Many people have trouble relaxing and/or sleeping.  Some also have anxiety, and sometimes, mood/bipolar, and weight management issues.

Insomnia is a common problem.  And while there are many causes and hence many interventions for it, the lack of sleep may be pointing to a need for special nutrition.  “Sleep is believed to be caused by an active inhibitory process” [1].  Furthermore, in a sense, the same can be said to be true for a calm, restful mind as the body needs to secrete calming hormones such as norepinephrine [1].

“All humans experience fear and anxiety…Anxiety can arise suddenly, as in panic, or gradually over many minutes, hours, or even days.  Anxiety can last from a few seconds to years” [2].  In today’s fast-paced, and often confusing society, it is no wonder that anxiety has increased.   Depression can precede or be preceded by anxiety [2].

While “[t]he causes of anxiety disorders are not fully known” there are more than “200 neurotransmitters and neuromodulators of the brain” that can affect “abnormal arousal and anxiety” [2].  For everyone faced with a “fight or flight situation” epinephrine (formerly called adrenalin) is secreted by the adrenal glands [2].  The body’s homeostatic mechanisms normally will handle this and help calm the person down and relieve feelings of anxiety.  However it appears that this does not happen as well in some nervous people and some who are inclined towards panic attacks. 

Throughout human history, tonic herbs and other Foods have been found to be restful and helpful for various forms of anxiety, nervousness, and sleeplessness.

Bovine/ovine hypothalamus supplies hypothalamic tissue.  The hypothalamus is the body’s master endocrine gland, and thus has control over many bodily processes.  “Almost all secretion by the pituitary is controlled by either hormonal or nervous signals from the hypothalamus…[t]he hypothalamus in turn receives signals from almost all possible sources in the nervous system” [1].  The hypothalamus can cause tranquility [2] and affects emotions such as fear and rage [2,3].    The hypothalamus is also involved in the sleep process and appetite [2]. “SLC6A14…{is} found to be highly expressed in the central nervous system, especially in those regions of the hypothalamus where feeding behavior is regulated and act by modulating the orexigenic effect of -aminobutyric acid or by affecting tryptophan availability for the synthesis of serotonin” [4].  SLC6A14 also seems to be a factor in appetite control [5], hence hypothalamus nutrition may possibly be helpful in this regard.  In addition to supporting tranquility, the hypothalamus appears to be a factor in weight management, including improved metabolism [6].

Bovine ovary supplies ovarian tissue.  Ovarian tissue has long been advised to improve sleep, moods, and aid with calcium disorders [7-10]. 

Bovine parotid supplies parotid tissue.  Some practitioners believe that parotid tissue in glandular supplements ‘tags’ the other tissues to be more useful in the body.  It has also believed that parotid tissue positively influences the endocrine glands to become better nourished, hence functioning better [11].

Bovine pineal supplies pineal tissue.  The pineal gland regulates circadian rhythm, as it secretes melatonin [12], and hence has often been advised to promote better sleep.  Some practitioners also report that supplementation with it is helpful for moods and the mind during the waking hours as well [10].

Bovine pituitary supplies pituitary tissue.  The pituitary is an important master endocrine gland that is located near the hypothalamus.  Pituitary glands have long been advised for nervous exhaustion, stress intolerance, metabolic disorders, and nervous manifestations [13].  Some have also advised it for sleep concerns and Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD).

FOOD RESEARCH PRODUCTS ARE 100% FOOD!
 “L-tryptophan is an essential amino acid, which must be consumed from food since the body cannot make it using other amino acids. It is present in virtually all plant and animal proteins. Once the body absorbs L-tryptophan, it converts {some of}it into 5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP) and then into the neurotransmitter serotonin. It is primarily the serotonin that does all the wonderful things attributed to L-tryptophan—inducing sleep, reducing premenstrual syndrome (PMS) symptoms, promoting weight loss and addressing depression” [14].  “Stress-related mood deterioration and affective disorders, such as depression, are among the leading causes of disease burden throughout the world, and are associated with severe medical consequences and mortality. Research has shown the involvement of dysfunctional brain serotonin (5-HT) biochemistry as a vulnerable biological factor in the onset of mood disturbances. Since the production of brain serotonin is limited by the availability of its plasma dietary amino acid precursor tryptophan, different foods and dietary amino acids that influence tryptophan availability are thought to alter affective behavior by changing brain 5-HT synthesis” [15].   Those with bipolar disorder seem to have lower levels of serotonin [16].  A study involving those with obsessive compulsive disorder found that “[a]fter 5 h of tryptophan depletion, 6 out of 7 patients reported worsening of mood” [17]. Tryptophan depletion seems to increase depression as well as certain facial features associated with autism, like lack of proper emotional expression [18].  One recent study found that taking L-tryptophan increased both serotonin and melatonin and improved nocturnal sleep [19]. 

Lemon balm, Melissa officinalis, “has mild sedative…antibacterial, antiviral, anti-oxidative…effects” [20].  Historically has been used for “nervous complaints, lower abdominal disorders, meteorism, nervous gastric complaints, hysteria and melancholia, chronic catarrh, nervous palpitations, vomiting, migraine, nervous debility, headache, and high blood pressure” [20].  “Melissa officinalis (Lemon balm) is a herbal medicine that has traditionally been attributed with memory-enhancing properties, but which is currently more widely used as a mild sedative and sleep aid. In a previous study it was demonstrated that a commercial Melissa extract led to dose-specific increases in calmness… results suggest that doses of Melissa officinalis at or above the maximum employed here can improve cognitive performance and mood and may therefore be a valuable adjunct in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease” [21].  Lemon balm’s effectiveness may be related to the fact that it appears to reduce the production of one or more anti-GABA enzymes [22] (GABA an inhibitory neurotransmitter [1]).
 
