Research:

Valerian Root:

Valerian is a perennial flowering plant native to Europe and Asia. In the summer when the mature plant may have a height of 4 to 5 feet. It bears sweetly scented pink or white flowers.

Flowers from the valerian plant were used to make perfume centuries ago, and the root portion has been used for at least 3,000 years.

Valerian Root has been used since ancient times to promote tranquility and relaxation.

Valerian Root was recognized in great societies like those of ancient Greece and Rome.

There is information that Hippocrates knew of the herb and ancient physicians like Galen recognized the herb for its calming properties.

Valerian Root contains compounds like valerenic acid, isovaleric acid and a variety of antioxidants.

Valerian Root has received attention for its interaction with gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA). GABA is a chemical messenger or a non-proteinogenic amino acid produced in the brain that helps regulate nerve impulses in the nervous system.

Gamma-aminobutyric acid is the main inhibitory neurotransmitter in humans.

Valerenic acid, one of the compounds of Valerian Root, is thought to inhibit the breakdown of GABA in the brain. This may be the mechanism of action that promotes feelings of calmness and tranquility.

Valerian root also contains the antioxidants hesperidin and linarin, which may also promote calm feelings.

Kava:

Kava Kava, is a member of the nightshade family of plants and native to the South Pacific islands. 

It follows the tennet that "It's So Nice You Gotta Say It Twice". Seriously though the Pacific Islanders named it for its bitter taste and use it in Royal Ceremonies because of its relaxing properties.

Pacific Islanders have used it for hundreds of years as a ceremonial drink to promote a state of relaxation.

One of the many stories of Kava’s use is found in the account given to Fison by the then Tui Lau (Fijian Chief). This story relates the frequent use of Kava by the great gods for relaxation purposes before competitions or war.

Kava kava (“kava” for short) contains substances called kavapyrones. They are the active compounds that create calm relaxed and maybe even happy feelings.

It is largely unknown how kavalactones produce these effects. Like Valerenic acid it is theorized that they work by affecting neurotransmitters in the brain.

St John's Wort:

St John's Wort is native to the European continent and especially well known in the area surrounding Great Brittan. It now grows wild throughout most of the world.

St John's Wart is found in meadows and on river banks and prefers sunny positions in somewhat chalky soil.

St. John’s wort is thought to be named after St. John the Baptist, whose feast day (24th June) occurs when the plant is in full bloom.

St Jophn's Wort contains the active chemical hypericin.

Hypercin may be what gives the herb most of its efficacy.

Other compounds such as hyperforin and flavonoids may play a role as well.

St. John's wort is widely believed to promote healthy moods.

Researchers suspect that ingredients in the herb (hypericin and hyperforin) may change levels of certain brain chemicals, like serotonin and dopamine.

Both serotonin and dopamine are chemicals produced by the human body to control moods and inner feelings.

Basically St. John’s Wort is perceived to utilize hypercin and hyperforin that exist in the plant to level the uptake of seritonin and dopamine.

St John's Wort is a well known herb that has been used for centuries by many different cultures.

The information above is for informational purposes only. It does not reflect or relate to the performance or purpose of any products that contain similar materials.

* "Herbal supplements are not drugs. They are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.*

Help Me Choose:

Why can't I sleep?

When reading this article please keep in mind that supplements are not drugs. They are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. These articles are truly just for your information.

* "Herbal supplements are not drugs. They are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.*

There are really so many reasons that some people just can't seem to get good sleep. Sometimes it's as simple as the environment. If you were born and raised in a noisy city environment and you move to the country it might actually be the quiet that keeps you awake. We all tend to adapt to the environment that we are surrounded by. When that environment suddenly changes our daily rhythms change too. There is usually a period of chaos while we adapt to the new "normal" environment. During that adaption period sleep can be evasive. Stress and anxiety can also be causes for sleepless nights.

What is insomnia?

