Natural Sleep

Aids

Felicia R. Harrison

HW 499

Unit 4: Vitamins, Herbs, and Nutritional Supplements

What are Supplements?
– Dietary Supplements
– Supplement the diet with one or more dietary ingredients.
– Examples include minerals, vitamins, and enzymes.
– Herbal Supplements
– Also known as botanicals.
– Supplement one or more herbs into the diet.
– Vitamin and Mineral Supplements
– Vitamins: substances that the body needs to grow and develop normally. May be absorbed through diet or
created naturally within the body.
– Minerals: substances that the body uses for bodily functions as well as enzyme and hormone production.
Naturally absorbed through the diet.
Supplement Key Facts
– Come in a variety of forms
– Possible health improvement or disease and condition management

– Safety and Risk

– Consult with healthcare provider
– Can interact adversely with medications
– Care with dosage
– Risks during pregnancy and nursing
– Quality
– FDA “good manufacturing practices”
– No approval required
Natural Sleep Aids
Herbal Supplements
– Valerian Root
– Native to Asian and Europe
– Promotes calmness
– Improves stress response
– Mood stabilizing
– Minimal known adverse effects
– Passionflower (Passiflora incarnata)
– Native to South America and parts
of southern United States
– Contains gamma-aminobutyric acid
(GABA)
– Low-risk supplement with healthy
routine
Natural Sleep Aids
Dietary Supplements
– Glycine
– Amino acid
– Nutrient found naturally found in
animal products, beans, and some
leafy greens
– Fall asleep faster and improve
overall quality of sleep
– Safe in appropriate amounts
– Melatonin
– Brain produced and released
hormone that plays a role in sleep
– Has been researched for use in
many specific conditions
– Generally safe for short-term use
– Possible drug interactions
Natural Sleep Aids
Mineral Supplement
– Magnesium
– Mineral that is widely used within the body and is important for brain function and
heart health
– Regulates the natural production of melatonin
– Relaxes muscles and quiets the mind and body
– Optimize the quality and quantity of sleep
– Can have side effects, especially at upper limit of dosage
– Consult with healthcare professional before taking
References
A13ean. (2012). Valeriana officinalis.
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Valeriana_officinalis_-_Valerian.jpg
Grandjean, N. (2005). Glycine pH. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Glycine_pH.png
Petre, A. (2020). 9 natural sleep aids that may help you get some shut-eye.
https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/sleep-
aids#:~:text=%209%20Natural%20Sleep%20Aids%20That%20May%20Help,involved%
20in%20hundreds%20of%20processes%20in...%20More%20
PumpkinSky. (2017). Passion Vin].
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Passion_Vine_NBG_LR.jpg