Restful Mind Support can sometimes be helpful for people with restless minds, insomnia, anxiety, concentration, obesity, as it can help them feel better.  Restful Mind Support is not a pharmaceutical product and is 100% Food.

Many people take Restful Mind Support as a 100% Food supplement to help them feel better.

Restful Mind Support Video

Nutrition from food, what a concept!

References
[1] Guyton AG, Hall JE.  Textbook of Medical Physiology, 9th ed.  W.B. Saunders Co., Phil., 1996
[2] Beers MH and Berkow R, eds.  The Merck Manual of Diagnosis and Therapy, 17th ed.  Merck Research Laboratories, Whitehouse Station (NJ), 1999
[3] Profiles in Nutritional Progress.  Rubicon Productions, Bakersfield (CA), 1993
[4] Durand E, Boutin P, Meyre D, Charles MA, Clement K, Dina C, Froguel P.  Polymorphisms in the amino acid transporter solute carrier family 6 (neurotransmitter transporter) member 14 gene contribute to polygenic obesity in French Caucasians.  Diabetes. 2004 Sep;53(9):2483-6
[5] Suviolahti E, Oksanen LJ, Ohman M, Cantor RM, Ridderstrale M, Tuomi T, Kaprio J, Rissanen A, Mustajoki P, Jousilahti P, Vartiainen E, Silander K, Kilpikari R, Salomaa V, Groop L, Kontula K, Peltonen L, Pajukanta P. The SLC6A14 gene shows evidence of association with obesity.  J Clin Invest. 2003 Dec;112(11):1762-72
[6] Guijarro A, Laviano A, Meguid MM.  Hypothalamic integration of immune function and metabolism.  Prog Brain Res. 2006;153:367-405
Lee R.  Therapeutic Food Manual, circa 1950
[7] Lee R.  Ovary Cytotrophin.  In Product Bulletins, circa 1950
[8] Versendaal DA.  Contact Reflex Assessment and Applied Trophology.  D.A. Versendaal, Holland (MI), 1990
[9] Harrower H.  An Endocrine Handbook.  The Harrower Laboratory, Glendale (CA), 1939
[10] Thiel R.  Serious Nutrition for Health Care Professionals, 2nd edition.  Center for Natural Health  Research, Arroyo Grande (CA), 1996
[11] Lee R.  Parotid Cytotrophin.  In Product Bulletins, circa 1950
[12] Grant SG, Melan MA, Latimer JJ, Witt-Enderby PA.  Melatonin and breast cancer: cellular mechanisms, clinical studies and future perspectives.  Expert Rev Mol Med. 2009 Feb 5;11:e5
[13] Lee R.  Pituitary Cytotrophin.  In Product Bulletins, circa 1950
[14] Bruno G. Revisting the Safety, Efficacy of L-Tryptophan: Part II.   April 2, 2007
[15] Markus CR.  Dietary Amino Acids and Brain Serotonin Function; Implications for Stress-Related Affective Changes.  Neuromolecular Med. 2008 2008;10(4):247-58
[16] Wiste AK, Arango V, Ellis SP, Mann JJ, Underwood MD.  Norepinephrine and serotonin imbalance in the locus coeruleus in bipolar disorder.  Bipolar Disord. 2008 May;10(3):349-59
[17] Külz AK, Meinzer S, Kopasz M, Voderholzer U.  Effects of tryptophan depletion on cognitive functioning, obsessive-compulsive symptoms and mood in obsessive-compulsive disorder: preliminary results.  Neuropsychobiology. 2007;56(2-3):127-31
[18] Williams JH, Perrett DI, Waiter GD, Pechey S. Differential effects of tryptophan depletion on emotion processing according to face direction.  Soc Cogn Affect Neurosci. 2007 Dec;2(4):264-273
[19] Paredes SD, Terrón MP, Cubero J, Valero V, Barriga C, Reiter RJ, Rodríguez AB.  Tryptophan increases nocturnal rest and affects melatonin and serotonin serum levels in old ringdove. Physiol Behav. 2007 Mar 16;90(4):576-82
[20] Gruenwald J, Brendler T, Jaenicke C, eds.  PDR for Herbal Medicine, 4th ed..  Thomson Healthcare, Montvale (NJ), 2007
[21] Kennedy DO, Wake G, Savelev S, Tildesley NT, Perry EK, Wesnes KA, Scholey AB.  Modulation of mood and cognitive performance following acute administration of single doses of Melissa officinalis (Lemon balm) with human CNS nicotinic and muscarinic receptor-binding properties.  Neuropsychopharmacology. 2003 Oct;28(10):1871-81
[22] Awad R, Levac D, Cybulska P, Merali Z, Trudeau VL, Arnason JT.  Effects of traditionally used anxiolytic botanicals on enzymes of the gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) system.  Can J Physiol Pharmacol. 2007 Sep;85(9):933-42