Sleep deprevation is a common problem with survivors- but it can be managed naturally

Everyone should get about 8 hours of sleep each night.  This is difficult for people without cancer and extremely difficult for those of us with cancer.  The article below provide 8 natural ways to get a better sleep.

From personal experience I can recommend five of these.

1) I take 1 mg of melatonin each night.  I take a 1 mg capsule 1-2 hours before I want to hit the sack and sure enough I get sleepier and sleepier- the supplement makes me want to go to bed.

2) I developed heart arrythmia as a side effect from chemotherapy.  I read that magnesium supplementation aleviated this problem.  I haven't had an arrythmia episode (12-24 hours of my heart rate going all over the place) since I began supplementing with magnesium.  The powder I use also has calcium in it.

3) My wife and caregiver bought me a small spray bottle of lavender as a Christmas present.  I spritz a bit each night on my pillow.  I can't cite any studies but I drop off pretty quickly.

4) I can't speak to yoga or meditation but I exercise and sauna almost every day.   Not a huge workout but enough to get my heart rate up for 20-30 minutes.  This site if full of studies documenting the anti-cancer benefits of exercise.  The exercise/sauna relaxes me, helps me manage my weight and helps me sleep too.

5) I take a green tea supplement each day.  I do this primarily for it's documented anti-mm benefits but green tea contains L-theanine too.

A common side effect of cytoxan therapy is irrittable bladder.  My irritable bladder used to wake me 4 times each night and since i've been working on my sleep I'm down to waking 1-2 times each night.  I get 7-8 hours each night during the week and 8-9 hours of sleep fri and sat nights.  I believe these sleep remedies help me sleep better and longer.

8 Natural Remedies That May Help You Sleep

http://peoplebeatingcancer.org/node/1611