8 replies to this topic

[purerealm]

I've heard that most sleeping drugs lower the quality of sleep because it's not as deep. What makes this happen? Would it be possible to use drugs to only last a short amount of time so that by the time your body normally gets to deep sleep the drug doesn't take effect anymore?

[superpooper]

I can only explain alcohol. Alcohol gives you less deep sleep for 2 reasons:

1. It blocks serotonin (I'm pretty sure of this).
2. Alcohol inhibits glutamine, so your body trys to counter it by producing more glutamine. After the alcohol leaves your system you will have to much glutamine and it will wake you up (glutamine gets metabolized into glutamate).

[ajnast4r]

unconsciousness is not sleep. alot of pharm drugs often induce unconsciousness through whatever mechanisms they are working on (often unknown)... but sleep is a complex healing/recharging process. which is why nothing beats a good night of natural, deep sleep.

meditation before bed is a great way to assist and increase the depth of sleep

[eternaltraveler]

meditation before bed is a great way to assist and increase the depth of sleep

I find this energizes me too much such that I have difficultly falling asleep afterwards

[purerealm]

How exactly does meditation do that? Do you have any specific kind of meditation in mind?

superpooper: I didn't know that about alcohol and glutamine. I've always wondered what made me wake up early after drinking nights though. Yesterday night was a drinking night and this morning I woke up about 3 hours earlier than I normally would feeling somewhat energized. About 3-4 hours later the energy faded away and I became pretty tired. During the energetic period I would definitely be unable to sleep but after it fades away it's hard not to fall asleep. Glutamine?

[Brainbox]

What helps me falling asleep is brainwave entrainment. I use software from transparent corporation, neuro-programmer 2.

At first, I was very sceptical about it, but after using it for a while I'm very sure it helps. I’m very well beyond the placebo phase. Not only for sleep induction, but also for other issues. There's an evaluation version available and a normal user licence is not to expensive.

Using alpha or theta waves makes me very relaxed. I like it.

http://www.transparentcorp.com/

[jack21]

Glutamine or glutamate?

[exigentsky]

Would Bacopa have these kinds of problems?

[tracer]

My vote for Neuro programmer - I use it for ADD.