Sleep and Insomnia

Sleep is critical for healing, particularly deep sleep. During sleep, the body alternates between REM sleep and non-REM sleep.  During REM or deep sleep, you dream, and dreaming is thought to be the way that the mind processes information. During sleep, most of the body’s systems are in an anabolic state, helping to restore the immune, nervous, muscular, and skeletal systems.  Sleep is also the time that the brain detoxes through its glymphatic system.

Insomnia is a common symptom of tick-borne disease and is characterized by an inability to fall asleep, stay asleep, and wake refreshed.  This has to be treated right away so that you can get 8-10 hours of restful sleep a night.  

There are many supplements that can help with sleep 30 minutes before bed includes:

• Melatonin (1-4 mg)
• Phosphatidylserine (100-400 mg)
• L-Theanine (750 mg)
• DMG (Dimethylglycine) (100 mg)
• GABA (gamma-Aminobutyric acid) (1000 mg)
• Valerian (100 mg)
• Progesterone (25 mg – 100 mg)
• 5-HTP (50 mg – 100 mg)

There are also several peptides that are sleep aids including:

• Epitalon
• DSIP (Delta sleep-inducing peptide)

Lastly, medications that can help with sleep include:

• Trazodone
• Quetiapine
• Diphenhydramine
• Doxepin
• Hydroxyzine