With over 33% of the U.S. population reporting sleep related issues, the trove of diseases stemming from these issues can hardly be untangled into discernable statistics. Sleep, being one of the most studied fields of wellness, has been directly affiliated with many other problems such as memory issues, focus issues, fatigue, immune suppression, chronic stress, slow metabolism, and injury. It's no wonder we wanted to create a potent and powerful supplement to get your sleep habits back on track and optimize the day.
In this article, we will break down each of the 3 active ingredients, their roles within our bodily systems, and the benefits you can expect.
CBN
Cannabinol (CBN) is a naturally occurring, and non-intoxicating, cannabinoid found in the hemp plant known for its ain affinity to bind with CB2 receptors in the endocannabinoid system. The ECS has many regulatory processes with connection points in muscles, tendons, organs, bone, and skin tissues. As Delta9 THC ages within the cannabis plant, some is transformed into the minor cannabinoid CBN. For this reason, CBN is usually present in higher amounts in older cannabis.
Antibacterial & Anti-Inflammatory
Potent antibacterial agents found in CBN has allowed scientists to study the powerful effects of CBN on antibiotic-resistant strains of MRSA. Researchers found that CBN did indeed have effects against these resistant strains, which give rise to possibility of using CBN to fight off bacterial infections that usual antibiotics can't heal.
CBN also holds significant anti-inflammatory properties capable of helping those with rheumatoid arthritis. In a rodent study, CBN was shown to reduce inflammation and decrease pain sensitization of arthritis. Decreasing pain sensitization and discomfort can allow faster sleep-onset as the nervous system calms.
Appetite Stimulation
CBN has been shown to increase the amount of food intake in a certain rat study. As an indirect method of appetite stimulation, one can theorize this to be because of CBN's ability to calm the nervous system and indirectly activate digestion.
5-HTP
5-Hydroxytryptophan is an amino acid (protein) that your bodily naturally produces as the building block of Serotonin, an essential neurotransmitter in the brain. As a precursor to Serotonin, taking a 5-HTP supplement can help boost the production of the neurotransmitter Serotonin within the gut. 90% of Serotonin is produced in the gut and delivered to the brain.
"Gear Shifter"
Serotonin has been called the "Gear Shifter" for the brain because its ability to influence mood and attention. Low serotonin levels have been believed by researchers to be connected with certain types of depression and fibromyalgia. While more research is needed to conclude this evidence there have been many promising studies conducted that show this connection. Serotonin plays a major role in the healthy functioning of a certain brain structure called the Anterior Cingulate. The anterior cingulate gives the brain the ability to shift from one thought to the next, or one focused task to the next. Low serotonin levels may cause for an over-active anterior cingulate, which then inhibits the brain from shifting gears. For example, in depression it is often difficult for a patient to change their way of thinking around their life, trauma, or other debilitating events and that patient can have a sense of "feeling stuck" with no way out. Supporting the production of Serotonin with a 5-HTP supplement can calm the anterior cingulate and regain the ability to shift from rigid thoughts, or on the other hand monkey-mind.
De-Sensitization of Pain
Fibromyalgia may also be connected to the inability to shift from the attention to pain signals. Pain has a unique way of taking over our entire attention, rightfully so. However, if these pain signals are given significant attention by our conscious mind AND connected with negative emotions, they can become hard-wired into the brain's neural patterns and sensitized. Therefore, pain messages can continue to be sent and felt even after the injured or inflamed area has been healed and recovered. Early evidence suggests that 5-HTP may improve symptoms of fibromyalgia, including muscle pain, sleep problems, anxiety, and fatigue.
Melatonin
Melatonin is an essential hormone naturally created within the body and plays a role in many physiological processes, including a big one…sleep. Throughout the day, melatonin builds up in the body. Once a certain threshold has been reached, melatonin triggers other areas of the brain telling us it's time for bed. Melatonin is at its highest levels at the onset of sleep and our body uses melatonin throughout the night to elongate sleep duration, as well as other processes. Once depleted, your brain recognizes that it's time to wake up. Thus, melatonin is best known for its ability to regulate our sleep-wake cycles.
Brain Fog
Supplementing with melatonin can be beneficial to help initiate the on-set of sleep, increase sleep duration, and improve sleep quality. However, taking too much melatonin, or taking it too late in the night, can cause an extra spike in the middle of the night leaving more melatonin readily available within the body causing brain-fog in the morning.
In addition, 5-HTP produces serotonin, which then can be converted into the hormone melatonin. Which is why Noble Leaf's Dream Sleep only includes a minimal dose of melatonin for all the benefits, without the brain-fog.