The Foundation of All Health Starts with Sleep

The Foundation of All Health Starts with Sleep

Today many feel sleep is just a luxury and wear their lack of sleep like a badge of honor, but this couldn’t be further from the truth. Good quality sleep is the time our bodies detox, heal, repair injuries, enhance hormonal health, and process our thoughts, leading to overall wellness and vitality.

Sometimes this fountain of youth isn’t easily achieved.

 A melatonin-free sleep aid that has been vetted by our Chief Medical Board will leave you rested and ready to take on the day- with no morning drowsy hangover.

Each herb was chosen to work synergistically to help you fall asleep and stay asleep.

What is in our sleep formula, and how does it work synergistically to help you sleep like a baby?

Restful Sleep Formula combines:

  • Passionflower to relax and promote an easy start to your sleep routine.
  • Rafuma Leaf stabilizes the mind and prepares it for restful sleep. 
  • Kava mitigates the impacts of stress as you wind down.
  • Chamomile for its time-tested properties of providing a gentle calming effect on the brain and body.
  • Valerian Root to help reduce anxiety.
  • Ashwagandha Root to help regulate the negative impacts of daily stress on your immune system.

Read on for a deeper dive into the ingredients in our Restful Sleep formula

 

Passionflower

Passionflower (Passiflora incarnata) is a climbing vine native to the southeastern United States, Central, and South America.

 It has been traditionally used for its calming effects.

Uses

Anxiety: Some studies suggest that passionflower may help reduce anxiety, including anxiety before surgical or dental procedures

Insomnia: It is often marketed as a natural sleep aid, although evidence supporting its effectiveness is limited

Side Effects

While passionflower is generally considered safe when used in recommended doses, it can cause several side effects:

  • Drowsiness, dizziness, loss of coordination
  • Pregnancy and Breastfeeding: Passionflower should not be used during pregnancy as it may induce uterine contractions. Its safety during breastfeeding is also not well-established

Cautions

 Drug Interactions: Passionflower may interact with several medications:

  • Sedatives: It can enhance the effects of sedative medications such as benzodiazepines, barbiturates, and drugs for insomnia
  • Anticoagulants: It may increase the effects of blood-thinning medications, raising the risk of bleeding
  • MAO Inhibitors: It might increase the effects and side effects of MAO inhibitors, which can be dangerous

Synergistic Herbs

Valerian and chamomile are both in our sleep formula

 

Ashwagandha

Ashwagandha is traditionally used as an adaptogen to help the body manage stress. Also known as Indian ginseng and winter cherry.

Uses

  • Reducing anxiety and stress
  • Improving sleep quality in people with insomnia
  • Enhancing muscle strength and recovery in combination with resistance training

Side Effects:

  • Drowsiness
  • Gastrointestinal discomfort
  • Headache

Cautions:

  • Pregnancy: Ashwagandha is likely unsafe during pregnancy and may cause miscarriages
  • Thyroid disorders: May increase thyroid hormone levels
  • Liver disease: May cause or exacerbate liver damage
  • Antidiabetic drugs: May enhance blood sugar-lowering effects

 

Chamomile

Chamomile is one of the most ancient medicinal herbs known to mankind. Its rich history included use as an anti-inflammatory, wound astringent, canker sore relief, and more. It is now used widely to help reduce anxiety and promote sleep.

Uses

  • Anxiety reduction and stress relief.
  • Sleep improvement, particularly for insomnia
  • Menstrual pain relief

Side Effects:

  • Rare allergic reactions, especially in individuals sensitive to plants in the Asteraceae (daisy, sunflowers, lettuce, chicory, etc.) family.
  • Drowsiness
  • Dizziness or lightheadedness

Cautions:

  • Surgery: Discontinue use at least two weeks before scheduled procedures due to potential interactions with anesthesia.
  • Medication interactions: Chamomile may interact with blood thinners, sedatives, and certain other medications.
  • Ragweed allergies- if allergic to ragweed, chamomile may exacerbate allergies.

Synergistic Herbs:

  • Rafuma and valerian root, both in our sleep formula

Rafuma Leaf Extract (Venetron)

 Rafuma leaf has a long history of use in Eastern medicine for its ability to protect against the common cold, insomnia and stress relief.

It is also known to increase natural melatonin levels at night.

Uses

  • Improve sleep quality and depth of sleep
  • Reduce anxiety and stress
  • Enhance mood and alleviate depression symptoms
  • May help with premenstrual and menstrual discomfort

Side Effects:

While generally considered safe, potential side effects may include:

  • Drowsiness

Cautions:

  • Drug interactions: Interactions with medications metabolized by CYP3A enzymes. Check out this link for a list.
  • Pre-existing conditions: Consult a healthcare provider before use, especially for those with cardiovascular or liver conditions.

Synergistic Herbs:

  • Chamomile and valerian root, both in our sleep formula

Kava

Indigenous people of the South Pacific and beyond have been using kava for at least 3,000 years. It is well-known in social gatherings and ceremonies and is consumed by mixing with water and drinking it. Kava is a member of the Pepper family.

Uses

  • Anxiety: Kava contains kavalactones, which help reduce anxiety. Kavalactones work on the same brain pathways as anti-anxiety meds.
  • Sleep improvement: Some evidence suggests kava may help with insomnia, particularly when related to anxiety.

Side Effects:

  • Digestive upset, headache, and dizziness
  • Drowsiness and impaired motor skills

Cautions:

  • Liver health: heavy use of kava has been linked to liver injury.
  • Driving and machinery operation: Kava may impair the ability to drive or operate machinery safely.
  • Drug interactions: These may interact with sedatives and medications metabolized by the liver. enzymes.
  • Alcohol: Avoid combining kava with alcohol due to the potential increased risk of liver damage.

Final Note

As with all supplements, check with your healthcare provider if pregnant, nursing, are scheduled to have surgery or are taking any medications.

References

Passion Flower:

  • National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health. (2020, August). Passionflower. https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/passionflower
  • Mount Sinai. (n.d.). Passionflower. https://www.mountsinai.org/health-library/herb/passionflower

Ashwagandha:

Chamomile:

  • Srivastava JK, Shankar E, Gupta S. Chamomile: A herbal medicine of the past with bright future. Mol Med Rep. 2010 Nov 1;3(6):895-901. doi: 10.3892/mmr.2010.377. PMID: 21132119; PMCID: PMC2995283.
  • (n.d.). Chamomile: Herbal uses, warnings, side effects, dosage. Retrieved July 22, 2024, from https://www.medicinenet.com/chamomile/article.htm

Rafuma leaf extract

  • Wu T, Li X, Li T, Cai M, Yu Z, Zhang J, Zhang Z, Zhang W, Xiang J, Cai D. Apocynum venetum Leaf Extract Exerts Antidepressant-Like Effects and Inhibits Hippocampal and Cortical Apoptosis of Rats Exposed to Chronic Unpredictable Mild Stress. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2018 Jan 16;2018:5916451. doi: 10.1155/2018/5916451. PMID: 29576796; PMCID: PMC5822797.
  • Nakata, A. & Yamashita, S.-I & Suzuki, N. & Liang, T. & Kuniyoshi, T. & Yang, J. & Takara, T.. (2018). Effect of an Apocynum venetum Leaf Extract (VENETRON®) on sleep quality and psychological stress improvement-A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover study-. Japanese Pharmacology and Therapeutics. 46. 117-125.

Kava

  • com. (n.d.). History of kava. Retrieved July 22, 2024, from https://kava.com/articles/history/
  • Bian T, Corral P, Wang Y, Botello J, Kingston R, Daniels T, Salloum RG, Johnston E, Huo Z, Lu J, Liu AC, Xing C. Kava as a Clinical Nutrient: Promises and Challenges. Nutrients. 2020 Oct 5;12(10):3044. doi: 10.3390/nu12103044. PMID: 33027883; PMCID: PMC7600512.

  Written by Brooke Lounsbury


About our editorial team

The TWC Editorial team is comprised of various wellness practitioners from physiotherapists, acupuncturists, fitness instructors, herbalists, and MDs.

This article does not constitute medical advice. Please consult a healthcare provider for proper diagnosis and treatment.
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