Valerian-based formula helps prompt sleep while reducing stress

Emperor’s Choice

Someone is “Sleepless-in-the-Netherlands.”

An HSI member named Raymond writes: “I have a friend in the Netherlands who is having some problems. Her name is Trudy. She is having fatigue and sleeplessness. We are literally grabbing for straws at this point to help her get some much needed rest.”

Trudy might get a restful night’s sleep with the help of a treatment that’s highly recommended by a Roman emperor.

Dozing off

Running the Roman Empire had to be a stressful job. So when Emperor Publius Licinius Valerianus suffered from sleeplessness, he found relief with an herbal extract that was known to calm the nerves and promote sleep. In fact, the herb was eventually named after him: valerian.

In the first half of the 20th Century, valerian was listed in the U.S. national formulary as a sleep aid and anxiolytic, or anti-anxiety agent. In later decades, conventional doctors shifted their attention to synthetic anxiolytics such as Xanax and Valium. But herbalists still recognize valerian’s usefulness as a calming agent that has also been shown to help you make the most of your restorative slow-wave phase of sleep.

In the November 2007 issue of the HSI Members Alert, Managing Editor Alicia Potee described the importance of the two key sleep cycles: “When light is reduced, signaling cells in your retina relay a series of messages to your hypothalamus and pineal glands, prompting them to produce melatonin (the ‘sleep’ hormone that causes sedation, accompanied by a drop in body temperature).

“Meanwhile, your brain’s more stimulating neurotransmitters (like epinephrine, norepinephrine, and serotonin) are deactivated, preparing your body for the upcoming cycles of sleep. Your brain alternates between two of these: rapid eye movement (commonly known as REM, or the ‘dream’ state) and non-rapid eye movement (NREM, also known as ‘slow wave’ sleep, alluding to your decreased brain activity during that time).

“Both cycles are essential for different reasons: Research has shown that REM sleep is important for emotional well-being and memory, while the slower NREM cycle is the time at which your immune system builds itself up and your body is restored and repaired.”

The Sidewinder sleeps tonight

In that Members Alert, Alicia introduced V-Calm, a new sleep-aid formula developed by NorthStar Nutritionals (a subsidiary of the same holding company as HSI) with the help of HSI Panelist Dr. Hyla Cass.

In addition to valerian, the V-Calm formula includes hops, lemon balm, and passionflower – three herbs that the Commission E (Germany’s guide to the therapeutic use of herbs) endorses as being safe and effective in promoting restfulness and relaxation.

The V-Calm formula is completed with these additional ingredients:

• L-theanine – an amino acid that helps prompt calming “wakeful relaxation” alpha-wave brain activity
• L-glutamine – an amino acid that’s been shown to improve mood and reduce hostility
• Taurine – an amino acid that helped regulate stress tolerance in animal studies
• Niacin – a key nutrient for energy metabolism and DNA repair
• Vitamin B6 – plays a key role in neurotransmitter synthesis and cell metabolism
• Folic Acid – supports cognitive function and emotional wellbeing
• Vitamin B12 – crucial for elevated, peaceful moods and memory (stores of this vitamin are depleted by the stress hormone cortisol)
• Pantothenic Acid – enhances adrenal function and balances release of stress hormones
• Magnesium Oxide – boosts vasomotor control and facilitates healthy neurotransmission, which helps manage anxiety and stress

For Raymond’s friend Trudy, fatigue is the most obvious result of lack of sleep. Research has shown that chronic sleep dysfunction can also play a role in the development of serious health risks such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease, obesity, and memory loss.

You can find more information about V-Calm at this link: [product no longer available]

The HSI Members Alert is an excellent resource for the latest information about new groundbreaking products such as V-Calm. Learn how you can be among the very first to get the inside scoop about cutting edge cures you’ll rarely hear about in the mainstream media.

Source:
“End sleepless nights the natural way with this time-tested nutrient combo” Alicia Potee, HSI Members Alert, November 2007, hsionline.com