Question: What would you recommend for insomnia?

I have candida, hypoglycemia and mercury toxicity.

I bought the Insight CD and Moor Mud. The Insight CD may not be working because i am using the wrong title. I started with the first one. The moor mud is messy since I don't have a bathtub. I would like to use the Insight CD since it is easy to use.

Recommendations for Insomnia related to Candida, Hypoglycemia and Mercury Toxicity by Dr Ben:

Hello -

Sorry to hear that you are not sleeping well.

Given that you have three significant health concerns, I believe they all need to be addressed in order to achieve proper sleep.

The Moor Mud is very effective when one has a bathtub, receives the moor mud treatment professionally or has an small area on the body that needs relief which can be achieved by a local pack of moor mud. Without proper training or knowing how to apply moor mud topically, I do not recommend it. If you do get a bath or visit a friend's house with a bath, I do recommend it especially given that you have mercury toxicity.

While the Insight CD is excellent for relaxation and getting to sleep, I do not think it will help until you get your blood sugar balanced and candida under control.

Keep using the Insight CD, either version is great, as there are two. The most recent Insight CD is the Tranquil Waves version; however, both should benefit you in the long run.

What I recommend initially is to get your hypoglycemia under control first.

One cannot sleep with low blood sugar, it is impossible by design. When one has low blood sugar, aka hypoglycemia, hormones are released in order to elevate the blood sugar. This is done to protect the brain as the brain's number one fuel is glucose. Without glucose, one cannot think, nor live.

The hormones released when one has hypoglycemia are glucagon first followed by adrenaline which is also known as epinephrine. Glucagon will not affect your sleep as it will quietly be released and signal the liver to breakdown glycogen into glucose. However, if one has limited stores of glycogen, diabetic or a liver condition, adrenaline will be released.

Adrenaline is the fight or flight hormone meaning that is designed to stimulate us to get of harm's way immediately. When adrenaline is released, senses are heightened and so is awareness.

Knowing this now, you likely see the connection between hypoglycemia and insomnia. It is impossible to sleep when stimulated so intensely.

If you have difficulty falling asleep, it is likely due to stress and anxiety. The Insight CD should help reduce these tensions.

If your insomnia causes you not to fall asleep easily, I recommend you develop good pre-sleep hygiene and do quiet activities prior to sleeping.

  • Read a relaxing book in the living room under soft light,
  • Take a gentle walk in the evening fresh air,
  • Meditate for 15 minutes as this stimulates melatonin which is necessary for proper sleep
  • Write down things that need to be done tomorrow so they are out of your head.
  • Drink a cup of chamomile or passion flower tea slowly without honey. Add a touch of lemon instead.
  • Add a pinch of salt to the tip of your tongue, unless advised not to by your physician. I am not sure why this works but it does for many.
  • Take a capsule of Magnesium Plus by Seeking Health. Magnesium deficiency is highly related to insomnia and so is Vitamin B6. Taken together, magnesium and vitamin B6 work synergistically allowing the proper neurotransmitter signaling to occur. I am a doctor that believes disruptions in health are typically related to biochemistry. Thus, when biochemistry is corrected, so are the disruptions. Magnesium is required in over 300 biochemical pathways1 and Vitamin B6 is required in numerous as well. Thus, the impact of combining magnesium and vitamin B6 is substantial and has the ability to correct many biochemical imbalances.

Things to avoid prior to going to sleep as they prevent it:

  • Watching TV or movies close to bed time
  • Using your bedroom for activities other than sleeping and sexual activities
  • Responding to email or otherwise using the computer
  • Exercising as this stimulates rather than calms
  • Taking supplements which stimulate such as a multivitamin, B complex, MSM, Green Tea extract
  • Drinking stimulants

If you fall asleep just fine but wake up throughout the evening, this has different causes.

As I explained earlier, if one has hypoglycemia, adrenaline gets secreted which alerts you to wake up and eat.

You can prevent this if you have a protein snack before bed. Good sources of protein snacks are almond butter on whole grain bread or peanut butter on a celery stick. Perhaps a little beans and rice or smoked wild salmon would suit your palate.

The reason protein snacks are useful is that protein provides long term fuel unlike refined carbohydrates and sweets. Long term fuel provides more stable blood sugar levels which prevents adrenaline from being secreted during sleep. Thus, you get a longer, more restful sleep without interruptions.

It is recommended that you eat balanced meals throughout the day in order to stabilize the hypoglycemia. Having more frequent, but smaller, meals containing protein throughout the day is recommended for those suffering from adrenal insufficiency, hypoglycemia, stress, anxiety or inability to focus.

Whey Protein is a good, quick source of pure protein. Whey Protein is easy to mix into smoothies, drink in a glass of filtered water or sprinkle on cereals.

Post any questions and comments below.

Resources:

  1. Wikipedia: Magnesium
  2. Wikipedia: Vitamin B6

In health,

Dr Ben
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