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Sleeping through the night for the first time in many years: a trial and error approach to find the ideal tryptophan product

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If you have trouble sleeping through the night (or even have anxiety or panic attacks), finding the nutritional/biochemical root causes and addressing them is going to provide relief but it’s not always straightforward to find your root cause or causes (there are often more than one). Also, what works for you today may not work for you in 2 years time and may not work for your friend who has similar symptoms. You have to be a detective yourself and/or work with a health professional who can put all the puzzle pieces together.

I recently read a Facebook comment where someone was really frustrated about all the trial and error work that may be involved:

I’m just so tired of all this trial and error work trying to figure out why I’m anxious and depressed can’t sleep more than 4 hours a night. It’s been going on way too long I just want answers and a solution to all this. Enough already!

While I feel for this woman, I do acknowledge that it can sometimes be challenging to put all the puzzle pieces together. Other times we are able to figure things out very quickly. I’d like to share some feedback from Lorraine on the tryptophan-PMS-anxiety blog to illustrate how one small change made a big difference for her and it was a matter of trial and error.

Lorraine shares her great results with this Tryptophan Complete tweak for her insomnia:

Trudy, after listening to your talks about Lidtke Tryptophan I decided to give the Tryptophan Complete a try. I’ve taken one capsule each on the last two nights instead of two of the Tryptophan 500mg caps. Both nights I slept straight through all night and had a hard time waking up in the morning. I’ve struggled with insomnia for many, many years. The 500mg Lidtke Tryptophan supplements were helping but I was still waking up during the night. For me to sleep all night is almost miraculous.

I’ve been also taking Progesterone (low on testing), Magnesium, L-Theanine and Melatonin.

I recently added phosphatidylserine, and Holy Basil because saliva testing showed high cortisol at bedtime and off the charts high in the morning. I’m hoping to start eliminating some of those other supplements now that I’m sleeping so well.

I want to thank you for the Anxiety Summits and your book and updates on Facebook and newsletters. I have learned so much from you!

I’ve blogged about which product to use for boosting serotonin: Tryptophan 500mg or Tryptophan Complete (by Lidtke)?. I share this

  • I like to have my clients do a trial of the amino acidsso they can find the ideal dose for their needs and right now I still feel this would still be the best approach to take – using 500mg tryptophan. Once you have figured out you do well with tryptophan-only product and have your dose, then consider reducing it slightly after about 2-3 weeks and adding in additional Tryptophan Complete.
  • The other option is this: if you don’t get the expected results with Tryptophan 500mg, then try the Tryptophan Complete. You may need the other ingredients for it to work well for you.

Lorraine chose to do the latter – switching to Tryptophan Complete – since she didn’t get ideal results with Tryptophan 500mg and it worked for her. I will add that even though she slept straight through all night, I don’t like that she had a hard time waking up in the morning and when that happens, I recommend less tryptophan. It’s very possible that the ideal combination would be 1 x Tryptophan 500mg and 1 x Tryptophan Complete (my first suggestion).

Here is my quick commentary on the other products she’s using for her insomnia:

  • Progesterone and theanine: Testing progesterone levels are important before using progesterone. Both theanine and GABA support GABA production and when GABA is low, we often see low progesterone. With both low GABA and low progesterone, sleep and anxiety can be worse.
  • Magnesium: This mineral is commonly low and is needed to make both serotonin and GABA.
  • Melatonin: This is made in the body when there is sufficient serotonin and may not be needed long-term once she has good levels of serotonin (which the tryptophan product/s are helping her make).
  • Phosphatidylserine and holy basil: High cortisol is a common root cause of both insomnia and anxiety and saliva testing is an excellent way to confirm this. Phosphatidylserine can be used to lower high cortisol although I have found even better results with a phosphorylated serine product called Seriphos. Holy basil or tulsi is an adaptogenic herbal product that provides adrenal support helping with sleep problems and easing anxiety and stress.

In Lorraine’s case, her insomnia was caused by low serotonin (hence the need for tryptophan, melatonin and magnesium), low GABA/low progesterone (hence the need for progesterone, theanine and magnesium) and high cortisol (hence the need for phosphatidylserine and holy basil).

She shares she’s hoping to start eliminating some of these other supplements now that she’s sleeping so well. So, this would be another trial and error approach, stopping and/or reducing one at a time and seeing how she does. Or she may well find she needs to continue with everything for some time.

As you can see, for Lorraine it was a matter of trial and error to find her solution, but it was well worth it to get the “miraculous results” she experienced: sleeping though the night for the first time in many years!

Some of these products may work for you but it’s going to be a matter of trial and error to find your root cause/s and solution.

