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A wide variety of botanicals and nutrition supplements are used to reduce stressful feelings, help support a healthy sleep cycle and relieve occasional insomnia (difficulty falling or staying asleep).

They are non-habit forming and do not leave a sense of grogginess upon awakening.

Drinking a hot cup of tea with “relaxing” herbs is a common and enjoyable way of delivering their benefits.

Many of the active ingredients are also extracted and concentrated and taken as a dietary supplement.

Some supplements have a single active ingredient. Others are combination products that use the synergy between botanicals and other nutritional aids.

Botanicals to Reduce Stress, Support Healthy Sleep

Ashwagandha – is used extensively in Ayurvedic medicine as a tonic. Long known for its ability to help the body deal with stress. Helps reduce elevated cortisol (produced in the adrenal cortex in response to stress) levels at bedtime. Can help with insomnia especially if sleep difficulties are related to stress and being too exhausted to sleep.

Chamomile – used as a bedtime tea for centuries for its mild relaxing properties.

Eleuthero – also known as Siberian ginseng, is an adaptogen which supports your adrenals and your body’s ability to adapt to stress.

Holy Basil – also known as tulsi and enjoyed as a tea, is traditionally used in Indian culture. This adaptogen (anti-stress agent) also supports general health.

Hops – a popular sleep aid, as well as a preservative in beer. Used to treat anxiety insomnia and restlessness; for more than 1000 years used as an ingredient in beer.

Lavender – lavender oil is used in relaxing bath oils and by aromatherapists. When taken as a supplement it can promote relaxation, calm nervousness and reduce irritability. It is used to address insomnia and help bring on sleep.

Lemon balm – commonly used as a sedative and stomach soother.

Magnolia – magnolia bark and its constituents have been show to moderate cortisol production.

Maca – an adaptogenic plant that’s indigenous to the Andes. It contributes to well-being and healthy mood.

Passionflower – a popular herbal sedative, the fresh or dried Passionflower herb has been used for centuries to treat nervous tension, anxiety, exhaustion from overwork, and insomnia. It is a mild sedative and gentle sleep inducer.

Rhodiola – is a plant that grows in the the Arctic areas of Europe and Asia. Rhodiola is used traditionally for mood and energy support.

Rooibos – used in South Africa as a tea for many years to calm the digestive tract and reduce nervous tension. Rooibos has become a very popular herbal tea more recently in the United States.

Valerian Root – has been a sleep aid for more than 1000 years. It provides a calmative effect and promotes relaxation.  It is not considered habit-forming and does not produce a “hangover” effect.

Supplements with Herbal Combinations to Support Stress

HPA Adapt
HPA Adapt is an herbal formula with Rhodiola, Ashwagandha, Eleuthero, Holy Basil and Maca that supports a healthy stress hormone balance via the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPA Axis).

Cortisol Manager
Cortisol Manager combines cortisol-modulating botanicals (blend of herbal extracts from Ashwagandha, Magnolia and Epimedium) and stress-reducing ingredients.

Nonbotanicals for Sleep Support

The hormone Melatonin is also a dietary supplement used for insomnia. Because melatonin is not a botanical but a hormone that is normally produced in the body, it is not listed above. Melatonin regulates daily biorhythms including the wake and sleep cycle which tend to be disturbed when people travel across different time zones.

Two amino acids, L-Theanine (found in green tea) and GABA (Gamma-aminobutyric acid) are also used to support sleep. GABA is an amino acid that serves as the primary inhibitory neurotransmitter in the brain. The supplement 200 Mg of Zen combines L-Theanine and GABA and is helpful for stress and sleep support.

Magnesium is a relaxing mineral; many clients take it at bedtime for the added benefit of supporting ease at falling asleep.

Other products that support sleep include Prothrivers Wellness Sleep, a combination of herbs, magnesium, L-theanine and melatonin.