Insomnia is the inability to fall asleep or stay asleep at night. It results in unrefreshing or non-restorative sleep. Different people need different amounts of sleep to function properly. That's why insomnia isn't defined by the number of hours that you spend in your bed with your eyes closed, it is defined by the quality of your sleep and how you feel when you awaken from your sleep.

What are some of the symptoms of insomnia?

Most cases insomnia can be easily identified because one or more of the symptoms listed below have manifested themselves.

Difficulty falling asleep despite being tired.

This is probably the most common symptom. It is usually related to stress from a work situation, a financial issue or a difficult relationship with a spouse - family member - or a close friend.

A lot of people relate this to not being able to shut their mind down. The thoughts of the stress in a person's life can be over whelming and nearly impossible to quiet.

Waking up frequently during the night.

This is another symptom that can be related to daily stress.

Frequently waking up can also have some other contributors as well. Aches and pains in your extremities, cramps in muscles or your stomach and sore joints like hips, knees fingers - hands - back and neck are common reasons people say they wake up multiple time in the middle of the night. 

Repeated trips to the bathroom is also a very common nightly regimen.

Trouble getting back to sleep when awakened.

Almost everyone has been startled out of a deep sleep on occasion. What happens after that is a sign that you might suffer from insomnia. If you go back to sleep right away then "NO WORRIES!!!" but if you lie there trying to fade back into that deep sleep that was so abruptly interupted you might need to think about insomnia and how to resolve the issue.

No matter what the reason is for waking up it can be hard to get back to that deep restful sleep that we need to rejuvenate.

Unrefreshing sleep.

Do you wake up in the morning feeling refreshed and ready to tackle another day. Some people say that they are "a morning person". The fact is that once you are fully awake you should have that same feeling. Proper sleep at night should be rejuvenating and refreshing. It might take a little time for you to fully wake up but if you're not refreshed there could be a concern to address.

Relying on sleeping pills or alcohol to fall asleep.

This is a slippery slope. Not sleeping is bad but developing or enhancing an addiction is much worse. 

If you need help temporarily then get it. Just be careful not to allow these drugs to become a dependancy issue.

Daytime drowsiness, fatigue, or irritability.

A common issue with an insomniac is nothing more than fatigue. If it becomes hard to keep your eyes open while sitting in front of a computer screen or behind the steering wheel of a vehicle you might look into the kind of sleep that you're getting.

Have you completely lost your temper for something that usually doesn't bother you? Has this been a recurring problem? Do you wonder what in the world is having such an effect on your temperment? Think about the quality of sleep that you get. Think about how you feel once you are fully awake. The answer might be right there in those two questions.

Difficulty concentrating during the day.

Lack of the ability to concentrate is called Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD). There are many people who truly suffer from this mental disease. Some people are mis-diagnosed though. Sometimes the lack of concentration can be attributed to the lack of good restful sleep. 

The information above is for informational purposes only. It does not reflect or relate to the performance or purpose of any products on this website.

* "Herbal supplements are not drugs. They are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.*

Health Information:

Nothing Better Than a Good Night's Sleep!


When reading this article please keep in mind that supplements are not drugs. They are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. These articles are truly for your information.

* "Herbal supplements are not drugs. They are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.*


Sleep, like good health in general, is something most people take for granted. As long as it’s coming easily, there’s just no reason to give it much thought. But for millions of people, a good night’s sleep is not as easy as it sounds. Its common knowledge that being deprived of a good night’s sleep leads to a diminished feeling of well-being for the next day. We don’t feel that we can function at our peak, and we feel more vulnerable to the effects of stress, both physical and mental when we spend a restless night "not sleeping".

Virtually everyone has experienced sleepless nights on occasion. Statistically one out of every three adults experience periodic trouble with sleeping. It is important that we are able to get the most deep and refreshing rest from our sleep. This will bring maximum vitality and rejuvenation to both mind and body.

Why Is Sleep So Important?

Sleep plays a vital role in good health and well-being throughout your life. Getting enough quality sleep at the right times can help protect your mental health, physical health, quality of life, and safety. 

