Bioclinic Naturals Somni Support
Feature Summary: Bioclinic Naturals Somni Support
Somni Support is a synergistic herbal formulation that naturally supports and induces restful sleep. This combination also has a long history of traditional use in Western herbal medicine for supporting the nervous system and associated disturbances.
Key Benefits and Features: Bioclinic Naturals Somni Support
Bioclinic Naturals Somni Support is an all-natural formulation that provides hops and the herbal blend Herbatonin to support sleep and the Nervous system. Humulus lupulus has a long history of traditional use in Western herbal medicine for improving disturbed and restless sleep as well as a calmative, nervine and relaxant to relieve excess nervous tension, energy and restlessness.
CLINICAL EVIDENCE
Hops has a long history of use in many traditional cultures including Chinese, Indian and Western medicinal systems and is considered to have hypnotic, relaxant, sedative, antispasmodic and bitter tonic properties.1-4 It has been used in such traditions for conditions including insomnia and sleep disturbances and nervous system and mood imbalances (restlessness, anxiety, nervous tension, nervousness, headache).2-4
Herbatonin, which is featured in this formula, is a combination of alfalfa, rice and chlorella. Rice, known in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) as Dao ya, is thought to have spleen-invigorating properties, with spleen deficiency one of the patterns in TCM thought to contribute to restless sleep and insomnia.5,6
Alfalfa has a long history of use in many traditional systems including TCM, Iraqi, Mexican and Ayurvedic medicine for a broad range of conditions including central nervous system disorders, and is considered to have anxiolytic and nutritive tonic properties.7,8
The most significant active constituents naturally occurring in hops are the resinous alpha- (humulone and adhumul) and beta- (lupulone, colupulone and adlupulone) bitter acids, with other compounds present including volatile oils, flavonoids, phenolic acids, polysaccharides and amino acids.1,2,4
Rice constituents include flavonoids phenolic acids, sterols, vitamins and minerals (thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, potassium and magnesium), while alfalfa also contains flavonoids as well as saponins, alkaloids, phenolic compounds, amino acids, coumarins, fatty acids and essential oils.7,9,10
The traditional and current clinical use of hops for sleep and nervous system imbalances is supported by the mechanisms of action demonstrated by the herb and its constituents. Specifically, in vitro and animal investigations have found that by modulating and binding to gamma-amino butyric acid (GABA), melatonin, serotonin and adenosine receptors, hops and its constituents promotes sedative and anxiolytic effects/activity by subsequently influencing the endogenous levels and activity of GABA, melatonin, serotonin and adenosine.1,11-15
Melatonin, a key regulator of the sleep/wake cycle, is produced by the pineal gland under the direction of the hypothalamus and is secreted into the bloodstream and stored in the central nervous system with the onset of dark at night. As a hormone it acts by interacting with receptors, specifically melatonin 1 and 2 (ML1 and ML2) located in both the central nervous system and peripheral tissues. It also stimulates the synthesis of tryptophan and its conversion to serotonin.16
Hops has a similar effect to melatonin locally (in terms of binding to ML1 and ML2 receptors) and systemically, as well as enhancing the endogenous melatonin-mediated effects on sleep.17,18 The sedative and anxiolytic effects of hops is also significantly associated with its modulation of GABAA receptors and effects on GABAergic neurotransmission and serotonin, which also activates melatonin.11
Sleep
The underlying mechanisms and well established clinical benefits observed with the use of hops to support sleep have also been demonstrated in human clinical trials.11,16 In healthy female nurses experiencing work-stress associated with night-shift working patterns, the impact of hops on work-stress, anxiety and sleep was investigated.11
Prior to the 14-day intervention period, all subjects (n=14) completed the Effort Reward Imbalance Model and State-Trait Anxiety Inventory Questionnaires to assess baseline work stress and anxiety levels, respectively. During the intervention period, subjects wore Actimeters to assess sleep parameters (time in bed, assumed sleep, actual sleep time, sleep latency, sleep efficiency, total activity), and ingested approximately 1g/day of hops in non-alcoholic beer with their supper meal.
It was observed that ingestion of hops resulted in improvements in sleep quality, particularly sleep latency (12.01 + 1.19 vs 20.50 + 4.21 minutes, p<0.05) and total activity (5284.78 vs 7258.78 activity pulses) and anxiety (18.0963.8 vs 20.6962.14 State-Trait Anxiety Inventory scores). Similar results were observed in a separate clinical trial by the same research group investigating the impact of hops on sleep quality in a university student population experiencing exam-induced stress.16
Conducted over a 3-week period, the first week was the control phase where subjects did not have any active treatment, while during the subsequent 2 weeks all subjects ingested approximately 1g/day of hops in non-alcoholic beer. Stress levels were assessed using the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory Questionnaire and sleep quality, latency, duration and efficiency were measured using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Hops ingestion was associated with significant improvements in sleep and sleep latency (both p<0.05). The authors concluded that hops ingested in non alcoholic beer was beneficial for improving sleep quality in individuals under stress.16
Nervous System Support
Clinical evidence also supports the long traditional use of hops for supporting nervous system imbalances.17 In a randomised, double-blind, placebo controlled, crossover study, the impact of hops on young generally healthy adults with mild depression, anxiety and stress levels was investigated.17 Over 4-weeks, subjects (n=36) orally ingested either placebo or 200 mg of hops daily followed by a 2-week washout period before undergoing the alternative treatment (active or placebo).
Assessments performed included the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21) to determine depression, anxiety and stress symptomatology and morning blood cortisol levels, conducted at the beginning and end of each 4-week intervention period. Compared with placebo, hops resulted in significant decreases in DASS-21 anxiety (9.2 +7.3 vs 5.1 +5.9), depression (11.9+7.9 vs9.2 +7.4) and stress scores (19.1+8.1 vs 11.6 + 8.1, all p values <0.05). The authors concluded that the results indicated that hops may have overall mood-enhancing effects.
Recommended Use: Bioclinic Naturals Somni Support
Adults: 2 capsules per night, 30-60 minutes before sleeping, or as directed by a health care practitioner.
Children should not consume this product without medical advice.
Active Ingredients: Bioclinic Naturals Somni Support
Each Capsule Contains: | |
Hops (Humulus lupulus) strobili extract | 125mg |
- Equivalent to dry strobile | 500mg |
Rice (Oryza sativa) grain extract | 5mg |
- Equivalent to dry rice | 450mg |
Alfalfa (Medicago sativa) leaf extract | 80mg |
- Equivalent to dry leaf | 7.2g |
Contains Herbatonin which is a herbal blend to support melatonin in the body to support sleep and the Nervous system.
Excipients: Bioclinic Naturals Somni Support
Contains allergen: sodium
Warnings: Bioclinic Naturals Somni Support
Children should not consume this product without medical advice.
If symptoms persist talk to your health care practitioner.
Not for prolonged use. If symptoms persist seek the advice of a health care practitioner.
Do not use if you are pregnant or likely to become pregnant or while breastfeeding. Keep out of reach of children.
Children should not consume this product without medical advice.