Griffonia
Griffonia, or African bean, is a valuable ally for those who have difficulty sleeping and getting to sleep. It is, in fact, a plant of African origin whose seeds are naturally rich in 5-hydroxytryptophan, a direct precursor of serotonin ("the hormone of happiness"), the protagonist of some fundamental physiological functions such as the regulation of mood, sleep and appetite.
Our body can enjoy numerous benefits derived from Griffonia seeds. In particular:
- Regulates mood: given its ability to act on serotonin levels, Griffonia can benefit mood, improving the general wellbeing of the organism and offering beneficial effects on one's state of mind.
- Inhibits appetite: Griffonia has also proved to be particularly useful in counteracting the so-called "nervous hunger", an uncontrollable desire for food as a response to some stressful event. The serotonin present, in fact, intervenes controlling the appetite and eating behavior, promoting a lower intake of carbohydrates in favor of proteins;
- Favors sleep: Griffonia, as it contains the natural amino acid precursor of serotonin, plays a key role in the quality of rest, increasing in particular the so-called Rem phase of deep sleep. As a precursor of melatonin, serotonin in fact regulates the daily rhythms of the body and the alternation of sleep-wake.
When paired with a healthy lifestyle, Griffonia can have great benefits on the entire body. Sometimes, it can be combined with magnesium or relaxing herbs such as lemon balm to promote sleep and relaxation.
Valerian
Valerian (Valeriana officinalis) is a plant of the family of Valerianacee widely used for the treatment of anxiety, states of agitation and sleep disorders. It has anxiolytic and sedative properties given by all of its constituents and, in particular, by valerenic acids. The active principles present in valerian, act on the regulation of the neurotransmitter GABA.
As GABA is a neurotransmitter of inhibitory type, the substances which increase the activity of GABAergic synapses depress the activity of the central nervous system, with a relaxing and anxiolytic effect.
The sedative, relaxing and hypnoinductive properties of valerian make it a useful remedy in case of anxiety, agitation and insomnia. Moreover, as the valepotriates present in the root of valerian have a spasmolytic action capable of relaxing smooth muscles, valerian can also be useful to contrast the symptoms of irritable colon syndrome.
Passionflower
Passionflower is a plant useful against anxiety, agitation and insomnia; belonging to the Passifloraceae family. It is a common species in the southern United States and in Mexico. It is cultivated for ornamental purposes and for herbal and phytotherapeutic uses, in consideration of its therapeutic properties.
The passionflower plant is used to treat:
- nervousness and irritability
- restlessness and agitation;
- tachycardia;
- anxiety;
- mood disorders;
- mild insomnia;
- gastrointestinal disorders of nervous origin.
Lemon balm
Lemon balm (Melissa officinalis) is a perennial plant belonging to the family of Lamiaceae. Also known as lemon balm, it is spread almost all over Italy.
Lemon balm is a source of vitamin C and thiamine. It also contains citral, citronellal, linalool, geraniol and many other molecules which form its essential oil. It is also a source of flavonoids, phenolic acids, terpenes, rosmarinic acid, caffeic acid, tannins and eugenol acetate.
Lemon balm contains molecules that appear to exert a sedative and calming effect; it also appears to have antiviral properties (particularly against cold sores). Its medicinal uses include the treatment of digestive problems (stomach problems, bloating, flatulence, vomiting and colic), that of pain (for example of menstrual origin, headache and toothache) and that of psychological problems (such as depression, anxiety, restlessness, sleep disorders and attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder). Moreover lemon balm is used to treat congestions of the respiratory tract, tachycardia associated to nervousness, high blood pressure, insect stings and sores, Graves' disease and, in aromatherapy form, Alzheimer's disease. An external use is also reported: in this case its astringent and healing properties are used.
Melatonin:
Melatonin is the main sleep regulating hormone synthesized by the epiphysis, a gland found in our brain. Melatonin synthesis occurs during the nighttime hours and peaks between one and three in the morning. The rhythm of the sleep-wake cycle, also known as circadian cycle, is kept constant by melatonin, which has an important relaxing action during the moment of falling asleep.
Melatonin has many beneficial properties, but the main action it exerts on our organism is the regulation of the sleep-wake cycle. Through the link with a class of specific receptors present in our brain, Melatonin induces physiologically drowsiness and relaxation. These receptors have a specific structure suitable for the exclusive link with the molecule of Melatonin which comes into action by reducing the time of falling asleep. Thanks to the properties of Melatonin our muscles relax and our nervous system, weighed down by daily stress, relaxes facilitating sleep and improving the quality of rest.
Our organism can draw numerous benefits from melatonin supplementation:
- stress, work commitments and worries can interfere with our sleep making it difficult to fall asleep, Melatonin can reduce the time needed to fall asleep favoring the rest even in the busiest days;
- there are situations in which the sleep-wake cycle can be altered (for example after a trip), Melatonin can facilitate falling asleep by reducing the time needed to fall asleep and thus promoting a good rest;
- the more we age the less Melatonin we produce, in fact, the secretion of Melatonin tends to decrease with age, for this reason the time of falling asleep can be longer. The integration of Melatonin can restore the physiological times for falling asleep.
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