Healthy Notes » Natural Sleep Aid http://www.guaranteedtosleep.com/blog Helpful Hints For Living Well Thu, 29 Jul 2010 22:58:40 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1
The Sleep Aid Lunesta http://www.guaranteedtosleep.com/blog/2010/07/the-sleep-aid-lunesta/ http://www.guaranteedtosleep.com/blog/2010/07/the-sleep-aid-lunesta/#comments Tue, 27 Jul 2010 20:11:52 +0000 admin http://www.guaranteedtosleep.com/blog/?p=507 The Sleep Aid Lunesta Lunesta is one of the most common sleep aids being prescribed in the world. There are some serious side effects to this medication. Below are some recent comments from Lunesta users.

Comment #1

I was initially happy and thrilled, thinking I finally found the answer to my sleep problem. My enthusiasm quickly waned when I noticed that the sleep aid Lunesta is making me feel down all the time. I kept taking the drug, thinking I’d get better with time. After a while I started getting pangs of panic, but kept going hoping that it would get better. After about a week and a half I kind snapped at a coworker, something I haven’t done before. In a nutshell, this medicine made me feel weird and emotional. I would not recommend it.

Comment #2

It has taken me over 7-8 mo's to realize Lunesta messed my chemical balance in my brain. I did not think a sleep aid would do this, and my doctor did not warn me. You will end up taking other drugs because you or your Dr. will not catch the spiral. I am sick but relieved that I will not feel out of my skin and body anymore. If it works for you that is great. Just be careful. It creeps up on you.

Comment #3

I never had a panic attack in my life until I started taking the sleep aid Lunesta. Within a couple months, I developed a ton of anxiety related symptoms. The symptoms were so severe that I literally thought I was dying. I had constant anxiety, heart palpitations, racing heart, and panic attacks. I couldn't eat due to the anxiety and lost a ton of weight. I went to a few different doctors and they all thought I was crazy, one even told me I was bi-polar. I had no idea the sleep aid Lunesta was the cause until I started doing some research and found that this was in fact a symptom. Within 2 days of stopping Lunesta, every single symptom was gone!!! I was emotionally addicted to it and was scared to stop (thinking I wouldn't be able to sleep on my own) but within a few nights I was sleeping through the night again without the use of chemical sleep aids.

Comment #4

Don't get started on it this sleep aid. It's expensive and not worth it in the long run. The side effects - fatigue, depression, loss of libido, are worse than the insomnia

Comment #5

Horribly hot, clammy and just generally made me feel sick, was extremely sleepy - could have slept if it were not for the horrible head pain right between my eyes. Even just the slightest eye movement made me nauseous. I switched from the sleep aid Ambien after taking it for 5 years I started having problems with concentration during the day, and lost "hours" not knowing how I got to bed etc. Don't know what I will do now. I still feel vertigo and it has been 12 hours since I ingested the Lunesta. The taste in the mouth is nothing compared to the horrendous night I had trying to sleep from the pain and vertigo.

Lunesta comes with a long list of possible side effects. Anxiety, depression and impotence are among the most common. Only use this sleep aid as the last resort. Try a natural sleep aid first.

]]> http://www.guaranteedtosleep.com/blog/2010/07/the-sleep-aid-lunesta/feed/ 0 The Sleep Aid Ambien http://www.guaranteedtosleep.com/blog/2010/07/the-sleep-aid-ambien/ http://www.guaranteedtosleep.com/blog/2010/07/the-sleep-aid-ambien/#comments Sat, 24 Jul 2010 17:50:56 +0000 admin http://www.all-natural-sleep-aids.com/blog/?p=482 Ambien is one of the most prescribed sleep aids in the world, but this potent drug should not be used without precaution. The following are some random comments pertaining to Ambien use.

 Comment# 1

I have numerous experiences of evidence of what I call sleep walking/eating when taking Ambien. I find candy wrappers, even squashed chocolates in my bed. This morning there was the empty can from peanuts. I have no recollection of getting up and going downstairs to find food. My husband has begun hiding snack foods but now worries that I might go out, or drive the car. I have gained weight and have not understood why until realizing that the sleep aid Ambien is the cause. I have recently tried other sleep aids like Lunesta and it does not work for me, I do not sleep walk/eat. It is definitely connected to Ambien use.

Comment#2

My boyfriend has been taking Ambien and he too has the midnight raids in the kitchen. Worse is his AGRESSIVE behavior that he doesn't remember it the next day. He has threatened to kill my cat and has pinched me. I am starting to fear for my life due to this drug. Are there better sleep aids available? HELP.

Comment #3

I’m glad to hear that there is a law suit out there and I’m going to join in I think. Ambien has destroyed a lot of my life. I’ve been on it for four years and can't stop taking it, but I’m afraid to get to rehab. I don't have the money or the time. My doctor never warned me and has kept me on an over dosage for three years now with no questions. It angers me and this is the first site I’ve found with any real feed back about the drug. I’ve been experience bad health problems because of the sleep aid and so I’ve researching it a lot lately and I haven't been able to find anything on it that is helpful on any of the medical sites. It’s ridiculous. I just wanted to say thank you for helping with the awareness which I’m trying to do the same.

Comment #4

My Dad is in some serious trouble from taking the sleep aid Ambien. Yes he is one of those that drives and gets violent from Ambien and something more serious has happened from Ambien and he needs anyone’s help who has had an awful experience from this.

Comment #5

Further to my own experiences with Ambien, I have another close friend who also sleeps walks/eats when on the sleep aid Ambien. She also has eaten whole boxes of chocolates with no memory of having done so. She has also fallen down the stairs, been bruised badly, continued to the kitchen and eaten with no memory of it. Today, I heard of yet another person who has had the same experience with Ambien, who was gaining weight and didn't know why. She has deduced it is only when taking this sleep aid; she too is sleep walking/eating.

Make sure you know the facts before letting you doctor get you addicted to the powerful sleep aid Ambien. Natural sleep aids are usually a better and safer alternative.

]]> http://www.guaranteedtosleep.com/blog/2010/07/the-sleep-aid-ambien/feed/ 4 The Natural Sleep Aid Passionflower http://www.guaranteedtosleep.com/blog/2010/07/468/ http://www.guaranteedtosleep.com/blog/2010/07/468/#comments Thu, 01 Jul 2010 20:54:16 +0000 admin http://guaranteedtosleep.com/blog/?p=468 The passionflower (Passiflora incarnate) plant has numerous subspecies that fall under the passionflower name. Various species can be found all over the world, but the passionflower species that is generally used in medicinal and herbal formulas is native to the southeastern United States. It is a perennial vine that can climb to heights of over thirty feet tall. The flowers have five white petals and five sepals that can vary in color. The most common colors seem to be blues and purples. It is often thought that the “passion” in passionflower refers to its use as an herbal sexual tonic, but that is not the case. The “passion” in the name actually is a reference to the passion of the Christ, because the flowers of the vine where thought to look spiky like Christ’s crown of thorns.

Passionflower was used widely by Native Americans to treat anxiety, hysteria, seizures, and insomnia. It is still being used today to treat anxiety and insomnia. Most scientists believe that passionflowers main action is to increase the levels of a chemical called GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid) in the brain. GABA is known to lower the activity of specific neurotransmitters that effect nerve centers in the brain. Neurotransmitters are chemical messengers in the brain that carry messages between brain cells. Because passionflower decreases the activity of these nerve cells in the brain it is very helpful in treating insomnia.

Passionflower is also rich in chemicals called harmala alkaloids which are used to block monoamine oxidase, an enzyme that is linked to depression. Monoamine oxide inhibitors (MAOI,s) are the most common types of prescription ant-anxiety and anti-depression medicines. Passionflower increases the activity of beneficial neurotransmitters such as dopamine and serotonin which have strong anti-depressant actions. The bulk of the pharmaceutical anti-anxiety and anti-depressant medications on the market today work on these very chemical principals. A recent study on passionflower showed it to be as effective as many prescription medicines for treating anxiety disorders and some types of depression.

For many people passionflower can be an excellent individual herb to use for these types of conditions, but I tend to favor passionflower when it is used in combination natural formulas. Passionflower is often combined into formulas with other natural sleep aids such as melatonin, valerian, lemon balm, and l-theanine to create very effective insomnia aids. The passionflower component really helps to turn off that over-active mind that will not shut down sometimes. Synergistic blended natural sleep aids  are usually the best alternative to pharmaceutical sleep aids to help with insomnia. Pharmaceutical sleep aids often come with many side effects that are not present with natural formulas.

]]> http://www.guaranteedtosleep.com/blog/2010/07/468/feed/ 1
The Natural Sleep Aid Hops http://www.guaranteedtosleep.com/blog/2010/05/390/ http://www.guaranteedtosleep.com/blog/2010/05/390/#comments Thu, 20 May 2010 22:35:33 +0000 admin http://guaranteedtosleep.com/blog/2010/05/390/ When most people here hops they immediately think of beer. Hops provide a bitter aromatic flavor to beer. They are used to offset the sweetness of the malt in beer production. Before people began using hops in beer brewing many other herbs and flowers were regularly used for bitterness including dandelion, burdock root, and heather. Hops have a strong antibacterial property and it was noticed that when they were used in beer production the beer would last much longer and not be as prone to spoiling. Over the centuries hops replaced all other herbs and flowers as the most common bitter and aromatizing ingredient in beer.

Hops are actually the female flower cluster of the hops species, Humulas lupulus. This flower is also known as a strobile. The hops plant is a climbing vine. When they are grown commercially the plants are trained to grow up wires or strings so more of them can be grown closer together. Once the male plants are recognized they are destroyed, because the female flower clusters are more prized without seeds.  The male plants are removed to prevent pollination. The female plants are often cloned from other female mother plant so that only female plants are then cultivated.

There are records of hops being cultivated as far back as the year 700 in the region that is now modern day Germany. The first mention of hops being used in brewing beer was around the year 1100. In Great Britain hopped beer was first imported from Holland. It was not until the 1500’s that hops began to be grown in England, and it was not until the 1600’s that hops were cultivated in the United States. Germany is still the number one producer of hops in the world with the United States in second place. In the United States the Pacific Northwest is the major area of hops production.

In addition to beer production hops have been used for centuries as a medicinal herb. Primarily hops were prized for having anti-anxiety, relaxant, and sedative properties.  Hops work great as a natural remedy for insomnia. They are available individually in herbal capsule form in many health food stores, but the most common way hops are used in natural medicine today is in combination with other natural sleep aids such as valerian, passion flower, melatonin, theanine, and lemon balm. Hops work very synergistically with these other nutrients to create very effective natural sleeping products. Many of the better natural sleep aids  on the market are every bit as powerful and effective as prescription medications without the long list of side effects. These natural insomnia cures are also not addictive making them a great alternative to pharmaceutical medications.

As with other herbal products the best way to get the full benefits of hops is to look for products that provide hops in a standardized extract form. The most potent form of hops available will be listed as (4:1) (strobile). In this way the active components of the herb are isolated and concentrated in a clinically controlled way. This process insures that each pill you take will have the same potency as the last. Otherwise with all herbs there can be much variation between potencies depending on the exact part of the plant that is consumed, the growing conditions at the time of harvest, and other uncontrolled natural events.

]]> http://www.guaranteedtosleep.com/blog/2010/05/390/feed/ 2 Natural Sleep Aids http://www.guaranteedtosleep.com/blog/2010/05/357/ http://www.guaranteedtosleep.com/blog/2010/05/357/#comments Wed, 12 May 2010 23:58:36 +0000 admin http://guaranteedtosleep.com/blog/2010/05/357/ In the last few decades the large pharmaceutical companies have made a concerted effort to get as many people as possible using prescription medicines. Often our doctors are willing accomplices in the business strategy of these drug companies. Of course the more people that are dependant on these medications the more money the drug companies and the doctors make. This effort has paid off in billions of dollars in pharmaceutical sales each year. Nearly half of all Americans are currently using at least one prescription medication. Many of these medications are very helpful and often absolutely necessary, but I think there is little questioning that there is a vast amount of medication that is being overprescribed by the medical community.

Nearly half of all Americans report having insomnia at some time of their lives. The causes of these sleep problems can be varied, but much of our insomnia can probably be attributed to the many stresses in our modern society.  There is no doubt that in decades past life was certainly simpler. With both parents having to work these days to make financial ends meet the pressures in life can seem overwhelming. One of the first things that seem to be affected by this pressure is our sleeping patterns. We just don’t seem able to turn our brains off at bedtime.

