So some of you might be wondering if melatonin is really the only natural game in town when you can't sleep. 

Melatonin: you've heard of it; you know it's natural; you assume it can't *hurt" you (right?) but if you're like most people you've also probably either tried it and it didn't work for you, or it made you groggy (right?).

That's because melatonin only really works if you have a melatonin deficiency, aka your body isn't producing enough of it on its own. That's not the case for everyone who can't sleep. For example, some of us just have anxiety that's really strong and easily overwhelms any natural melatonin-induced ability to sleep. And if you take too much it does in fact make you groggy. The amount needed to cause grogginess varies from individual to individual and even night to night, but for most people it's at least 1mg (and not to brag, but that's why we've included less than 1 mg in our Rest formula). Anyway, carry on! 

Melatonin is merely the tip of the iceberg when it comes to natural sleep supplements for adults. Here are four more ingredients you might love for sleep. 

L-theanine

Do you like to drink tea? If you do, you shouldn’t have a problem achieving your daily recommended dose of L-theanine. That's because tea leaves contain this amino acid. L-theanine helps to elevate dopamine and serotonin levels. These neurochemicals are involved in the regulation of cognitive skills, sleep, appetite, alertness, concentration, mood, and emotions. 

L-theanine also improves GABA levels and helps you sleep faster and easier at bedtime. Apart from improving the quality of sleep, L-theanine has other health benefits such as stress reduction, better relaxation, and cognitive boost. 

Valerian and hops

What you have here is a relaxing pair popular for their role in promoting sleep and relieving stress. According to ancient history, the valerian root helps to relieve anxiety and nervousness while promoting sleep. And for many centuries, hops has also been the go-to for anxiety and sleep management.

GABA production is enhanced by valerian and hops. Taking hops in therapeutic doses helps to reduce high body temperatures. Hops also play a role in initiating drowsiness and that's because it has selective properties. On the other hand, valerian has the primary function of reducing anxiety, making it an anxiolytic. 

So how does this pair contribute to rest and sleep? If you're having sleeplessness or insomnia, you can find help with these two ingredients. Valerian, according to research, can help you manage insomnia symptoms and improve the amount of sleep you get. It can also reduce restlessness during sleep and help you fall asleep faster. People with sleeping issues associated with menopause can also find help with valerian, according to research. 

When it comes to hops, this ingredient increases the amount of time you spend sleeping. And research shows that hops tend to be more potent if it is combined with valerian. This shows that hops and valerian have good synergy. They also have the potential for reducing stress and anxiety. 

5-HTP

Also referred to as 5-Hydroxytryptophan, this compound is naturally occurring in humans. It is a by-product of L-tryptophan – an amino acid. We get our L-tryptophan supply from food since our human body doesn’t produce it naturally. As a supplement, 5-HTP can be gotten from Griffonia simplicifolia seeds. 

So, how does it work, and how does 5-HTP boost your ability to sleep and rest better? One role of 5-HTP is to help in more serotonin production in the body. As you may already know, serotonin is a neurotransmitter responsible for regulating your sleep-wake cycles and mood. A hormone known as melatonin which keeps your biological clock working optimally needs serotonin for its production.

If you are having a hard time falling asleep, 5-HTP can potentially help you shorten that time. According to research, this compound may also increase how much time you spend asleep. Another benefit that comes from 5-HTP is mood improvement. Stress and anxiety are two factors that negatively affect your ability to sleep and rest well. But 5-HTP may be effective in managing these conditions.

Magnesium

This macromineral impacts your overall well-being positively. Unfortunately, most people don’t get sufficient magnesium from their food choices. You’ll find that up to half of American adults are dealing with a deficiency of magnesium.

This important nutrient helps to regulate and maintain body functions. For example, magnesium boosts how well your enzymes perform as it is linked to over 300 body cell reactions involving enzymes. This mineral plays a role in blood sugar, cholesterol, and blood pressure regulation while controlling your stress response.

Taking sufficient magnesium can help to elevate and stabilize your mood by directly impacting gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) levels. GABA is a sleep-promoting neurotransmitter. When it comes to sleep, research proves that magnesium can regulate melatonin and your body's biological clock. If you sleep poorly, taking supplemental magnesium can help you enjoy a better quality of sleep too. This mineral helps to reduce stress, manage insomnia, and deal with symptoms related to depression and anxiety.

As an aside - you need kind of a lot of it (tablespoons!) for it to work, so if you want to try magnesium on its own, you will want a dissolvable format that you can drink, like Calm. It's not "enough" for a lot of people, which is why we created Rest, but it could potentially be used in conjunction with it (within reason and under the supervision of a doctor of course).

Get Herbal Rest with Hyrbal Rest – Ingredient-Optimized to Improve Sleep Quality, Naturally

If you are having problems with sleep or battling stress and anxiety, it's time to stop using sketchy drugs. What if you could access all the important ingredients that boost your ability to sleep in one dose?

Well, that's why we created Rest. Hyrbal’s Rest combines natural ingredients that improve your quality of sleep while impacting your biological clock positively. Now you can fall asleep with ease and wake up feeling better, energized, and ready to get on with your day. 

Order Rest today and enjoy a risk-free way of boosting your immune and energy levels through quality sleep.