Natural remedy for narcolepsy

Natural Tips to Stay Alert With Narcolepsy

Medically Reviewed by Carol DerSarkissian, MD on October 01, 2022

The world narcolepsy was coined in 1880s to mean “seized by somnolence,” or sleepiness. Just staying awake through the daylight hours can be difficult or impossible. Prescription drugs are often the go-to therapy for this brain disorder. But changes to your diet, habits, and environment also can help keep you alert without the side effects from medications.

It’s called “strategic napping.” Try to take several cat naps of about 15-20 minutes every day. But cap your dozes to no more than 30 minutes. Sleeping longer can make you more tired. If you have a job, the Americans With Disabilities Act requires your employer to make arrangements for you. For example, you might use your office, nursing lounge, or a wellness room to sneak quick rests.

Many people with narcolepsy sleep restlessly at night. Your body then needs to make the shortfall during the day. Try these tips to pack more quality ZZZs during your normal bedtime hours:

Relax before turning in. Avoid alcohol close to bedtime.
Try to go to bed at the same time each night.
If you wake up during the night, avoid reaching for your phone or other electronics. Screens stimulate, not relax, you.

If you have a more severe type of condition called narcolepsy with cataplexy, you may be low on a hormone called hypocretin that helps you stay alert. The good news is that many foods contain hypocretin. They include sourdough bread, dark leafy greens, kimchi and other fermented vegetables, and salmon and other foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids.

Lots of people feel drowsy after a big meal. That can be especially true if you have narcolepsy. Limit sugar and other carbs to stay more alert. Eat smaller meals and snack on nuts, berries, and other nutritious foods in between.

Walk around every 20 minutes or so to stay alert. If you work at a desk, get up and visit the break room. Climb a flight of stairs and back. Other ideas to sneak in blood-flowing moments include:

Pace while talking on the phone.
Stand up when you read emails and texts.
Walk to the bathroom even if you don’t need to go.

Those golden rays not only help you stay awake, they spark your brain to make feel-good chemicals. Sunshine helps your skin make vitamin D, a key nutrient in treating narcolepsy. Low vitamin D levels have been linked with poor sleep quality. Pair morning strolls with whole grains, scrambled eggs, and other foods that help put pep in your step.

Cold feet may help keep you awake. One study found that people with narcolepsy tend to have warmer skin temperatures in their fingers and toes. Cooler hands and feet made the people in the study more alert. You can dial down your body warmth with special cooling clothing, by avoiding warm drinks or meals, or using fans to keep your hands and feet chilled.

Coffee, tea, or other caffeine-fueled eye-openers may help prevent drowsiness. But take care if you take stimulant medications such as armodafinil (Nuvigil) or modafinil (Provigil) for your narcolepsy. Mixing them with caffeine can make your heart race or trigger jitters and anxiety. Avoid caffeine after 4 p.m.

Regular physical activity ramps up your metabolism but also may help you rest better at night. Find something you can enjoy and stick with at least 20 minutes per day. Think tai chi, dancing, weight training, gardening, swimming, or tennis. Finish your workouts at least 3 hours before bedtime so you can wind down for restful slumber.

In a small survey, smokers who had narcolepsy all reported nicotine helped fight daytime sleepiness. There was a dangerous downside, though. One-third of the respondents said they’d fallen asleep while smoking, and many others had come close. Lit smoking materials led to burn injuries and property damage, and even larger fires. And it can be tough to quit because nicotine withdrawal causes drowsiness.

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SOURCES:

Progress in Neurobiology: “Challenges in the development of therapeutics for narcolepsy. ”

Division of Sleep Medicine at Harvard Medical School: “Medications for Treating Daytime Sleepiness in Narcolepsy,” “Understanding Narcolepsy,” “Narcolepsy: Medications,” “Narcolepsy,” “Narcolepsy: At Work.”

Sleep Science: “Current and Future Treatment Options for Narcolepsy: A Review.”

Narcolepsy Network: “For Employees,” “Narcolepsy and Wakefulness: What’s the Connection?” “Lifestyle Adjustments.”

Sleep Foundation: “What Causes Narcolepsy?” “Cataplexy,” “Diet, Alcohol, Exercise, and Narcolepsy.”

Nutrients: “The Association Between Vitamin D Deficiency and Sleep Disorders: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.”

Cleveland Clinic: “Narcolepsy: Management and Treatment.”

Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine : “Narcoleptic Patients' Perceptions of Nicotine.”