With this convergence of pharmaceutical drugs and the virtual epidemic of sleep related problems it is not very surprising that so many people are now using pharmaceutical drugs to get to sleep each night.  Medications such as Ambien, Unisom and Lunesta can come with many side effects. These drugs can also be both physically and psychologically addicting. Meaning that when you try to discontinue your usage of these medicines you can experience severe withdrawal like symptoms. I don’t know about you, but I do not like the idea of going through drug withdrawal just because I have a hard time sleeping.

There are many natural herbs, amino acids and minerals that have a strong sedative action. Why is it that doctors don’t first recommend these natural sleep aids to their patients? The answer is simple; there is no money in natural sleep aids for them. They get no kickbacks from the drug companies. It is easier and more lucrative for the doctors to just get out their tablet and write another prescription.

Let me make it clear, there are many natural sleep aids on the market these days that are every bit as effective as pharmaceutical drugs. And these products do not come with side effects and are not addictive. You will not have withdrawals when you decide to stop using a natural sleep aid. I believe strongly that the best natural sleep aids to use are combination products. What I mean by this is that they have a nice synergistic formula containing herbal extracts, amino acids, and minerals. I have found through experience when certain natural nutrients are combined in the proper ratios they become more effective than if each nutrient is used alone.

]]> http://www.guaranteedtosleep.com/blog/2010/05/357/feed/ 3 The Natural Sleep Aid Lemon Balm http://www.guaranteedtosleep.com/blog/2010/04/308/ http://www.guaranteedtosleep.com/blog/2010/04/308/#comments Fri, 30 Apr 2010 20:19:18 +0000 admin http://guaranteedtosleep.com/blog/2010/04/308/ Native to European mainland, lemon balm (Melissa officinalis), is now grown all over the world.  It is an easy to care for perennial herb that is part of the mint family. It is sometimes referred to as lemon mint. It has no relation to the citrus fruit lemon or any part of the lemon tree. It often grows to about 2 feet tall and has light green heart shaped leaves.  In the summer it has blooms of small white flowers, but it is most often grown for its lemon scented and flavorful leaves.

The lemon balm leaves have a very pleasant lemon, minty taste. The leaves are dried and used in a wide variety of herbal teas and spices. They can also be used fresh and add great flavor to marinades for chicken and fish. Lemon balm leaves also make a very attractive and edible garnish.

You will also see lemon balm leaves used in natural cosmetics. Lemon balm leaves have a strong anti-viral and anti bacterial property. Lemon balm contains substances called tannins, which are thought to aid in many of the antiviral benefits. Because of these medicinal qualities it is commonly mixed into lotions to treat skin lesions formed as a result of infections like herpes simplex. In a study of 116 people with herpes simplex virus, those who used lemon balm cream on their lip sores experienced significant improvement in redness and swelling after only 2 days of use. Since it is extremely soothing, it also helps ease skin inflammations caused by insect bites, poison ivy and oak, and is used to heal cold sores.

It is believed that the Arabs first began to use lemon balm for its medicinal properties as far back as the middle ages. They found it very useful for treating stress, anxiety and depression. Several modern studies have found that lemon balm is useful for promoting quality sleep. These studies show that it is particularly effective when it is combined with other natural sleep aids such as valerian root, hops, L-theanine, melatonin, passion flower and magnesium. In one study of people with insomnia, those who took a combination of valerian root and lemon balm reported sleeping much better than those who took a placebo.

Similar findings have been found in studies using lemon balm for anxiety. In another double-blind, placebo-controlled study, 18 volunteers took two separate single doses of a standardized lemon balm extract or placebo for 7 days. The lemon balm study group reported less stress, anxiety, and a much better overall sense of well being. The placebo group was still burdened with anxiety. Just like using lemon balm for sleeping problems it seems to be most effective when combined with other relaxing herbs such as passion flower and valerian.

WSDKEGJQ3JPS

]]> http://www.guaranteedtosleep.com/blog/2010/04/308/feed/ 0 For Stress, Anxiety, and Sleep Try L-Theanine http://www.guaranteedtosleep.com/blog/2010/04/for-stress-anxiety-and-sleep-try-l-theanine/ http://www.guaranteedtosleep.com/blog/2010/04/for-stress-anxiety-and-sleep-try-l-theanine/#comments Tue, 27 Apr 2010 19:04:26 +0000 admin http://guaranteedtosleep.com/blog/?p=256 For two thousand years humans have used tea as a natural sedative. This does not make sense, because tea has a lot off caffeine. Scientist began to wonder how tea could have such a calming effect when it is loaded with caffeine. There must be something in the tea that is counteracting the effect of caffeine. That something is L-Theanine.