In case they are relevant for you, these products mentioned in this blog can all be found in my online Fullscript store:

I’d love to hear how you’ve used a trial and error approach either on your own or with the help of your practitioner to find the nutritional solution for your insomnia and/or anxiety?

If you’re a practitioner, please do share an example of how you’ve used this approach with a client or patient.

If you’ve had frustrations with this trial and error approach, please share them too.

Feel free to post your questions here too.

Additional Anxiety Resources
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Intoxicating fragrance: Jasmine as valium substitute? New 2019 research confirms this

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A study from the University of the Ruhr, in Bochum, Germany, resulted in a press-release with a very provocative and enticing title – Intoxicating fragrance: Jasmine as valium substitute and a slew of articles which generated much interest. When I came across this 2010 press release recently, I was of course, intrigued and started digging deeper. Despite the fact that some folks felt it was a long stretch to extrapolate to humans, new research published this year confirms this headline may well have some merit.

Here are some highlights from the 2010 press release:

Instead of a sleeping pill or a mood enhancer, a nose full of jasmine from Gardenia jasminoides could also help, according to researchers in Germany. They have discovered that the two fragrances Vertacetal-coeur (VC) and the chemical variation (PI24513) have the same molecular mechanism of action and are as strong as the commonly prescribed barbiturates or propofol. They soothe, relieve anxiety and promote sleep.

The press release also shares that sedatives, sleeping pills and relaxants which increase the effect of GABA, are the most frequently prescribed psychotropic drugs. Also, “the benzodiazepines, which are now among the world’s most widely prescribed drugs” are “not only potentially addictive, but can also cause serious side effects, e.g. depression, dizziness, hypotension, muscle weakness and impaired coordination.” Valium, Xanax, Ativan and Klonopin are all benzodiazepines and I write more about these medications and why they are so problematic here.

Here are some really interesting facts from the press release/study:

  • The two fragrances vertacetal-coeur (VC) and the chemical variation (PI24513) were … able to increase the GABA effect by more than five times and thus act as strongly as the known drugs.
  • Injected or inhaled, the fragrances generated a calming effect.
  • Applications in sedation, anxiety, excitement and aggression relieving treatment and sleep induction therapy are all imaginable. The results can also be seen as evidence of a scientific basis for aromatherapy.

Here is a link to the 2010 paper: Fragrant dioxane derivatives identify beta1-subunit-containing GABAA receptors. I’ll be honest, it was challenging read for me and when I read the press release and actual paper at first, I wasn’t even sure they were talking about the same thing. You won’t find any mention of jasmine in the study, but instead will find vertacetal-coeur.

As I mentioned above, some organizations felt it was a long stretch to extrapolate to humans. The NHS in the UK was one example, publishing this:

Although some anti-anxiety medications are also known to interact with GABA receptors, it is far too soon to suggest that the effects of jasmine are similar to a recognised treatment for anxiety such as valium. People taking prescribed medication for anxiety should not change their treatment based on this study.

New 2019 research on jasmine for labor anxiety

However, a paper published just this month, A Systematic Review on the Anxiolytic Effect of Aromatherapy during the First Stage of Labor confirms the use of jasmine for reducing anxiety during the first stage of labor (in humans):

It is recommended that aromatherapy could be applied as a complementary therapy for reducing anxiety during the first stage of labor, but methodologically rigorous studies should be conducted in this area.

A total of 14 published papers and 2 unpublished papers were part of the review and other essential oils identified in the review for easing anxiety during labor include: rose, clary sage, geranium and frankincense, chamomile, bitter orange, sweet orange, peppermint, mandarin orange and clove.

Hopefully the NHS in the UK will update their article to include this new review.

Jasmine for other anxiety situations and feedback from real people

I feel very comfortable extrapolating this anxiety-reducing effect of jasmine during labor to other anxiety situations until we have more research.

I also asked folks on Facebook: “Do you use jasmine essential oil and love it? I’m working on a blog post on how jasmine impacts GABA levels and helps ease anxiety and I’d love to include some feedback (good or bad) in the blog. Care to share?” Here is some of the feedback –

Debra: “Never knew there was a Jasmine essential oil… love the smell of fresh Jasmine…will have to look out for it on days when I just need a bit more than what my antidepressant can do…”

Trish: “I use a blend from one of the companies called Joy that has Jasmine in it. It’s awesome, lightens the spirit, makes the day go happier. I use it as a perfume.”

Jessica: “I just started using it.. I really love it! I was using for facial purposes and then read it was good for anxiety and I do feel calm when using and just smelling it really.”

