Essentials: Sleep

J. Robertson and T. Monte. Natural Prozac-Learning to Release Your Body’s Own Anti-Depressants. San Francisco: Harper; 1997.] While research regarding its effectiveness has been mixed overall, 5-HTP benefits may include helping reduce overeating and weight gain, sleep-related issues, anxiety, chronic pain and more. 5-HTP may not make you sleepy? It doesn’t work like sleep-inducing medications, which can make you feel very drowsy, but it may help you to feel more relaxed — which allows you to sleep more easily. It’s been found that it works especially well for combating insomnia when taken with GABA and valerian root, which also have calming effects, so this works well with my other sleep formula ingredients. Taken together, they decrease the time needed to fall asleep.