Hi, it’s been 4 weeks since my stroke and I’m finding sleep almost impossible. Although I feel absolutely exhausted, I can only sleep for 2 hours max. I did speak to a GP…he told me to go on holiday 
. My 90 year old mother lives downstairs in my house…so not an option. Any advice really appreciated
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I suffered the same way 2 years ago
I heard Montmorency cherries help
Montmorency tart cherries are one of the most researched natural foods for aiding sleep. Here’s a breakdown of how they work and what the science says.
The Science Behind the Sleep Aid
Montmorency cherries help you sleep primarily through two key mechanisms:
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Natural Source of Melatonin: Melatonin is often called the “sleep hormone.” It’s produced by your brain in response to darkness, signaling to your body that it’s time to sleep. Montmorency cherries have been found to contain naturally occurring melatonin, providing an external source of this crucial sleep signal.
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Anti-Inflammatory and Antioxidant Properties: These cherries are packed with anthocyanins and other polyphenols, which are powerful antioxidants. They help reduce inflammation and oxidative stress in the body. Since chronic inflammation can disrupt sleep cycles, calming this inflammation can promote more restful sleep.
What Does the Research Say?
Several scientific studies have shown promising results:
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A study published in the Journal of Medicinal Food found that adults with insomnia who drank Montmorency tart cherry juice concentrate twice a day for two weeks slept longer and better compared to when they drank a placebo.
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Another study in the European Journal of Nutrition showed that participants experienced significant increases in their melatonin levels, improved sleep time, and sleep efficiency after consuming tart cherry juice.
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Research on athletes has also shown benefits, with cherries helping to improve sleep quality and duration, which is crucial for recovery.
How to Use Them for Sleep
You don’t need to eat a huge bowl of fresh tart cherries (which can be very sour!). Here are the most common and effective ways:
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Tart Cherry Juice: This is the most popular method. Look for 100% pure tart cherry juice or concentrate without added sugars. A typical serving is about 8 ounces (1 cup) taken 1-2 hours before bedtime.
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Tart Cherry Concentrate: This is a more potent option. You can mix a small shot (like 1-2 tablespoons) with water.
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Dried Tart Cherries: A convenient and portable snack. A small handful (about 1/4 cup) in the evening can be effective.
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Tart Cherry Supplements: Capsules and powders are also available if you prefer a supplement form.
Important Considerations
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Sugar Content: Be mindful of the sugar in juices and dried fruits. Always opt for unsweetened versions when possible.
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Calories: Juice and dried fruit are calorie-dense, so factor that into your daily intake.
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Not an Instant Fix: Like many natural remedies, it’s not a magic bullet. Consistency is key. It may take a few days to a week of regular consumption to notice a significant effect.
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Interactions: If you are on blood thinners (like Warfarin) or have diabetes, consult your doctor before making tart cherries a regular part of your routine, as they can interact with medications.
The Bottom Line
Yes, Montmorency (tart) cherries are a scientifically-backed, natural aid for improving sleep duration and quality. They work by boosting your body’s melatonin levels and reducing inflammation.
They are a great addition to a healthy “sleep hygiene” routine, which also includes:
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A consistent sleep schedule
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A dark, cool, and quiet bedroom
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Avoiding screens before bed
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Managing stress
So, go ahead and enjoy a glass of tart cherry juice in the evening—it might just be your new favorite bedtime ritual
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Not being a stroke survivor, I am not sure what might be causing your sleep related problem.
I find a cup of horlics, or a dram of whisky helps.
Also, I find if I start reading a book this somehow put me to sleep.
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Thanks, I appreciate you taking the time to help
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I was the same soon after stroke, after some time my circadian rhythms got a bit better, however, I now sleep too much but I remember soon after stroke being only able to sleep a few hours at a stretch. The way I looked at it then was that rest was more important than stressing about sleeping, even lying in the dark listening to an audio book or soothing sounds. Sleep is a very active activity despite it seeming not. The brain and body will eventually adjust but it takes time, and if you think to yourself that the benefit of relaxation and peace of mind is just as good as sleep, then I think the brain and body appreciates it just as much as sleep, however, it may be difficult if you have demands in the morning and need to be alert. The brain will heal with deep relaxation just as it does with sleep, and if you can’t sleep, deep relaxation can be more enjoyable than trying to get back to sleep.
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I resorted to sleeping tablets for the first few months. I have never been able to sleep for very long, but my body needed the rest. I came off them after them and now I listen to an audio book instead. It concentrates the mind on something else. I’m usually asleep within 5 minutes. I don’t stay asleep for longer than 3-4 hours, but start listening again and then go back to sleep again.
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It’s important to establish a good bedtime routine and try and stick to it. All the usual no screens for a while before bed, no coffee or anything with caffeine in. Go to bed at same time each night & get up at same time each morning ao uour body can reset its clock.
It seems to be common after a stroke. I was the complete opposite and could sleep forever. Less so now but I still lie and rest if I can’t sleep as that is just as important.
Try not to stress about it as that will just make it worse. I read when I go to bed which usually helps me sleep. A warm bath or lavender is also meant to help. Audio books or music could also be worth a try.
