Reged: 11/21/03
Posts: 78
Loc: coastal southern California
Melatonin is a hormone that your body makes itself. It starts to decline as you age and by the time you are in your late 40's early 50's you are making less than younger people - that is thought to be why older people sleep less. The best way to make sure your body is making enough melatonin is to sleep in a dark room! You shouldn't use it for more than a few months at a time if you decide to use it. Younger people usually don't 'need' it as they still make plenty of it themselves.
Kava Kava is safe to use for a similar amount of time. Most herbal remedies for sleep are the same in that way. I have used Kava and Valerian Root with no intestinal problems at all. In fact if you google either one, i.e. Kava for IBS, they will say that these can be helpful with IBS as they help relax you. But there is no one sleep remedy that should be taken on a continual basis - with the exception of Chamomile (it is very mild and doesn't work the same way as kava or valerian root - it's good for IBS too!)
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Re: Herbal Supplements for Insomnia for someone with IBS-D
