My experience with Probiotic Herbs for Sleeping, by Belinda Rennie.
For anyone who has ever had a single sleepless night—let alone a string of sleepless nights—knows the impact on the body. Sleep deprivation is a form of torture. Every aspect of our lives from mood to immunity, digestion to hormones, is regulated by the quality and quantity of our sleep.
It is not only the not sleeping, it’s the fear of not sleeping. I know this because I lived with it for more than two years. I felt sleepy before bed but the instant I hit the pillow I would be wide awake. For hours and hours. Just the thought of sleep and not sleeping made me anxious. Would I be able to function the next day with the demands of work, kids, family? Does this sound familiar?
Sleep at night should be the most natural of events. ‘Should’, because our body is designed to rest and repair as the sun goes down. Digestion, metabolism and mental activity slow down while you sleep. Most of our detoxification occurs at night, especially in the brain where waste products are eliminated, leaving us clear and focused for the day ahead. Hours in slumber before midnight are considered the most restorative.
But sleep is a complicated hormonal balancing act. Fight and flight hormone reduces (cortisol), along with the hunger hormone (leptin), suppressing appetite. Melatonin, the sleep hormone increases at night, preparing us for a good night’s sleep. Neurotransmitters GABA, dopamine and serotonin relax the brain and the central nervous system. A lot goes on when we are sleeping as our cellular batteries are being cleaned and recharged.
Instead, I was rapidly accumulating a sleep debt and had created a recipe for insomnia.
Probiotic Herbs Sleeping Formula
Was a revelation to me. I had tried valerian a long time ago and knew of it’s ability to calm the central nervous system. Researchers believe it can increase the amount of a neurotransmitter GABA (gamma aminobutyric acid) in the brain. GABA helps regulate nerve cells and has a calming effect on anxiety. Researchers think valerian may have a similar, but weaker effect than drugs like valium.
Above: Probiotic Herbs Sleeping Formula ingredients—valerian root, thyme leaf, motherwort, dill seed, honey.
What I noticed was the power of the fermenting bacteria to magnify the healing properties of valerian and the other herbs. I felt calmer and more focused. Things that would have naturally rattled me, were no longer as stressful. I felt less anxious during the day and that spilled over into the night.
Prof. Marc Cohn from RMIT, Melbourne says valerian relieves symptoms of stress and anxiety similar to benzodiazepines (valium) without addiction, toxicity and feeling crappy in the morning. Practitioners have used valerian to help their patients reduce dependency on addictive sleep and anxiety aids. The other herbs and ingredients in the formula along with Valerian Root are Motherwort, Dill, Thyme and honey. These specially selected herbs have been fermented with a powerful mother culture of bacteria for easier absorption into the body.
For insomnia take ½ – 1 tsp of Probiotic Herbs Sleeping Formula an hour before bed and for anxiety smaller amounts of ¼ tsp three times a day is recommended. Preferably take on an empty stomach. For some, valerian works within an hour of the first use, however research suggests it works best after several weeks of regular use.
We don’t know how we fall asleep, we just know that we do. When I started sleeping well again, the brain fog cleared and I was able to look back on all the things I had tried to help me sleep. I had tried a lot of things—breathing, with essential oils, psychological counselling, addressing nutrition and food intolerance along with gut health and inflammatory triggers. But it was when I started using Probiotic Herbs Sleeping Formula, that I noticed a dramatic shift in my alertness, focus and sense of wellbeing. When I started sleeping well again, the brain fog cleared.
The Gut Connection
More and more research indicates the healthier and more flourishing our gut microbiome and function, the better we sleep, and It’s a two way street—when we don’t sleep well, our gut suffers and can’t do its job as efficiently. Every human has a ‘body clock’, an internal 24-hour set of rhythms that determine when we wake up and when we sleep, among other processes in our body. That clock is maintained by every cell in the body, and the gut is no different. Recent studies have discovered that gut bacteria has a big role to play in regulating this body clock, and therefore in how much we sleep. Plus, beneficial bacteria (probiotics) in your gut, can boost your body’s supply of melatonin.
Good Sleep Tips
There are many other things that can assist in a good night’s sleep such as switching off technology—mobile phones, computers, TV—before 8pm and banning them from your bedroom. Creating a cool, inviting environment in your bedroom can set you up for a deep, restful night’s sleep.
We welcome you to chat with us further about your sleep and gut health. Call our Gut Help Hotline on (07) 554 66 086.
PRECAUTIONS FOR USE: Probiotic Herbs Sleeping Formula may interact with other sleep and mood aids (increases sedation) both herbal and drug based including antidepressants, such as alcohol, benzodiazepines, narcotics and prescription medications. Due to lack of safety information available, we suggest that you do not use while pregnant, breastfeeding or pre or post-surgery. If unsure please consult your practitioner.
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