How to get some of the calming benefits of jasmine

There are many ways to enjoy the calming effects of jasmine. Here are some ideas for you:

  • Diffuse the jasmine essential oil alone in combination with other calming essential oils like lavender and one of the citrus oils like neroli or lemon. The Joy blend that Trish mentions above has bergamot, ylang ylang, geranium, lemon, coriander, tangerine, jasmine, roman chamomile, palmarosa and rose. Dr. Mariza, suggests this “Simply Soothing Diffuser Blend” in her new book The Essential Oils Hormone Solution (my review here)– 2 drops neroli, 2 drops jasmine and 2 drops ylang ylang essential oil
  • Use it topically with a carrier oil for a massage, alone or in a blend as above
  • Do what Trish suggests and use it as a perfume (I currently do this with neroli and am now going to try some jasmine)
  • Bring fresh jasmine flowers into your home or get a jasmine pot plant
  • Enjoy it in a tea. Organic India has a lovely tulsi tea that contains chamomile and jasmine. If you recall, tulsi or holy basil is an adaptogenic herb which has anti-stress effects
  • If you can tolerate caffeine, enjoy some Jasmine Oolong tea. Research suggests that the fragrant compounds in the tea “were absorbed by the brain and thereby potentiated the GABAA receptor response…and may therefore have a tranquillizing effect on the brain.”

Next steps: jasmine and GABA or jasmine alone?

It’s hard to know if jasmine used in any of the above ways will be enough to boost your GABA levels and ease your anxiety completely. The best way to find out is to try and see how you feel. It’s all very promising given that the 2010 study found that the compounds they used were able to increase the GABA effect by more than five times.

Until I’ve had clients use jasmine alone for this purpose, I’m still going to recommend the amino acid GABA (based on the questionnaire and a trial) and will suggest concurrent use of jasmine in some way. Once GABA levels have been boosted and all the other changes have been made (diet, blood sugar control, gut health, adrenals, low zinc, low vitamin B6 etc.), jasmine alone may be enough to keep GABA levels on an even keel.

However, right now I do see jasmine as a viable approach that is worth considering if you’re in the midst of tapering from a benzodiazepine and are not able to tolerate GABA and other oral supplements.

I’d love to get your feedback on jasmine and GABA and how you feel both help you (or have helped) with anxiety, depression, sleep or aggression? And if either has helped you taper off your benzodiazepine?

Please also share your favorite ways to use jasmine.

Feel free to post your questions here too.

Additional Anxiety Resources
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The Essential Oils Hormone Solution by Dr. Mariza Snyder – my book review

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Together with dietary changes and key nutrients like GABA, tryptophan, zinc and vitamin B6, using essential oils are a wonderful tool for helping to ease anxiety, reduce stress, improve sleep and focus and contribute to overall hormonal health for women. Now we have a new book that is a wonderful essential oil resource specifically for women, The Essential Oils Hormone Solution: Reclaim Your Energy and Focus and Lose Weight Naturally by Dr. Mariza Snyder.

She shares this about essential oils:

Essential oils are natural aromatic com­pounds found in the roots, seeds, stems, bark, leaves, and flowers of various plants. They are super-charged, fifty to seventy times more potent than their dried-herbal counterparts. They’re simply the best plant-based remedy that exists, and they have been success­fully used for thousands of years.

Dr. Mariza lists these top 5 must-have hormone-support essential oils for perimenopausal and menopausal women: clary sage, geranium, lavender, peppermint and rosemary. Lavender and peppermint have been long-time favorites of mine and I recently learned about clary sage and rosemary and love both.

She covers so many wonderful essential oils in the book but for the purposes of this review I’ll focus on clary sage since it was new to me until recently and may be new to you too.

In the chapter on sleep, she shares this about the benefits of clary sage and how to use this essential oil:

CLARY SAGE (Salvia sclarea)

  • Promotes relaxation of the body for a restful night’s sleep
  • Calms and soothes the mind and body
  • Supportive during menstrual distress

Aromatic Use 

  • Apply 1–2 drops directly to bedclothes or pillow.
  • Diffuse 3–4 drops before bedtime.

Topical Use

  • Dilute 1–2 drops with your favorite carrier oil and massage into abdomen.
  • Add 2–3 drops to a warm bath with ¼ cup Epsom salts dis­solved in the water.
  • Dilute 1–2 drops with your favorite carrier oil and massage into your soles before bedtime.

I had looked into clary sage about 6 months ago when I learned that it supports serotonin production and also lowers high cortisol.

Interestingly, I didn’t care for the aroma of clary sage when I first purchased it and I diffused it with lavender and rosemary to disguise the aroma. But I have grown to really like it and use a drop on a hanky each night and look forward to how much it helps me sleep and the fact that it eased the mild hot flashes I had started to experience again.