Narcolepsy: Complementary and Alternative Treatments

Narcolepsy is a chronic sleep disorder that disrupts your wake-sleep pattern and brings about overwhelming drowsiness and periods of sudden sleep attacks during the daytime. The complex, lifelong condition affects 1 in 2,000 people but it often goes undiagnosed. There’s no cure for narcolepsy but medications and certain lifestyle changes may help manage the symptoms.

For some people with narcolepsy, conventional Western medication alone may not be enough to ease the day-to-day symptoms, which can take a toll on quality of life. Some choose to include complementary medicine or turn to alternative medicine to manage their condition.

Complementary medicine includes approaches that you take along with traditional Western medicine. While alternative medicine focuses on approaches you may take instead of conventional medicine your doctor uses. In some cases, your doctor may choose to combine different approaches to get the best results. This is called integrative medicine.

For narcolepsy, this can range from lifestyle changes, melatonin supplements, and natural herbal extracts to trying yoga or acupuncture for a better wake-sleep cycle.

Searching for an Alternative

For Gina Dennis, 49, intense sleepiness was something she struggled with since she was a teenager. Getting out of bed each morning was an ordeal. It was something she shared in common with her mother. When her mother got diagnosed with narcolepsy later in life, Dennis decided to get checked out as well. Soon after, Dennis who was in her late 30s by then, was also diagnosed with narcolepsy.

Her doctor put her on a regimen of drugs to help her stay awake through the day. But the drugs didn’t work as well as the Dallas native had hoped. But when her teenage son started to show symptoms, she came to find out that narcolepsy ran in her family. Turns out, her son and ex-husband also had the same sleeping disorder.

“It was breaking my heart, so we eventually got [my son] diagnosed. But here he is, a teenager, and he’s looking at a lifetime of medications. It just didn't seem good enough for me. So, I started to do some research,” Dennis says.

She went down the internet rabbit hole and stumbled upon another blogger who suggested the ketogenic diet to curb the daytime sleepiness. She decided to give it a try. In the ketogenic diet, the idea is to focus on getting your calories from high fat and moderate amounts of protein foods and cut back on most carbohydrates like sugar, bread, and pasta. It can be quite restrictive.

Dennis says she saw changes within a week. “I had a level of wakefulness that I had never had before, not even with the medication, it was cleaner, it didn't feel a buzz as some of the medications I had been taking,” Dennis says. In fact, over time, she stopped taking her medications altogether.

It’s been about 10 years since Dennis and her family started making dietary changes. While it’s helped bring a lot of the symptoms under control, she’s quick to add that it’s not a cure-all.

“I'm not saying I don't have symptoms because I do. But what I found through this entire journey is that diet is one component, the other component is some lifestyle changes.”

Alternative and Complementary Treatments

If you’re looking to try out or take on complementary or alternative approaches to manage your day-to-day narcolepsy symptoms, there are a few ways to go about it.

Yoga and meditation. A few studies point out that certain yoga positions can bring about relaxation, ease anxiety, and help with sleep issues. This may be because of its meditative properties such as breathing in and out and taking in the moment.

However, not all types of yoga are beneficial, says Rubin Naiman, PhD, a psychologist, sleep and dream specialist and clinical assistant professor of medicine at the University of Arizona Center for Integrative Medicine.

“I think yoga is helpful for anybody and everybody, because it really helps refashion our relationship with the body,” Naiman says. “There are 10 ways to do yoga, and not all are helpful. But when it’s done right, it’s almost like a friendly dialogue with our body.”

If you’re looking to try yoga to help you relax and sleep better at night, keep these things in mind:

Find the right style of yoga. Hot yoga or vinyasa yoga require movements that will raise your heart rate. Doing this before bed will make your sleep worse. Instead, choose a relaxing technique.
Set the scene for yoga and meditation. You can dim the light, put on soft, soothing music, and find a space to stretch out in comfy clothes.
Focus on breathing. Pay attention to taking your breath in and out through your nose and mouth. This can be therapeutic and help you de-stress before you get to bed.
Don’t push yourself too hard. Do only what you physically tolerate. You can work your way up over time.

Herbal remedies. Research shows that certain herbs can induce or regulate sleep. You can add them to beverages like tea or take them as supplements. For example, chamomile flower used in teas may help with poor sleep issues. The flower has several chemical compounds like apigenin that can have a mild tranquilizing effect. However, there needs to be more research done on chamomile’s effectiveness for conditions like narcolepsy. Some people are allergic to chamomile so it’s best to try in small amounts first.

