HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

Reccommendations for sleeping tea

Support Forums
>
Ulcerative Colitis
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 11/9/2011 8:07 PM (GMT -5)
What are your opinions of sleeping teas? Which ones work and what don't??

I've been having horrible insomnia since the beginning of last month due to two losses in the family. I'm currently taking Ativan .5-1mg a night to get sleep for at least two weeks, if I don't then I'm up all night. I don't want to get addicted so I wanted to you here to get some help from anyone.

I've tried 5HTP and that didn't touch the insomnia AT ALL. Can't take melatonin because it will interfere with my imuran, so what teas are available that work and won't effect my UC?

Thank you :-)

p.s. I'm looking for someone to talk about things, so I cant check that off my to-do list.
Posted 11/9/2011 8:30 PM (GMT -5)
I have had bouts of insomnia for several years. I too had death in the family, but also nightsweats from menapause and pain and discomfort from UC. Celestial seasonings makes a sleepy time green tea that has helped me. Also I changed my bedtime routine a little. I make time to unwind/decompress. I read before going to bed. Nothing too heavy, something light and entertaining to take my mind off my stresses. Also, I used to go to bed at a certain time, tired or not because if I was going to be up during the night I needed to get a head start. Now I don't go to bed until I feel mentally and physically tired. For me, 4 - 5 hours of quality sleep does more for me than 8 hours of restless sleep.

I hope you find something that works for you. There is nothing worse than staring at your alarm clock all night.
Posted 11/9/2011 8:54 PM (GMT -5)
I was also going to mention Celestial Seasonings "Sleepytime" tea. I really like it. It is part of my "wind-down" routine, which as DonewithUC also mentioned, is really important. Here are some other suggestions that help me a bit:

Take a warm bath or shower sometime in the evening. Use lavendar scented bubblebath, soap, or shower gel. You might even try a lavendar sachet under your pillow or in your bed.

Stay off the computer for at least an hour before bed.

Read something light that can keep your mind from racing as you fall asleep.

The biggest thing that helped me? Getting up at the same time every single day, weekend or not. Whether I'm still tired or not. Eventually my body/brain/whatever is in charge of sleep got used to waking up at that time so I am always awake by then. I go to bed around the same time too, but the getting up time seems to really be the key.

I don't really have any advice in terms of things to take... sometimes if I cannot get to sleep for a couple of hours I will take a gravol. After my mother died, I too took a bit of Ativan occasionally but was also afraid of becoming dependent on it so I never took it more than one night in a row. Previously I tried melatonin, valerian, oh I can't recall what else and none of that ever did anything for me. I've had insomnia all my life until the last couple of years.
Posted 11/9/2011 11:26 PM (GMT -5)
Thank you Donewith UC and Serenity.

I've done every step to help with insomnia. Even winding down and nothing has helped, but I'm trying though. I'm aware that I'm awake but my mind isn't racing with thoughts or emotions.

@Serenity, I'm getting up at the same time, too. Hopefully it'll help with my cycle at least.

@Done, Want to whip that clock at the wall, don't you?

I believe finding some counseling, some natural remedies and healing will help. I hope so. Thank you for the help.
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply