REFERENCES- BLACK BOX - LIGHTS OUT

If you struggle to get a good night’s sleep, Lights Out can help. Formulated with non-habit-forming natural ingredients, it can help you fall asleep faster into your REM cycle, so you wake up feeling refreshed.

GABA

Gamma aminobutyric acid (GABA) is an amino acid and neurotransmitter found in the brain. GABA’s main function is to help activate receptors in the brain for sleep. Many medications used to treat insomnia and anxiety work by activating these receptors. Taking GABA supplements has been shown to promote feelings of relaxation and sleep.

Phenibut

Beta-phenyl-gamma-aminobutyric acid, also known as phenibut, was discovered in the 1960s and is known for its anxiolytic effects. Like GABA, phenibut helps activate the receptors in the brain that trigger sleep and relaxation. The drug is also similar in shape and size to other anti-anxiety medications prescribed in the United States, highlighting its properties.

L-Theanine

Gamma-glutamylethylamine, also known as L-theanine, is an amino acid that can only be found naturally in tea leaves. Several studies have found that supplementing with L-theanine can boost neurotransmitter levels in the brain, which may promote sleep and relaxation, and relieve stress.

Melatonin

Melatonin is a hormone that helps control sleep. When it gets dark out, the body makes melatonin to promote sleep, and then stops in the morning to help you wake up. As you get older, melatonin production decreases. Supplementing with this hormone has been shown to help treat insomnia, delayed sleep conditions, and other sleep disorders.

5-HTP

5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP) is a compound that is made when the body makes serotonin from the amino acid tryptophan. Melatonin is then made using serotonin. When there are low levels of serotonin (and melatonin) in the brain, anxiety and insomnia can develop. Supplementing with 5-HTP may help the body produce serotonin and make melatonin to promote sleep. One clinical trial found that a combination of GABA and 5-HTP significantly improved the amount of time it takes to fall asleep.

Mucuna pruriens

Mucuna pruriens, also known as the velvet bean, is a legume found in many tropical and sub-tropical parts of the world. This plant contains high concentrations of L-dopa, which can be used to treat Parkinsonism. Additionally, it has been studied for its use in promoting sleep. One study in healthy men and women with sleep issues found that supplementing with M. pruriens improved overall quality of sleep by stimulating growth hormone (GH) production.

Hops Extract

Hops (Humulus lupulus) is one of the main ingredients found in beer. Extract from hops contains specific naturally occurring compounds, such as 2-methyl-3-buten-2-ol, that can promote sleep. A number of studies have found that hops extract has sedative-like effects, which can help reduce the amount of time it takes to fall asleep, and help people stay asleep.

Galantamine

Galantamine is a medication typically used to treat dementia in people with Alzheimer’s disease. It works by preventing the breakdown of the chemical acetylcholine. This leaves more of it in the brain to help regulate different processes. Sleep is regulated by both acetylcholine and serotonin. With this, galantamine has also been studied for its effects on sleep. One study in healthy adult women found that the drug increased the amount of time in REM sleep, helping the participants stay asleep longer.

Valerian Root Extract

Valeriana officinalis is a flowering plant found in Europe that has been used to treat sleep disorders for hundreds of years. Valerian root extract has been found to promote healthy levels of the neurotransmitter GABA in the brain, creating relaxing, calming effects. Within the extract, there are also compounds such as hesperidin and linarin that help promote healthy levels of inflammation and sedation.

 

References

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  4. Mayo Clinic. Melatonin. 3 March 2021. https://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements-melatonin/art-20363071
  5. McCarthy CG, Alleman RJ, Bell ZW, Bloomer RJ. A Dietary Supplement Containing Chlorophytum Borivilianum and Velvet Bean Improves Sleep Quality in Men and Women. Integr Med Insights. 2012;7:7-14.
  6. Franco L, Sanchez C, Bravo R, Rodriguez AB, Barriga C, et al. The sedative effect of non-alcoholic beer in healthy female nurses. PLoS One. 2012;7(7):e37290.
  7. Franco L, Sanchez C, Bravo R, Rodriguez A, Barriga C, Juanez JC. The sedative effects of hops (Humulus lupulus), a component of beer, on the activity/rest rhythm. Acta Physiol Hung. 2012;99(2):133-9.
  8. Galantamine. 15 Mar 2020. https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a699058.html
  9. Biard K, Douglass AB, De Koninck J. The effects of galantamine and buspirone on sleep structure: Implications for understanding sleep abnormalities in major depression. J Psychopharmacol. 2015;29(10):1106-11.
  10. Fernandez S, Wasowski C, Paladini AC, Marder M. Sedative and sleep-enhancing properties of linarin, a flavonoid-isolated from Valeriana officinalis. Pharmacol Biochem Behav. 2004;77(2):399-404.
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