I love the combinations/blends Dr. Mariza recommends in the book and would have welcomed these ideas when I first started using clary sage myself. Here is one example of a rollerball blend with clary sage:

Tense-Away Rollerball Blend

10 drops Lavender essential oil

10 drops Clary Sage essential oil

10 drops Peppermint essential oil

Carrier oil of choice

I also really like that Dr. Mariza describes different ways to use the oils other than only diffusing – like using rollerballs, using them for massages and in baths, and applying the essential oils on various parts of the body for a more direct impact. One such example is the Hormone Synergy Rollerball Blend (which contains clary sage, lavender, geranium, bergamot and ylang ylang). She recommends applying this blend directly over your ovaries.

I learned this direct application tip from Dr. Mariza last year and started using lavender, peppermint and rosemary (in a carrier oil) topically on my belly before bed. It helps with digestion, occasional belly bloat from SIBO (if I’ve eaten something that triggers symptoms) and is relaxing too. I think I’ll add clary sage to this belly blend too for the added hormone benefits. This could be one way to use clary sage for the benefits if you find you don’t really like the aroma (because it will be further from your nose!)

Here are some of the benefits of the other top 5 hormone-support essential oils for perimenopausal and menopausal women that Dr. Mariza shares:

  • geranium – calming and soothing and “rejuvenates and revitalizes skin, complexion, and hair” (I haven’t been using this one and looking forward to trying this one)
  • lavender – “eases and calms feelings of anxiety, stress, and tension while rebalancing emotions” and “relieves discomfort associated with menstrual cycles” (I’ve been using lavender for years)
  • peppermint – “stimulates mental focus and energy by enlivening the senses” and supports your respiratory system (I also use this one all the time. It’s also great for headaches and neck pain)
  • and rosemary – “increases memory, concentration, and focus” (I also use it for EMF/electromagnetic radiation protection. Research shows rosemary could play a protective role against this harmful effect through its antioxidant activity)

Clary sage is also featured in the libido chapter: “Commonly used to stimulate sexual energy and boost libido.” This aspect was new to me, but it makes sense given that it lowers cortisol and supports serotonin production (and hence estrogen). Dr. Mariza also covers many other wonderful essential oils that boost libido too: jasmine, neroli, rose, sandalwood, ylang ylang and geranium.  In one study neroli, lavender, fennel, geranium, and rose significantly improved sexual function in menopausal women.

Here is the official book blurb:

Have your hormones been hijacked? Do you feel energy-depleted and irritable, unable to sleep, stay focused, or lose weight? You may have attributed these symptoms to the natural hormonal fluctuations that occur with age. But behind the scenes, there are a host of pesky culprits wreaking havoc on your hormonal health: chronic stress, air pollution, chemical-laden foods and cleaning supplies, and the synthetic estrogens in personal care products. Women of all ages are left vulnerable to the consequences, suffering from unnecessary hormonal imbalance and frustrating symptoms that are often dismissed by their doctors.

Dr. Mariza Snyder is here to help put you back in control of your health. In The Essential Oils Hormone Solution, you will learn how to heal hormonal chaos and revitalize the body from the inside out with the support of high-quality essential oils. You’ll learn how essential oils work on a cellular level to mitigate the toxic loads we carry, and how to use essential oils to reduce cravings, get deep, restful sleep, ease stress, improve mood, banish the worst symptoms of PMS, regain focus and concentration, boost libido, and increase energy.

Featuring a 14-day plan to jumpstart your hormonal health, with over 100 essential oil blends, daily self-care rituals, and delicious, easy-to-prepare recipes, you’ll discover how to reset your body and pave the way for improved hormonal health, without taking hormones.

Grab your copy of The Essential Oils Hormone Solution here (my Amazon link).

I’d like to add my thoughts on what I have found to be safe use of essential oils, and what I share with my clients (I consider myself an essential oil user like you – I’m not an expert):

  • Always use a carrier oil, unless you are diffusing, and this includes using essential oils in the bath (I know there is some conflicting advice on this, but I like to err on the side of caution)
  • Don’t try to remove too much of an essential oil with water – it will only drive it deeper into the skin
  • Think low doses i.e. a little goes a long way
  • Be sure to rotate your essential oils
  • Don’t ingest the oils neat or even in a gelatin capsule. I would only consider doing so if I was working with an experienced practitioner and using an enteric coated capsule  (there is definitely conflicting advice on this one but again I like to err on the side of caution)

It’s a fun book with wonderful ideas for how to combine essential oils and use them to improve hormone imbalance. I love this quote from Dr. Mariza:

Inhaling them and applying them is like adorning yourself in something truly beautiful

What are your favorite essential oils and combinations for easing anxiety, reducing stress, improving sleep and balancing your hormones? How are you “adorning yourself” and what is your favorite way to use them – diffused, topically, via a rollerball, or via a massage or in the bath? Feel free to post questions here too.

