A very generic example is how I love to have a cup of Sleepytime tea right before bed - I don't know if I convince myself that it helps me get tired and fall asleep or if it really has magical voodoo tea powers, but I definitely find that it helps relax and calm me down. I'm always looking for ways to get the most out of my sleep time - it comes second to food in my book. As it should be.
That being said, Scot always looks at me like I have 5 heads when I ramble on about my B-12 supplements and neti pots and tea times and echinacea pills and hot/cold showers to keep my circulation healthy (it works). So imagine my surprise when he came home from work one day and said that he bought Melatonin pills to help him sleep, per a recommendation from a coworker. To have him come home and suggest an herbal remedy of sorts for my much valued sleepy time? I was shocked.
Melatonin, not melanoma, which I accidently wrote initially. Not. Right.
I was even more shocked when I started taking said melatonin pills and found myself rather rested the next morning, even when I didn't get my usual 7 or 8 hours of sleep. Normally I wake up utterly exhausted and can't manage to fully function for a few hours. These pills definitely made the initial wake up easier - I wasn't all peaches and roses, but I definitely wasn't a hott sleepy mess, either.
It makes total sense, if you think about it: melatonin is naturally produced in our bodies during dark periods (nighttime) and helps regulate our circadian rhythm, aka our day/night sleep cycle. By boosting the amount of melatonin in your body, you help regulate your wake-sleep cycle and promote more restful, healthy periods of sleep. Much better than taking sleeping pills, dontcha think?
Although I must admit that I didn't take one last night and thus had a very restless sleep. Waking up this morning was, in a word, rough. I seriously notice a difference when I take those pills, yo.
So that's my shpiel.. just thought I'd share because I'm loving this stuff right now! Do you use any different or "unusual" health care regimens or products?
6 comments:
I take those pills too! Not every night (maybe I should?) but when I'm stressed about being rested and especially when I travel.
They are amazing!!!
I also take melatonin, and I honestly don't know how I ever lived without it. I started taking it to help ward off my migraines (lack of sleep is a BIG TIME trigger for me). And I wake up feeling great, not hungover like when I used to take Tylenol PM.
Josh is a restless sleeper (no clue why, he's just kicky and kind of like a fish out of water - flopping around and stuff) and he tried them but said they didn't really work for him. His doc said to eat dinner earlier and not eat after 8pm and presto chango! He sleeps better. Not sure if it was the power of suggestion or if it's true, but whatever works!
I LOVE melatonin, but I'm super sensitive to sleeping aids. I sometimes have trouble waking up with it, and I've also noticed I get the most VIVID dreams/nightmares with it. Has that happened to you yet? It's CRAZY, I tell you. I'll only take melatonin when I am really having trouble sleeping.
over the counter medicine scare me i do not take anything i haven't fully researched
I feel like no matter what I do - 12 hours or 5 hours - I don't feel like I got good sleep. I always feel like crap in the AM. I need to do some research on this stuff!
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