The way you feel while you're awake depends in part on what happens while you're sleeping. During sleep, your body is working to support healthy brain function and maintain your physical health.

Did you know that sleep is more than rest and a body shutdown? 

Studies show that a good night's sleep improves learning and overall performance. Good sleep is not just for kids. All of the things we've learned about sleep apply to both children and adults. It doesn't matter whether you're learning math or how to play the piano, a good night's sleep help you to be better, learn faster and retain what you learned. It doesn't matter if you're learning how to perfect your golf swing, or how to drive a car? You can enhance the process by just getting enough sleep. Sleep improves your problem-solving skills, decision making, attention span and even increases your creative/ artistic skills that sometimes hides behind the curtain of a sleepless night.

Does sleep has an effect on us in a physical sense as well?

YES!

Sleep plays an important role in your physical health.

Did you know that sleep is involved in the healing process? Much of the physical healing that takes place is when your body is at rest. The injured part of your body remains somewhat motionless and attended to by the nutrients needed to heal. Sleep is also involved in healing and repair of your heart and blood vessels. Ongoing sleep deficiency is linked to an increased risk of heart disease, kidney disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, and stroke. The lack of sleep has also been linked to obesity. There are conflicting opinions as to why obesity is related. One opinion is that sleep helps maintain a healthy balance of the hormones that make you feel hungry (ghrelin) or full (leptin). And that when those hormones are out of balance over eating might start you climbing the obesity ladder. Finally sleep  affects how your body reacts to insulin, the hormone that controls your blood glucose (sugar) level. Sleep deficiency results in a higher than normal blood sugar level, which may increase your risk for diabetes.

Have you ever wondered what makes you sleepy? And why you wake and sleep?

There are a lot of things going on in your body that play a role in falling asleep an waking up. There is actually a rhythm at the base of it all. This rhythm is called the circadian rhythm.

The circadian rhythm usually resets every twenty four hours. Two processes interact to control the ebb and flow of a day. The first is influenced by a compund called adenosine. While you are awake the adenosine builds up in your brain. The increase of the compound is actually a precursor that signals you to sleep or in other words makes you feel tired. Once you have fallen asleep the body breaks down the adenosine and you start to feel the promptings to wake up.

There is another contributor. It is leterally an internal clock. This clock is in sync with certain cues in the environment like the light of the morning as the sun rises and the darkness that comes after the twilight hours. These cues signal your body to release chemicals in a daily rhythm that syncs up with the rising and setting of the sun. When it gets dark, your body releases a hormone called melatonin. Melatonin signals your body that it's time to prepare for sleep, and it helps you feel drowsy. As the sun rises, your body releases cortisol. This hormone naturally prepares your body to wake up. Amazing isn't it? Our body at work making sure that all of the health and well-being functions cycle through every single day.

The information above is for informational purposes only. It does not reflect or relate to the performance or purpose of any products on this website.

* "Herbal supplements are not drugs. They are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.*

Ingredients:

Chamomile (flower), Hops (flower), Lemon Balm (leaf), Passion Flower (herb), Valerian (root), Motherwort (herb), Lavender (flower), Skullcap (herb), Kava Kava (root), St Johns Wort (herb), Jujube (fruit), Spearmint (leaf), Blue Vervain (herb), Bladder Pod (herb)

Instructions:

2 or 3 Capsules one hour before bedtime. May take more if needed. Childs dosage 1/2 of recommended adult.

What’s Included:

1 Bottle of Grandma's Herbs SLEEP

100 Capsules per bottle

Features:

Promotes healthy rest and relaxation.

Grandma's Herbs SLEEP contains herbs like St John's Wort, Valerian and Kava Kava in a mixture that works synergistically.

100% naturally dried herbs - No Fillers.

Effective all natural formula, non habit forming.

The information above is for informational purposes only. It does not reflect or relate to the performance or purpose of any products that contain similar materials.

* "Herbal supplements are not drugs. They are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.*