I have chronic insomnia and I started getting headaches with GABA, 5-HTP and melatonin

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A combination of GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid) and 5-HTP (5-hydroxytryptophan) can often improve sleep duration more than the use of either of these two amino acids alone. I blogged about this and the supporting research published in 2016.

Eve asked this question about her chronic sleep problems and headaches that she suspects are being triggered by the supplements:

I have chronic insomnia and I have been using 100mg 5-HTP, 250mg GABA and 1mg melatonin during the night for a week but the second day I used them I started getting a headache. Do you have idea what happened and can you please help me?

I shared this feedback about each person having unique needs and that I trial one amino acid at a time to find the ideal dose and then once we have a good baseline with good results and no adverse effects, we add the next one if needed. With 3 new supplements being started at once, we don’t know which one may be helping and which one (or more) is causing headaches.

A reminder I give all my clients is NOT to push through with the amino acids when you are experiencing any adverse effects. Headaches are more common with tyrosine rather than 5-HTP or GABA but too much of any one of the amino acids may cause a headache and with some folks, even a small amount can cause a headache especially if it’s not needed. At the first sign of a headache my advice is to stop the latest supplement added and see how you do. If 3 where started at one time, as in this situation, stop all 3 and add them back one at a time, watching for headaches and benefits.

Eve didn’t say which GABA product she was using. Source Naturals GABA Calm is the one I most often recommend, and the small amount of tyrosine could be causing her headaches. If this is the case, a switch to a GABA-only product or a GABA-theanine product may be what is needed.

It’s always important to also review the amino acid precautions before use. If you have migraines, tyrosine may make them worse.

But I do want to also add that some folks cannot tolerate 500mg tyrosine at all and yet they do just fine with the 25mg of tyrosine in the GABA Calm product (and sometimes up to 75mg of tyrosine when three GABA Calm lozenges are needed at once).

It’s also good to be aware that some folks do better on tryptophan versus 5-HTP so if it is the 5-HTP that is the problem I’d consider a trial of tryptophan. The best way to do that is to replace the 5-HTP with tryptophan (and I recommend Lidtke 500mg tryptophan).

You want to also look carefully at each of the products in case there are fillers that could be causing the headaches.

If it turns out that none of these are working i.e. the problem with sleep isn’t because of low serotonin and low GABA, then we ask these questions and address them:

  • is there a gut issue i.e. is there candida, parasites and/or dysbiosis?
  • is night-time cortisol high?
  • is gluten or other grains an issue? or was there accidental gluten exposure?
  • is caffeine or alcohol consumption a problem?
  • is there EMF and WiFi exposure?
  • are there medication side-effects?
  • has there been mold exposure or some other environmental trigger?

Have you had issues when trialing amino acids for sleep or anxiety and then figured out what the problem was?

EMFs from computers, phones, smart meters and circuit breakers: insomnia, anxiety, depression, IBS, numb hands and skin issues

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EMFs from computers, phones, smart meters and circuit breakers can cause insomnia, anxiety, depression, IBS, numb hands and skin issues, and even play a role in the severity of autism and other chronic health conditions.

Investigative health journalist, Nick Pineault, also known as “The EMF Guy” is on a mission to create awareness and provide practical and research-based resources for practitioners via his ElectrosmogRX training. He kindly offered to answer questions from some of you in my community. Thank you if you submitted a question and if you didn’t hopefully you get to learn from these great questions that were submitted.

Sarah ask about smart meters, cell phone in the bedroom and a CPAP machine, and depression, IBS, insomnia, pain and sinus problems

PART 1: I’d like to know Nick’s thoughts on what to do about a smart meter outside a bedroom wall almost directly behind my husband’s side of the bed. He suffers from many things… depression IBS, diarrhea during stressful events, painful joints and muscles, fatigue, insomnia at times, sinus problems.

Here is Nick’s feedback for Sarah:

Smart utility meters have often been linked with an increase in a slew of symptoms. One 2013 survey conducted in Maine has shown that 98% of respondents were “fairly sure” or “very sure” that their meter had made them sicker.

Depression, digestive issues, joint pain, fatigue, insomnia are all possible EMF-related symptoms.

The best thing you can do is to call your utility company and have your smart meter replaced by an analog meter. In certain states they will charge you a monthly penalty for that, and in other states the utility company won’t let you do it.

If you can’t remove the smart meter, then your next best choice is to shield it. A cheap solution to dampen the signal is to install a Smart Meter Guard, but in the case of your husband there’s a chance this would not be enough.

