount of rest. The tiredness lingers throughout the day and it has gradually built up to an unbearable point. A friend recommended Valerian, and I purchased a bottle of the foul-smelling root extract. 530mg a capsule. I'm hesitant about developing a reliance if the supplement turns out to be effective. Any past experiences with the herb? Advice?

I never developed a reliance, but then I don't use it often because it leaves me a little groggy in the morning. That may be because my system handles Valium (which I understand was derived from Valarian) a little oddly. When I went in for an operation they gave me Valium interveinously to calm me. From my perspective they gave me the shot and I woke up post surgery, those who were with me at the time claim I was awake and compleatly stoned . . .

I'd get the actual root and then just boil it in water. But my wife says it smells like feet.

Oh come on! Feet don't smell that bad . . .



:D