Valerian root has natural sedative properties and has long been used as a sleep aid to help ease issues like stress, anxiety or headaches that disrupt your sleep cycle. But clinical trials on valerian root’s effects have had inconsistent results. Experts aren’t sure what effects long-term use may have on your body.

Other herbs used to improve sleep problems include passion flower, kava, red ginseng, lemon balm, and hops. If you’re taking prescription drugs, it’s important to note that certain herbs can interact with other drugs or cause side effects. It’s always a good idea to tell your doctor before you try any herbal remedies or supplements.

Melatonin. Your body naturally makes melatonin around 4 hours before you got to sleep. It’s triggered when your body’s exposure to light reduces naturally at night. But if you have narcolepsy, your sleep/wake cycle may not be properly regulated. Research shows that taking melatonin supplements can help regulate and induce sleep, increase rapid eye movement (REM) sleep time, and improve sleep quality. You can buy melatonin in pill form over the counter. If you’re not sure how much you take, ask the pharmacist or your doctor.

Lifestyle changes. When you have narcolepsy, one of the symptoms includes falling asleep or feeling excessively drowsy involuntarily during the day. This can be dangerous if you’re driving or out and about in public. To reduce the intense sleepiness during the day and sleep better at night, you can:

Schedule small, regular naps during the day.
Stick to a bedtime routine. Try to go to bed at the same time each night and wake up at the same time, too.
Reduce any distractions in the room where you sleep at night.
Avoid alcohol, smoking, and caffeine before bedtime.
Don’t eat large meals for dinner before sleep.
Exercise regularly to help you stay awake and alert during the day. But don’t work out or push yourself too much 2 hours before you go to bed.

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). This type of psychological treatment attempts to change your thinking patterns. This may help you cope with symptoms for several health conditions, including narcolepsy. Naiman says it’s especially helpful for people who have cataplexy, a core symptom in which you may have a sudden muscle weakness and collapse. It can be triggered by emotions like laughter, surprise, or negative things like stress and anxiety.

“When people begin to have symptoms of cataplexy, there is a reaction of anxiety like, ‘oh God, I’m about to fall off,’ and then the anxiety spirals into this adversarial relationship with narcolepsy,” Naiman says. “With CBT, we talk about meeting cataplexy in a mindful way. It’s about understanding that if I tense up each time, it makes the cataplexy worse.”

For some patients, Naiman says he uses CBT to help them consciously work through a narcolepsy episode when it comes on. This helps them learn skills to handle it better the next time they have a sudden episode.

CBT may include learning other strategies like:

Learning how to use problem-solving skills to manage difficult situations
Evaluating thoughts and experiences in a realistic way
Developing confidence

If you plan to try CBT, ask your doctor or a psychologist if it’s right for you.

Acupuncture. As part of traditional Chinese medicine, acupuncture practitioners insert thin needles at specific points on your body. The idea is for the needles to stimulate certain pressure points that bring about pain relief and reduce narcolepsy symptoms like headache. However, researchers say there’s not enough evidence to know if it helps with sleep problems.

Acupuncture is relatively safe if it’s done by someone who’s experienced. However, if it’s done incorrectly, nonsterile needles can cause infections or other dangerous health problems. If you’re going to try acupuncture, make sure to visit an experienced acupuncturist.

Emotional freedom technique (EFT). Similar to acupuncture, EFT is a simple, self-therapeutic manual tapping therapy used to relieve stress and anxiety. To do it, you have to tap certain meridian points on your face and body while saying out loud whatever is concerning you to work through distressing situations or the onset of anxiety or depression. It combines other psychological therapies like talk therapies, exposure therapy, and cognitive behavioral therapy. It promotes self-acceptance.

It was founded in the 1995 and the idea behind the tapping is that it stimulates the pressure points to signal the brain and the central nervous system to release chemicals to ease stress or fear.

While there are few studies that show EFT’s effects and benefits psychologically, there is limited evidence if it positively impacts physical health to improve conditions like narcolepsy and others. But EFT is safe, harmless, and a cheap, affordable option you can use anywhere if you want to calm your emotions and center yourself.

Things to Be Aware of Before You Try Complementary or Alternative Medicine

Most complementary and alternative treatments like yoga or EFT are safe to use and harmless. But not all alternative medicine options, particularly herbal remedies, products, and supplements, are safe even if they are “natural.”

Many herbs or over-the-counter supplements may interact or suppress prescription medication you may be taking and may cause dangerous side effects. The FDA does not regulate dietary supplements like it oversees and regulates prescription drugs.