You could install special shielding materials between your bedroom wall and the meter, with the help of a certified Building Biologist (find one in your state)

PART 2: I’ve just put our WiFi on a timer to turn off at night. He still charges his phone next to him at night and sleeps with a CPAP machine. My main question is, in the whole scheme of EMF exposure where does the smart meter stand? And how serious is this compared to having the phone charging at night and the CPAP machine?  Thanks very much for all that you do!

Here is Nick’s additional feedback for Sarah H:

Turning off the wifi at night is an extremely important step. In the case of your husband, again I’m not sure that will be sufficient.

I would try the following for 3 nights:

  • Make sure the CPAP machine is 3 or more feet away.
  • Charge the phones in another room
  • No wireless device in the room whatsoever
  • Unplug everything from the walls — lamps, alarm clocks, etc. Phones in Airplane Mode can act as an alarm clock, but don’t charge it on the bed stand.

See how his symptoms change. If there are improvements in his sleep and reduction in symptoms, it’ll be easier for him to get on board too.

I’d like to add to this and suggest also getting a meter to get your husband on board – seeing is often believing.

Nicole is concerned about numb hands, hypersensitivity to smells and skin issues

Can EMFs cause numb hands, hypersensitivity to smells, skin issues?

Here is Nick’s feedback for Nicole:

Numb hands is a very common symptom. A lot of people feel itchy, tingling or other weird sensations when they hold a cell phone.

Hypersensitivity to smells might be linked with multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS), which often comes with his cousin electro hypersensitivity (EHS).

EMFs can definitely be linked with skin issues as well. For starters, EMF cause oxidative stress in cells, which will lead to premature aging of the skin.

Many EHS sufferers have reported skin-related symptoms. The work of Dr. Dominique Belpomme from France has shown that 40% of EHS people have high histamine levels in their blood, and the work of Olle Johansson has shown that exposure to screens and TV monitors (sources of magnetic and electrical fields) causes mast cells to migrate to the top dermis and release more histamine.

Basically, this means that a lot of us could be having a type of low-level allergic reaction on the skin when exposed to various types of EMFs.

Dilia is concerned about the circuit breaker and EMFs

How can I deal with EMF? I live in a small apartment where the breaker of the house is located. Is there something I can do about this?

Here is Nick’s feedback for Dilia:

Make sure that this circuit breaker panel is at least several feet away from an area where you spend a lot of time. It is unfortunately very hard to shield against the magnetic fields emitted by a breaker panel — I would suggest hiring a Building Biologist if the breaker panel was right next to your bed, for example.

That being said, generally speaking, you can deal with EMFs by turning off your wireless devices when not in use.

This includes:

  • Hitting Airplane Mode on your phone unless you need it
  • Turning off the wifi at night when not in use and at night, or using wired ethernet (best)
  • “Unsmarting” the home by getting rid of cordless phones and other wireless gadgets if you can

Sarah J asks about EMF mitigating devices and harmonizers for anxiety, sleep issues and more

My family is experiencing a plethora of serious health issues including anxiety, major sleep issues, autism, multiple brain injuries, etc.

There are many EMF mitigating devices and harmonizers on the market.  Which products really make a difference? How can one know? Are there any specific brands you can recommend that really work?

How does one cut through the pretenders and find the products that really help? Thank you for the opportunity ask Nick!! I’ve struggling with these questions for a long time

Here is Nick’s feedback for Sarah J:

A lot of devices (chips you’d out on your cell phone or computer, pendants, etc.) claim to “harmonize” EMFs, but there is very little scientific validation to back up these claims.

I cannot deny that some of these devices have been shown to alleviate some symptoms: less frequent headaches, less blood clumping and better blood circulation, better HRV (a sign of lowered stress), etc.

That being said, there are a few problems with these devices:

a) They are often marketed as “protective” (prevents harm), but the manufacturers offer tests which demonstrate that they are “supportive” (reduces symptoms).

In other words, I have no seen a single manufacturer of these devices who could show me the scientific proof that if I installed one of these devices on my phone, my body would experience ZERO biological effects from it. No DNA damage, no oxidative stress.

b) As these devices reduce symptoms related to EMF exposure, some people use them as an excuse to increase their EMF exposure now that they don’t feel as sensitive to EMFs anymore.

If you keep all of the above in mind, using these pendant or “chips” isn’t a bad idea to reduce symptoms and support the body during times of inevitable exposure outside the home.

May I add that considering the plethora of symptoms that your family is experiencing — all of which have been linked in medical literature with EMF exposure — I suggest hiring a Building Biologist and having them do a thorough home survey in order to identify how you could minimize EMFs inside the home, and shield against outside exposures (cell phone towers, smart meters, etc.), if the need be.