L-Theanine is now extracted from tea and is available in health food stores worldwide, but most people still do not know about its great properties. It is used as an alternative to traditional anti-anxiety medications. It has been successfully in treating children with hyperactivity issues. And it is very helpful in larger dosages for treating insomnia and sleep disorders. It can even be more effective for sleep when it is combined with other natural sleep aids. Before you or your children become dependent on some prescription for any of these problems, give L-Theanine a try. It is completely safe and without side effects.

]]> http://www.guaranteedtosleep.com/blog/2010/04/for-stress-anxiety-and-sleep-try-l-theanine/feed/ 2
The Natural Sleep Aid Valerian http://www.guaranteedtosleep.com/blog/2010/04/my-thoughts-on-valarian/ http://www.guaranteedtosleep.com/blog/2010/04/my-thoughts-on-valarian/#comments Thu, 22 Apr 2010 18:50:45 +0000 admin http://guaranteedtosleep.com/blog/?p=205 Valerian root has been used for hundreds of years to treat all kinds of nerve, sleep, and anxiety disorders. It has the ability to slow down ones heart beat while increasing the hearts pumping force. Valerian root is particularly useful in treating insomnia issues that stem from nervousness, anxiety, and an over active mind. It has been used for these purposes since before the birth of Christ, and is listed in almost every pharmacopoeia in the world.

The biggest negative I hear on valerian when it is used alone is that it taste bad and causes bad burps. I have experienced this myself and must admit that aspect of valerian I can do without. The development of this odor comes from the drying process when the herb undergoes a chemical decomposition which is actually what produces the active ingredient within the valerian called valerenic acid. I have found that when valerian is mixed into a formula with other natural sleep aids it dilutes the bad taste enough to make valerian very usable and not taste bad at all.

Whenever I recommend valerian I recommend a good potent extract of the active ingredient which is the valerenic acid. Look for formulas that contain extracts of 0.8% of valerenic acids. These are the strongest and most effective valerian formulas available. And if you are looking at an all inclusive natural sleep aid with valerian as one component make sure to find one that supplies the valerian in the pure extract form. This is often the way to determine if the sleeping aid is a strong formula or a weaker formula. If all or most of the herbal ingredients are specified as herbal extracts and list the percentage of active extract than you are probably looking at a good product.

From my experience when valerian is combined with other natural sleep aids it works much better than when it is taken by itself. Don’t get me wrong, many of my clients do respond well to valerian root by itself, but more likes it affects when it is combined with other ingredients in a nice synergistic natural sleep aid.

]]> http://www.guaranteedtosleep.com/blog/2010/04/my-thoughts-on-valarian/feed/ 5 The Latest On Magnesium http://www.guaranteedtosleep.com/blog/2010/04/the-latest-on-magnesium/ http://www.guaranteedtosleep.com/blog/2010/04/the-latest-on-magnesium/#comments Tue, 20 Apr 2010 20:08:02 +0000 admin http://guaranteedtosleep.com/blog/?p=198 Magnesium is the fourth most common mineral in the human body and is needed for more than 300 biochemical processes. It is essential for normal muscle and nerve function and is commonly recommended for any type of muscle cramping, muscle spasms, and restless leg syndrome. Magnesium plays a major role in the absorption of calcium, and therefore critical in preventing age related bone loss. It is advised to take half the milligrams of magnesium to calcium in your supplement regime.  Magnesium also helps to regulate blood glucose levels; it is needed to regulate proper blood pressure levels. And because the heart is essentially a muscle it has been shown to help regulate heart rhythm, so it is very useful for people with cardiovascular issues.

Magnesium is a critical part of a healthy diet, and many of our over processed food these days have very little. You would not think so, but human magnesium deficiency is surprisingly common, with only 32% of people of the United States meeting the United States recommended daily allowance.  Low levels of magnesium in the body have been linked to the development of a number of chronic illnesses such as asthma, diabetes, and osteoporosis.