Thinking about trying a complementary or alternative medicine or product for narcolepsy?

Talk to your doctor about it. Ask if it will affect or interact with any drugs you may be taking for narcolepsy or other conditions you may have. Tell them if you’re planning to use a certain product or technique. This will help them get a full picture of your health and medical history when they treat you.
Look up potential side effects or safety for long-term use before you try any herbs. If you’re not sure, ask your doctor about it.
If you’re pregnant or planning to get pregnant, ask your doctor before trying something new.
Ask your health insurance provider if they cover complementary or alternative treatment options like CBT or acupuncture. This may help avoid any surprise bills or expenses.
Talk to your doctor before you cut back or stop taking your prescription drugs or treatments.

If you experience side effects or an allergic reaction from certain products or supplements, get medical attention as soon as possible or tell your doctor about it.

Nootropics to Improve Cognitive Ability - Are They Really Effective?

Technology inexorably increases the speed of information coming from outside - today the average human brain can hardly cope with the flow of data. People who want to succeed cannot allow their brain even a moment of relaxation, because information from the outside must not only be perceived, but also processed.

It is logical that the popularity of "intellectual boosters" like nootropics will only grow. Therefore, the number of "smart" drugs, that is, drugs that optimize human cognitive abilities, is constantly increasing. Are they really that effective?

In retrospect

Let's turn to evidence-based medicine. The vast majority of "smart" drugs have been tested on volunteers with cognitive deficits of various nature, but as for young and healthy adults, their use as cognitive enhancers has not justified itself. A recent study evaluating the latest intelligence booster was no exception, showing that "smart" drugs designed to stimulate cognitive function are not suitable for ordinary healthy people.

In general, such tools have shown very modest (and sometimes questionable) results in CT. But managers, academics, students, and others looking to boost IQ are actively looking for alternatives. And the market generously offers them!

Unfortunately, new trials show that Rx drugs designed to improve intelligence in neurological disorders do not increase overall cognitive function in healthy people - on the contrary, they even reduce intellectual productivity. These disappointing results relate primarily to the category leader, modafinil.

Smart medicines: OTC category

"Smart herbal medicine". Dietary supplements based on ginkgo biloba are traditionally perceived as natural stimulants of intelligence. Some vendors even market them as a natural alternative to prescription drugs for dementia. However, ginkgo biloba did not show a significant effect in CT.

Research is also being done on the cognitive-enhancing properties of other plants. For example, the Ayurvedic herb Bacopa (Bacopa monnieri) was considered as a nootropic in CI: it was evaluated as a "neural tonic" and "memory enhancer" that can reduce the manifestations of Alzheimer's disease, parkinsonism and epilepsy. But today it has not even been possible to explain its pharmacokinetic properties.

Amino acid supplements. Also popular are amino acid-based intelligence stimulants, in particular glutamic acid and its derivatives. It is believed that they do not interfere with the functioning of the brain, but take part in its metabolism in a “natural way” (penetrating the blood-brain barrier without hindrance). The effectiveness of various such means is being investigated.

At the discretion of the specialist

However, it is not even the effectiveness or safety profile of cognitive stimulants that is alarming (in CTs, most of them were harmless at the right dosage). Health care professionals are much more concerned about the use of "smart" medicines not for direct indications, i.e. not in rehabilitation after a stroke, encephalopathy or TBI, but for no reason - just to increase intellectual productivity.

Given the current evidence base for the effectiveness of drugs from the segment of "smart" drugs, the pharmacist faces a difficult choice. After all, some of these pharmaceutical products are still purchased by elderly people who have experienced a stroke or suffer from age-related problems. So far, the question of whether they need to quickly release "smart" pills worth hundreds of hryvnias, which does not have any evidence of effectiveness, unfortunately, still remains a problem for a pharmacy worker. And the solution of such problems should be left to the discretion of neurologists.

How to treat narcolepsy with folk remedies

A disease of the nervous system, directly related to hypersomnia, characterized by sleep disturbance and constant drowsiness, is called narcolepsy. Other names for pathology: essential narcolepsy, Gelino's disease. This pathology is quite rare, occurs, as a rule, in one person out of two thousand. Representatives of the strong half of society are more susceptible to the development of this disease.

This disease is rather strange, so much so that a person suffering from this pathology can be considered a mentally ill person. The disease provokes unexpected attacks of drowsiness, and during the daytime, while at night a person suffers from insomnia. The patient is haunted by hallucinations, waking dreams. In the morning, paralysis of the whole body is noted, and throughout the day - weakening of all muscles.

