Originally Posted by After Shock Media

Not to knock you. There is not enough tryptophan in warm milk, nor even a full plate of turkey to make someone tired. What makes people tired on Thanksgiving (occasionally other times when they eat turkey) is carbohydrate overload. You are just eating way to many carbs and sugars. Your body gets very tired from it, not the tryptophan. Plus you need to get the tryptophan on an empty stomach with no other amino acids which the turkey contains. Heck soybeans and parmesan cheese contain more of it than turkey does.

Even then if you could get enough tryptophan to make you tired in pure form, it would require a very large amount.

Good info on soda's, caffeine and stuff.



Was a few suggestions posted. Did not catch that you were anti drug. Does that include all herbals too?

Do go with white noise generation. Do set a schedule to be in your sleep room where you sleep only (OK may be hard for some, but lack of TV etc helps). Do block out all lights. Slightly colder temps make people tired as well. Often a fan that will blow on your face every so often will also help keep your eyes closed - or try a mask.

I would suggest 30 minutes or so before hand to drink some herbal tea. Nothing wrong with "sleepy time" brand. I like ones that contain any or all of the following:
lemon balm, lime, st johns wart, chamomile, hops, rose, and most berries.
While slowly drinking and enjoying your tea, jot down in a note pad any pressing thoughts in your head. 30 minutes are up - put away and go to your sleep room.

You should only need 1 - 2 teacups worth. I typically brew a pot for 4 servings, knowing that one of them will most often get wasted between the wife and I.

Just a slight warning. For some valerian root can cause the opposite of getting sleepy. It does appear in many herbal tea's. Nothing wrong with it. Just do not give up on tea all together because of it.