I’d like to add that I am convinced my Qlink helps me, especially with sleep, but I also follow Nick’s advice and have no WiFi and very seldom use my smart phone. I also recently had someone share this with me: “I shut off my WiFi at night and wear a Qlink. I have tested the Qlink with looking at blood cells under a dark field microscope and when it’s removed there is definitely clumping of red blood cells. They move fine with it on.”

This question about EMF mitigating devices and harmonizers is the most common question I get related to EMFs so I’d like to reiterate Nick’s advice and share how Dr. Klinghardt supports his patients who have chronic health conditions – notice he makes no mention of devices or harmonizers.

The above slide is shared with permission from Nick Pineault’s ElectrosmogRX training (more details below).

Adriana asks this question about EMFs and sleep

My boyfriend cannot sleep for years now. We are in the outskirts of [a big city], close to the international airport. We lived in the city and there we had a lot of EMF (3 GSM antennas on the neighboring block, WiFi with every neighbor in the block – 10 stories high and 4 apartments/floor + intelligent meters for heating on every heater in the house. That was a lot for him and after we moved outside the city, to a house and in a low-density housing area, then it was better for him. But he sits at the laptop for 6-8 hours every day. You think that may be affecting him that much?

Here is Nick’s feedback for Adriana:

Your boyfriend might be feeling symptoms related to EMF exposure, and sleep disturbance is one of the most common ones.

If he exposes himself to a laptop connected via WiFi, then his symptoms might persist.

In his case, especially if he works at the computer all day, every day — I’d recommend cutting off the WiFi anytime it’s not in use and using his computer via an ethernet cable instead of WiFi.

Turn off the WiFi at night, unplug everything from the walls and even turn off the circuit breaker to the bedroom at night for at least 3 days and sees if this helps him.

In order to alleviate EMF sensitivity, it’s critical that he takes extra step to reduce his exposure as much as possible.

If you’re a practitioner, are you looking at the impact EMFs have on the health of your clients/patients and do you feel comfortable answering questions like these ones? If not, Nick Pineault is on a mission to create awareness and provide practical and research-based resources for practitioners via his ElectrosmogRX training (it’s 33% off for a limited time).

Nick is also offering these non-cost resources so you can be as informed as possible:

This blog is strictly about EMFs – which cannot be ignored – but we must not forget how the amino acids like GABA and tryptophan can help with anxiety and depression, and even pain and IBS. They can both also help with insomnia as can melatonin which has been shown to be disrupted by EMF exposure. This is just the tip of the iceberg in terms of nutritional support for EMF-related issues for both healing and resilience – Nick covers it all in the ElectrosmogRX training (which I’ve done and wholeheartedly endorse).

Are you seeing improvements in your health once you address EMFs? What changes have you made? Have nutritional changes helped too?

My iPhone was zapping me with EMFs even when on airplane mode – affecting my sleep, and making me agitated and fatigued

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I recently got a new iPhone 6 and after having it for a good few weeks I discovered it had been zapping me with EMFs (electromagnetic fields) even when it was on airplane mode.

It was affecting my sleep, making me twitchy and agitated, leaving me feeling exhausted and more jet-lagged than usual (I had just travelled to the USA and then back to Australia) and making my right arm/mouse arm “thick” and slow when working on my PC. I have a feeling it played a role in my worsening lower back pain too!

I was NOT happy! I was actually fuming!

I have my phone on airplane mode most of time because in the last 6 months I’ve discovered I have some degree of EHS or electromagnetic hypersensitivity. This is a very real condition and many people are not even aware that EMFs may be playing a role in their symptoms.

This abstract summarizes EHS well: Characteristics of perceived electromagnetic hypersensitivity in the general population

Health problems evoked in the presence of electrical equipment is a concern, calling for better understanding for characteristics of electromagnetic hypersensitivity (EHS) in the general population.

The present study investigated demographics, lifestyle factors, frequency and duration, coping strategies, proportion meeting clinical criteria for intolerance attributed to electromagnetic fields (EMF) and comorbidity. Using data from a large-scale population-based questionnaire study, we investigated persons with self-reported (n = 91) EHS in comparison to referents (n = 3,250).

Middle age, female sex and poor perceived health was found to be associated with EHS. More than 50% in the EHS group reported having EMF-related symptoms more often than once a week, and the mean number of years experiencing EHS was 10.5. More than half of the EHS group reported that their symptoms started after a high-dose or long-term EMF exposure, that they actively tried to avoid EMF sources and that they mostly could affect the EMF environment. A minority of the EHS group had sought medical attention, been diagnosed by a physician or received treatment.

Exhaustion syndrome, anxiety disorder, back/joint/muscle disorder, depression, functional somatic syndrome and migraine were comorbid with EHS.

The results provide ground for future study of these characteristic features being risk factors for development of EHS and or consequences of EHS.