Content of the article:

Traditional medicine in the fight against narcolence
Treatment of symptoms of illness with vegetable herbs
Aromatherapy against the disease
A few recommendations regarding the nutrition
Prevention of onmarks

Unfortunately, this disease is unfortunately. Therapy is aimed at eliminating the symptoms that interfere with a normal life, and controlling behavior. In parallel with taking medications prescribed by the attending physician, you can use remedies from medicinal plants.

In addition, in order to alleviate the manifestations, it is recommended to lead a correct lifestyle, give up addictions - smoking, drinking alcohol, strictly observe the daily routine, eat right, play sports. Moreover, it is important to reduce the time of daytime sleep to 15 minutes.

Treatment of symptoms of illness with herbs

1. Hops have a slight relaxing effect. Take hop cones, grind them and brew in boiled water - 500 ml. Let the remedy infuse a little. Consume a quarter cup of filtered infusion before each sitting at the table. Read a detailed article about the therapeutic effect of hops.

2. A good result can be achieved by using motherwort for the treatment of pathology. This plant has a sedative effect. Grind the dried grass of the plant and brew in boiled water - 300 milliliters. After a few hours, filter the infusion. It is necessary to consume half a glass of the drug three times a day.

3. Chamomile helps to eliminate headaches and calm the nervous system. Pour dried crushed flowers of the plant in an amount of 30 grams into an enameled saucepan. Pour half a liter of water, boil. Lower the heat a little and simmer for another ten minutes. Set aside for two hours, then filter.

It is recommended to use 1/2 cup before going to bed. If you wish, you can add a little honey to the medicine.

4. A plant such as primrose helps to restore strength during overwork. Soak a tablespoon of dried flowers of the plant in boiling water - 300 ml. Let the tool sit for a bit. Drink 100 milliliters of the drink an hour before bedtime, every day.

5. Dill has a calming and mild hypnotic effect. You can use both seeds and herbs. Steam 30 grams of raw materials with boiling water - half a liter. Infuse the product for several hours, then filter. It is recommended to use half a glass of the drug before each sitting at the table. The last dose of the medicine is at bedtime.

6. Melissa is a miraculous plant, and one of the few that can normalize the functioning of the nervous system. It is recommended to brew it as a tea and drink it throughout the day. You can not drink such tea with low blood pressure.

7. There is another excellent remedy for Bryce's prescription. Combine thirty grams of mistletoe with valerian rhizome, oregano, dandelion - the same amount. Steam the mixture in boiled water - half a liter.

The remedy should be infused for seven hours. Drink half a glass of the drink before bed. Store the product in the refrigerator, and warm up a little before taking.

It is undesirable to take medicine in the presence of pathologies of the heart and gastrointestinal tract. It is forbidden to use the infusion for medicinal purposes for pregnant women.

7. Pour 50 grams of dill seeds into a saucepan, pour wine, preferably Cahors - 500 ml. Boil the composition, and then simmer over low heat for ten minutes. After that, wrap the container and leave the product to infuse in a warm, dry room for about an hour. You need to use the medicine before going to bed, a quarter cup. Did you know that Cahors is very useful for many diseases? Read more here.

8. Hawthorn, a plant that can eliminate insomnia. Soak a few tablespoons of crushed fruits of the plant in boiling water - half a liter. It is necessary to insist the composition in a thermos for three hours. Drink 200 milliliters of medicine before going to bed.

Aromatherapy against diseases

Essential oils have a beneficial effect on the nervous system, help prevent stress conditions, reduce irritability, eliminate problems that lead to sleep disturbance and insomnia.

One of the most effective oils is lavender. You just need to apply pointwise to the top of the forehead and temples.

An excellent effect can be achieved by taking fragrant baths. Before going to bed, after taking a shower, fill the bath with hot water and add rose, valerian and chamomile oil to it. Oils must first be diluted in milk or sea salt. The duration of the procedure is a quarter of an hour.

Massage oils can also be used. Oil mixtures will help to relax and calm. Combine a drop of rosemary oil with three drops of ginger oil and ten drops of corn oil. Gently massage the oil mixture into your body.

Some nutritional advice

Every evening meal should include onions, onions or greens. The main condition is that it must be fresh.
Include buckwheat porridge in your diet. About this cereal, as a means of helping to eliminate insomnia.
Drink an anti-stress drink before going to bed. Grind hazelnuts with a blender - 20 grams and the same amount of germinated wheat grains.
Learn more