The One... The Only... The Vieve

Poo root

I haven't been sleeping well lately. I fall asleep OK, once I decide to do it, though sometimes it takes a while to make that decision. My bed feels like a sticky-hot, forbidding, uncomfortable place these days. I sleep for four hours, wake up, spend an hour trying to fall back to sleep, and then sleep for another two or three hours. Finally, I say fuck it, get up, examine my undereye circles in the mirror, and go get coffee. I'm too tired to exercise, too tired to concentrate. I am miserable, and vow to go to yoga after work and then get to bed early that night. And it doesn't happen, because I am too anxious and tired to do either of these things. And the cycle continues.

Last night before dinner, I bought some valerian root, which was recommended by a friend. (I bought the tincture, not the tea or the capsules. The liquid form of this type of thing seems more direct, more quick-n-dirty, and making tea seems like too much effort.) After dinner, I went home and opened the little bottle. I wrinkled my nose. It smelled like...dog poo. Sigh. I measured out 30 drops, unhappy. I added water, I drank it. Unfortunately, it tasted like what I imagine dog poo must taste like. But about 10 minutes later, I did feel sleepier. More relaxed. And I slept well last night, my body softening into the mattress and my mind drowsier and quieter than it has been in quite a while. Maybe it was the 4 or 5 little cups of sake that were pressed into my hands last night, or maybe I had reached a saturated level of tiredness that guaranteed sleep, or maybe it was the poo root. Who knows. But I know I'll try it again tonight. It can't hurt.