Fortunately, I used my Cornet meter and figured out something was up. Unfortunately, it took me some time to connect the dots. I figured I wasn’t feeling that great because of my recent trip and spending time sitting in planes and being exposed to so much WiFi in airports, planes, hotels, and conference rooms. I also drive a keyless car for 4 hours! Also, when you’re in the midst of this type of thing you’re kind of slow in figuring things out!

I’m going to share the lessons I learned so they can help you prevent something similar.

Lesson #1: When you toggle airplane mode off it via the swipe up feature it also activates Bluetooth and WiFi. BUT when you turn on airplane mode when using the swipe up feature, both Bluetooth and Wifi stay on unless you turn them off first in settings! This must be the default for new iPhones (and may even reset back to this with a software upgrade).

A: as expected
B: not good
C: make sure it’s like this

A: Airplane mode off (blue color plane) and Wifi is on and Bluetooth is on

B: Airplane mode on (orange color plane) and yet Bluetooth and WiFi is still on – this is not good if you’re using your phone next to your bed or in a car or close to your body

C: Airplane mode on (orange color plane) and Bluetooth and WiFi is off (they have a line through them) – make sure it’s like this when it’s next to your bed or in a car or close to your body

Lesson #2: Watch to see if 3G goes back to 4G when you toggle airplane mode on and off. I have changed my phone from 4G to 3G in settings in order to reduce EMF exposure when my phone is on. If you don’t know how to do this: settings/cellular/cellular data options – enable 4G toggle. Some folks are saying the airplane mode toggle reactivates 4G. I’m guessing it’s specific to the phone version as it’s not an issue on my phone.

Lesson #3: When you get a new phone or any new device, check everything and even if it’s not new, upgrades to software may change things.

Lesson #4: Distance is your friend when it comes to EMFs. I believe this impacted me more because I thought the iPhone was safely in airplane mode and not emitting EMFs. I had it close to me: in my handbag during the day when out and about, on my side-table next to my head at night, on my desk near me during the day, and in my money-belt right over my belly on the plane for 15 hours flying back!

Lesson #5: Trust your gut if you feel something is off and keep searching for a solution. I knew something was off and was prowling around trying to find what WiFi had been turned on in our home and looking for new hotspots in the area (I recently blogged about how a WiFi modem with a public hotspot caused seizures, vertigo, headaches, insomnia and heart palpitations in a woman with a history of West Nile virus)

Lesson #6: Get a meter so you can be proactive and actually measure this stuff. My Cornet meter is awesome! I’m still a newbie at this but when I see red flashing lights I know I’m onto something.

I owe much appreciation to Nick Pineault, author of The Non-Tinfoil Guide to EMFs (my Amazon link) for his amazing ElectrosmogRx practitioner training. I’ve learned so much about how EMFs are impacting our health and want to share this with you because I truly believe it’s a big player when you have ongoing anxiety, insomnia, pain, brain fog and with more serious health concerns too.

I even got to see Nick at the event I attended in the USA and got a signed copy of his excellent book!

When I shared this story on Facebook it was received with much interest and two people shared similar issues. One person said this:

Since I’ve moved I’ve been using my iPhone 6 as an alarm and getting disrupted sleep every night! Time for change!

And then shared this a few days later:

I want to report that I definitely slept better without my iPhone in the room last night!.

Someone else shared this:

Since getting the iPhone 6 I have been experiencing an overactive brain when trying to sleep plus heart palpitations. I usually sleep so well and turn off my thoughts and relax with no problems. I just thought it was a culmination of work, stress deadlines and hormones.

Too often I hear comments like this: “it’s all around us – what are we supposed to do?!” There is so much we can do!

Once I made the simple change of making sure the Bluetooth and WiFi stayed off when I toggled airplane mode on, my sleep improved, the twitchiness and agitation abated, my exhaustion ramped down and my slow mouse arm started to work normally again. My back pain is slowly but surely easing too.

As a nutritionist I always use everything at my disposal and so I’ve also used GABA for my back pain and tryptophan for the agitation and sleep issues and plenty of rosemary essential oil, together with grounding/earthing on a daily basis.

Thank goodness for my Qlink too! I’d probably have been feeling much worse had I not been wearing it 24 hours a day.

My wish now is for more folks to take this seriously!

Do you use your iPhone (or other smart phone) as an alarm without switching to airplane mode? Have you checked if Bluetooth and WiFi is off when you do switch to airplane mode?

And has disrupted sleep or other issues like anxiety, agitation, heart palpitations, pain issues, brain fog or fatigue resolved when making these very simple changes?

I’d love some feedback if you have a smart phone other than an iPhone – to share what happens on your phone and how you addressed it.