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Silent NightWhich snoring remedies actually work?

By Chip Brantley
Posted Thursday, Sept. 20, 2007, at 3:11 PM ET

(Continued from page 1)

Ease of use: 4
E's reaction: 9
Morning after: 4
Total: 17

Marjoram oil, $8.99; electric aromatherapy diffuser, $12.99
In the aromatherapy world, marjoram oil is known as a respiratory aid and a soothing agent. It seemed perfect: Not only was it noninvasive and mildly culinary (I love marjoram!), but it could also cover our bedroom with a blanket of thick, resinous calm.

It was definitely thick and resinous. When we plugged in the marjoram-filled electric diffuser every night, we were hit with an herbal bomb that pregnant Elizabeth, nauseated by the smell of strong herbs like rosemary, found overpowering.

I did feel like I'd slept better and clearer on the last three mornings, but according to Elizabeth, the snoring rarely tapered. And even if the marjoram oil had worked, the scent was creating a new sleep barrier for my wife, which hurt its score.

Ease of use: 4
E's reaction: 9
Morning after: 3
Total: 16

Anti Snor Therapeutic Ring, $44.95
For $49.90 (with shipping), I got a thin sterling silver ring with two acupressure balls on the underside. The ring goes on the left-hand pinky and is supposed to stimulate the heart meridian and give energy to something called the "upper jiao." Elizabeth and I were both skeptical, but the ring was so easy to use—slip it on 30 minutes before bed, take it off in the morning—that there was nothing to actively dislike. Well, two things.

First, my pinky was sore every morning in the spot where the balls pressed against it. Second, according to Elizabeth, it didn't help much. That said, I did notice that she wasn't as vehement about dismissing the ring as she'd been with some other remedies. And when I asked her to describe the snoring, she couldn't provide much detail, which led me to believe it may have worked a little. Also, neither Elizabeth nor I resorted to our sleep selves. Finally, aside from the tender spot on my pinky, I felt pretty good when I woke up. The placebo effect, or an energized upper jiao? Who cares?

Ease of use: 1
E's reaction: 7
Morning after: 2
Total: 10

Tennis ball, $2.50 for can of three
The MacGyver remedy. Or, as I like to call it, fetching with Pavlov's dog. Put a tennis ball in a sock, and then safety pin the sock to the middle of the back of a T-shirt. When you sleep in this T-shirt, it's painful to sleep on your back, so you turn on your side, where you're less likely to snore. If you sleep with the sock enough, your sleep self will supposedly associate sleeping on your back with pain, and you won't need the T-shirt anymore.

I'm not used to sleeping with a shirt on, so this—not to mention the heavy sock tugging at the back—took some getting used to. Also, it is surprisingly painful to have a Wilson jut into your back. But the remedy worked immediately. The morning after the first night, Elizabeth reported no snoring. I felt great, too. The second night, my deceitful sleep self did manage to outmaneuver the sock, swinging the tennis ball between my arm and side, allowing me to sleep on my back and snore. But the next day I adjusted the sock so that it was tighter against the shirt and could not be stretched out. For the rest of the trial, there was no snoring.

By the fifth night, I was attached to the ensemble. There was something ritualistic about putting the shirt on every night, and the thought of moving on to test another remedy made me sad. Elizabeth loved it, too. Improbably, she even found the get-up cute, which solidified this remedy's place as the clear winner.

Ease of use: 5
E's reaction: 1
Morning after: 1
Total: 7

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Chip Brantley is a founding editor of Cookthink.com. His book about the pluot will be published next year.
Illustration by Robert Neubecker.
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Remarks from the Fray:

Breathe-Rite has worked for me for some 3 years now - and at my worst I was diagnosed with borderline sleep apnea.

It is more than just "scotch tape on your nose" - there is a strong plastic stiffener under the sticky tape. But since the nose is often one of the oiliest parts of the face, I find I have to use an astringent or wash my face with soap and thoroughly dry it before application - otherwise it fails exactly as described.

--degsme

(To reply, click here.)

I've tried a bunch of remedies, but the only thing that has allowed my girlfriend to sleep through the night are her foam ear plugs that she buys at CVS, Walgreens, etc. She loves being able to sleep the whole night through!

--jeff k

(To reply, click here.)

I have been using Vicks VapoRub each night before going to bed and it has stop my snoring. I apply a small amount around my nostrils and above my lips. It works..no more snoring. Sometimes, I do need to apply more in the middle of the night if my snoring wakes my wife up....Three years now..been working great!

--fishaholic

(To reply, click here.)

Snoring is a very serious problem, especially when accompanied by sleep apnea. Anyone suffering from it should probably see a sympathetic physician.

My problem was so bad that for several months my wife and I could not sleep in the same room. That put a crimp in our sex life and meant that we could not travel (unless we were willing to pay for two hotel rooms!). After visiting a sleep clinic at the recommendation of my physician, I also discovered that I had mild sleep apnea. What to do?

Surgery, for me, was out: too much pain, too many complications, no guarantees of success.

CPAP was also considered only as a last resort because it is hard to get used to and because the wheezing machine would keep my wife awake.

I opted for a custom-fitted mouthpiece, a "snore-guard," that my dentist created to keep my lower jaw slightly forward. After a 2-3 nights, I found that I could sleep without being bothered by it. My snoring stopped, and my breathing improved. I felt rested in the morning because I was getting sufficient oxygen. My wife rejoined me in our bedroom. And because of the custom fit, I don't look like a total monster, although kissing requires removing it! Cost: about $250.

This solution won't work for everyone, since the causes of snoring are many. But it might be worth a try.

--formerprof

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