Insomnia & The Primal Diet

by Chris

My insomnia was caused by an adrenaline detox. 

I arrived at this conclusion because I started waking up around 1:00 to 2:00 a.m. very alert and I would try to go back to sleep. If I was able to go back to sleep at all, I would still wake up every hour.

I noticed I would be able to fall asleep after about 5:30 a.m. According to Aajonus Vonderplanitz, the nervous system detoxes as soon as the sun goes down, kicks into high gear around 12:30 am and doesn’t stop until 5:30 am. Here’s a few things folks can try if they are having similar problems.

Clay & Raw Milk

At first I sought out clay and raw milk. Clay, being terramin¹, aztec or french green clay, that is sun-dried, not treated with any chemicals. These can be found online or at a health food store. Combine clay powder with a quality water, such as spring water or well water, and let it sit for five days. If you use sparkling water shake or stir out all carbonation before mixing. Do not consume clay unless it has been sitting for 5 days in the water because it will strip out a lot of mucus, cause constipation or other discomfort in your body. 

I like the clay to be a very loose consistency² similar to that of the mud found along the shallow ends of riverbeds. Aajonus recommends a “plaster of paris” consistency³.

One should only consume up to two tablespoons of moist activated clay daily. The amount of clay needed per day may vary. I settled on about two teaspoons. It needs to be consumed at least three to four hours before going to bed, so it has a chance to get into the system and absorb any toxic hormones or adrenaline that are discharged at night. 

One can also start consuming clay in the morning. For example, a teaspoon mixed with 8+oz of raw milk in the morning and then another teaspoon mixed with 8+oz of raw milk three to four hours before bed. If consumed all in one glass, then double the amount of raw milk used, ideally about 6-8oz of raw milk per teaspoon is a good ballpark. Do not  consume the clay without milk because it can still strip the body of mucus and be hard on the insides. (small amount of clay in veg juice is fine like half to quarter teaspoon)

The clay worked really well at first and sometimes I got a full 6 hours of sleep, but because I could only sleep during those detoxification hours, I usually got about four solid hours of sleep. Which was still enough to function, but it definitely slows healing because sleep is how the body heals best.

This has worked for many people. I only know one person who this worked for only two nights, where they were able to sleep for a full 6 hours, but after that it didn’t work. I don’t know why it stopped working and neither did he, but he has suffered from insomnia even before he started The Diet.

Cooked Starches & Nut Formula

If the clay isn’t working or inaccessible, try the nut formula or cooked starches. Use the nut formula first and if that doesn’t work, then incorporate some cooked starches. It is a good idea to eat these things earlier in the day so they have a chance to get into the system. Consume them at least 4 to 6 hours before planning on going to bed. It may even help to break up the starch into little parts throughout the day. I suggest cooked starch because the nut formula is something that can’t be eaten  everyday. If the nut formula doesn’t work twice a week, then one may need to supplement with cooked starches on the other days. Rice is the best, then there’s air popped popcorn, bread and potatoes. It will also help to eat these with lots of butter. Sour cream and cheese in a potato is delicious. Honey butter toast or popcorn…get creative…Lots of fat is needed to help with this detoxification anyway.

Some people are very strict about things and may steer others away from any cooked food at all costs, but if nothing else is working then this is something that could be helpful to get to sleep. Remember the body heals best when it is sleeping if we aren’t sleeping, we aren’t healing. How is anyone going to heal and overcome this detoxification in a timely manner if they can’t sleep enough to heal?

Meat Changes

During this detox, I switched to mostly fish and pork, with some occasional poultry, eating red meat only a handful of times. I would advise minimizing red meat if it is energizing for you, or at least eating it earlier in the day rather than later.

Exercise

It will help to at least go for walks during the day. Singing, running, sports, whatever helps exercise some those hormones away will help. At least 30 minutes of activity is recommended. 

Hot Baths

Baths can be very relaxing and expedite healing. At least once or twice a week they can help your body speed up the detoxification and heal faster. Either short baths or the lymphatic baths. 

Sleep Schedule Adjustment

If your lifestyle allows, simply sleep around the detoxification hours.  Go to bed around 7:00 p.m. then you will naturally wake up when the detoxification kicks in around 12:30 or 1:00 a.m. Use this time to be productive, meal preparation, work on something and then take a nap for a few hours starting around 5:30 or 6:00 am. This is something that can be attempted if none of the other suggestions are working and someones lifestyle allows for it such as work, school, other commitments etc.

This detoxification can last as long as a year and a half. Mine lasted for about 8 months, one day I woke up and realized I was sleeping much longer. It was such a relief! 

1. https://www.good-earthstore.com/terramin-powder-1-lbs-calcium-montmorillonite-clay-by-california-earth-minerals/
2. https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLf9XbYpnB-O9H7ANwwtFmVe5zB3_xlJ28&feature=shared
3. https://duckduckgo.com/?q=plaster+of+paris+consistency&t=brave&iax=images&ia=images