The foods that are the most abundant with magnesium are generally your green vegetables such as spinach and broccoli. Nuts, seeds, peas and beans are also high in magnesium. Whole grain breads are a good source, but when flour is refined to white when processed, the magnesium in the whole grain is removed. If your drinking water is “hard”, meaning high levels of minerals than it can also be a good magnesium source, but “soft” water is very low in all minerals.

I regularly recommend magnesium for my clients that are having any type of anxiety or stress, which seems like just about everyone these days. The nice thing about magnesium is it seems to have a calming influence on the body without making people feel totally zonked out and too tired to function. If you ever feel overwhelmed with life sometimes should definitely try magnesium supplementation.

Magnesium is also commonly used in conjunction with other natural sleep aids as an effective insomnia cure. For some people magnesium alone will do the trick to induce better sleep, but I have generally found that for better sleep it is most effective when combined with other natural supplements like melatonin, theanine, valerian root, passion flower and hops only to name a few. Because of its ability to relax the nerves and muscles it really can be an effective and safe way to help get a good night sleep.

]]> http://www.guaranteedtosleep.com/blog/2010/04/the-latest-on-magnesium/feed/ 0 Best Supplements for Natural Sleep http://www.guaranteedtosleep.com/blog/2010/04/best-supplements-for-natural-sleep/ http://www.guaranteedtosleep.com/blog/2010/04/best-supplements-for-natural-sleep/#comments Fri, 09 Apr 2010 19:31:47 +0000 admin http://guaranteedtosleep.com/blog/?p=156 With so many different nutritional supplements on the market these days it can get very confusing trying to decide what to try and what will work best for you. I have been selling nutritional supplements in the retail industry for over 20 years now and people with sleeping difficulties are one of the most common complaints that people come into health food stores with. When writing this article I will approach my conclusions on the same thing I do when I make recommendations to my customers, and that is customer on feedback. What nutrients seem to work best for highest percentage of people? With the understanding that everyone’s body chemistry is a different and that there’s not one miracle supplement that works for every individuals sleep problems.

Melatonin is a natural hormone that our bodies produce in response to darkness. It is still the most proven and consistently effective of all the individual sleep supplements available. The key to melatonin use is to find the right dosage for you. The correct dosage is the amount that allows you to sleep, but that does not make you feel like a zombie in the morning. You may have to play with the dosage to find what is right for you. Available dosages range from 1mg to 5mg tablets. Most children, yes children do use melatonin, will use the 1mg tablets, while the most common adult dose is 3mgs.

L-Tryptophan is an amino acid that is used in the body to produce melatonin. For some reason I don’t quite understand people that do not respond well to melatonin seem to often respond well to L-Tryptophan. Tryptophan still has a bad reputation because back in the 1990’s the main source for the words Tryptophan supply was contaminated and the FDA was forced to pull it from the market. That recall had nothing to do with the Tryptophan itself it was just a contamination issue. Tryptophan is perfectly safe, though I do not believe it is a good idea to combine it with melatonin, because they work on the same chemical pathway in the body.

L-Theanine is an amino acid derived from green tea, and is the specific component in tea that helps counter and eliminate the stimulant effects of caffeine in tea. It increases the production of alpha brain waves, which help promote deep relaxation in the body. Most people seem to respond favorably to about 400mgs thirty minutes before bed.

Valerian Root has been used as a sleep aid for over 1,000 years. It is often referred to as “nature’s valium”. Its ability to help relax the central nervous system, promote feelings of calm, decrease levels of anxiety and stress, and enhance sleep are known to millions the world over. I like valerian root but many people complain about its taste. It tends to make a lot of people burp and the burps are not pleasant. I think that valerian root is often most effective when it is used in combination with other sleep inducing nutrients. This also dilutes its nasty taste problems.

These four nutrients are the most proven individual supplements for sleep. There are a few additional nutrients that are very effective as well, particularly when combined in a synergistic natural sleep aid formula. These other natural sleep aids include Hops, Lemon Balm, Passion Flower and Magnesium. For many people that do not respond well to individual nutrients I will turn to a combination type sleep formula. If the natural sleep formula has the right ingredients and in the right ratios it can often be the most effective alterative to pharmaceutical sleeping pills.

]]> http://www.guaranteedtosleep.com/blog/2010/04/best-supplements-for-natural-sleep/feed/ 1