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It took the best part of 2yrs for me to redevelop any kind of sleeping pattern. That built up gradually from no sleep for the first few months to 8hrs sleep now. But my circadian rhythm is now fixed at 3am to 11am for sleep. When I need to up earlier for anything, then yes, I am tired a lot earlier that evening but I still won’t get to sleep ‘til around 3am. I go to bed around 2am and just keep my eyes closed and tell myself stories for an hour or so until I eventually nod off.
The first few months were the hardest because I felt punch drunk, zombified all the time. I did find frequently sitting with my eyes shut during the day, in peace and quiet helped with that. But I’m retired, so getting a descent nights sleep while I was recovering was the least of my worries. At least I didn’t have to get up for work or to take care of children as some have had to do. My hubby and grown up children were having to take care of me instead 
Not that there was a lot that they could do 
My way of looking at it was, my brain was too busy to sleep. It was working overtime to get it back up and running to as near “normal” as it could get it and that’s something that doesn’t just happen overnight. So I just chose not to fight it, it didn’t work anyway when I did try in those earlier months. It took 6 months to a year to get a couple hours sleep. I suppose I could have gone to doctor for sleeping tablets but I felt I was taking enough tablets as it was.
It will get better over time! You just need to relax into this new way of life and let your brain work do its work. This is a marathon not a race, your just won’t allow you to race, it has a stubborn streak a mile wide and it certainly knows how to dig its heels in! Hence the dreaded fatigue 
The brain is running at a much reduced capacity right now, remember that! Babies don’t sleep through the night for similar reasons; and it can take 6mths to year for them to sleep through the night!
Lorraine
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Hello @tsp
i posted a similar issue here sometime ago:
I’m on synthetic melatonin but it does little and I sleep for no more than 2 hours at a time.pre-stroke I slept very well.but now sleep evades me and I miss that wonderful feeling of being refreshed from deep slumber.
Were you in a coma post-stroke?I ask because my father has a very plausible explanation, he believes we get all the sleep we need so if you were in
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What about your thyroid, @Mich-mm, working okay?
Are you able to get daylight / outside at all ?
When I was in hospital, being wheeled outside everyday was a life saver
I’m also so full of magnesium that I get drowsy and fall asleep on my lawn once or twice. Bliss!
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This may interest those of you struggling with your sleep.
BBC iPlayer - Horizon - 2022: How to Sleep Well with Michael Mosley
The program duration is 1 hour and as at today (12/10/2025 - that’s 10/12/2025 for our US friends), the program is available for over a year on the iPlayer.
It may or may not help you get better sleep.
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Good point @pando, my GP is hopeless I have had several blood tests to ensure that my mineral levels are correct but i’m never given the results, but i shall ask about iron. Thank you for the recommendation.
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Four weeks is early days, it is a long journey, after 14 months, I’m still not sleeping brilliantly but I have some coping mechanisms and things to avoid :
- routine during the day and pre bed
- Reading before bed, not watching tv or phone
- Exercise during the day
- Something sugary before bed
- Plenty of fluids during the day, and a glass of water next to the bed, if I don’t I get leg spasms that keep me awake
- No podcasts or music during the night
- Plenty of unprocessed foods have melatonin - oats, tomatoes, strawberries, nuts, seeds
Research into insomnia has shown worrying about it is a major cause, and that genert people sleep more than they think
Dump any sleep tracker or gadgets they aren’t accurate, and just contribute to worrying,
The other thing I found was just staying up later so I was more tired but it took four months before I could do that, and I was still in hospital then
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Thank you @pando according to the GP all my markers are ‘normal’.i got a little cross with them because I’ve had 3 blood tests and NEVER received the results.they were quick to explain that protocol is to only alert patients when there is an issue.i feel like I am in a cattle market with someone shouting’next’ the humanity of the process having been lost.
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Yes, It’s a case of “no news is good news.”
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Hello,
your post caught my attention ; I also went through sleeping problems 2 years ago. It was a nightmare… (actually, I would have welcomed even a nightmare, but alas could only sleep 1 hour per night)
in the end I reset my circadian rhythms by getting outside, and allowing daylight to ‘reset’ me. These bio-rhythms are built into nearly every cell in our body, but the master 'biological’ clock in our body is the SCN, the suprachiasmatic nucleus, located in the hypothalamus which responds primarily to light and dark signals. This regulates hormone production, metabolism, and sleep !
(I have paraphrased the book “Metabolic Freedom” page 76 by Ben Azadi)
Good luck, Roland
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This is a great thing to do and relatively easy if you can get yourself outside.
Also, helps with top-up of your vitamin D 
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Sure, but note, Vitamin D can only be made when the sun is of sufficient elevation
ie. Your shadow must be no longer than your height. Getting sunlight is still essential though ; we need many frequencies of the sun’s spectrum
Have a great day, today, R
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Thanks Roland - I did not know that.
I thought you can get D as long as you go out during certain time during the day when the sun is up. I have a feeling I have read or heard, possibly from [the late] Michael Mosley that even on cloudy days it is possible to get some or all of your daily needs.
That said, I don’t actually get out much and then even if I did, there is the risk of skin cancer etc. Nothing is ever straight forward is it?
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It is actually - but we’re constantly misinformed.
We must take our own path to find health
R
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