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Ancient Remedies of Chinese Medicine and from the Celts Support Relaxation and Healthy Sleep

Relaxation and Healthy Sleep

In addition to popular botanicals and botanically-derived substances like ashwagandha and L-theanine, many other natural agents that support relaxation and healthy sleep also exist. As practitioners, the more tools we can have in our toolkit the better, as almost daily we encounter someone who has “tried everything,” reacts paradoxically, or has allergies or other reasons for avoidance of many of well-thought out and studied things we might suggest. A combination of botanicals used in Classical Chinese Medicine and an extract from a deep-sea fish used by the Ancient Celts are two lesser known, yet effective, interventions to consider when supporting your stressed and emotionally-challenged patients.

A Classic Chinese Medicine Blend Supports Relaxation and Healthy Sleep

Relaxation and Healthy SleepCollective Happiness Bark, also known as Silk tree (Albizia julibrissin) is one of three herbs in a blend of botanicals used in Chinese medicine for their calming effect, as well as to support sleep at higher doses. The other botanicals in this blend are Ramulus uncariae, also known as Gou Teng or Gamdir vine, and Jujube (Ziziphus spinose) seed. In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), mood issues such as irritability, frustration, and nervousness, as well as insomnia, are seen as a collective issue of the heart and the liver. This blend of botanicals is focused at calming down the liver, clearing heat and removing spasm, also removing obstructions to the flow of Chi and quieting the spirit.

Although descriptions and concepts such as these are unfamiliar to many who practice Western medicine, the research behind these botanicals brings up terms with which we have much familiarity such as serotonergic, GABAergic, and neuroprotective.1,These botanicals also have been demonstrated to have antioxidant effects,3,4,5 which is important to consider as well in mood disorders such as depression.6

Silk tree has been shown in animal models to have anxiolytic effects, targeting serotonergic systems and 5-HT1A and 5-HT2C receptors in the brain.7,8 The bark, and two flavonol glycosides (quercitrin and isoquercitrin) isolated from this plant, have been demonstrated to have dose-dependent sedative effects in mice, decreasing sleep latency and increasing sleeping duration.9 Rhynchophylline, one of the major constituents of Ramulus uncariae, has been shown to modulate sleep, increasing both total sleep time and rapid eye movement in rats.10 Finally, jujube seed and its extract or constituent compounds have been shown to have GABAergic effects, with anxiolytic effects at lower doses and sedative effects at higher doses.11 Jujube has also been shown to have neuroprotective effects, stimulating neurogenesis, and improving learning and memory.12 Although animal studies offer modest evidence, the centuries of traditional use of these botanical weighs heavily in support.

Mood and Adrenal-Supporting Food from the Deep Seas

One of the things that can be helpful when stresses run high are substances known as adaptogens. Adaptogens help the body adapt to stressors, be they physical, mental, or other challenges of endurance. Adaptogens commonly are the roots of herbs such as licorice root, ginseng, maca, rhodiola, and many more. Not only are these deep plant parts useful – an extract from the deep-sea fish, Blue Ling (Molva dypterygia), has also been shown to have adaptogenic effects. This deep-water fish is found at a depth of 1500 to 3000 feet, where the oxygen deficiency and extreme pressure and temperature have made it develop a highly specialized metabolism and physiology.13 Historically, the extract from this fish was used by the ancient Celts to improve resilience to physical and emotional stress.

This extract contains a high concentration of amino acids, small peptides, essential fatty acids (including omega-3, omega-6 and omega-9), and is rich in vitamins A, D, and E which serve as food to the brain, supporting neurotransmitter production and healthy cellular function. In animal studies, the extract has been shown to have anxiolytic and antidepressant-like effects, reducing immobility time in swimming challenges and increasing exploratory behavior.14,15 In humans, improved motivation and concentration, reduced fatigue, as well as increased alpha wave activity, have been observed.16,17 Additionally, in healthy college students, significantly reduced anxiety has also been observed with ongoing consumption, with trends towards reduced anxiety for a prolonged period after discontinuation as well.18

Dr. Decker is a Naturopathic Doctor, graduating with honors from the National College of Natural Medicine (now the National University of Natural Medicine) in Portland, Oregon. Dr. Decker sees patients at her office in Portland, OR, as well as remotely, with a focus on gastrointestinal disease, mood imbalances, eating disorders, autoimmune disease, and chronic fatigue. Prior to becoming a naturopathic physician, Dr. Decker was an engineer, and obtained graduate degrees in biomedical and mechanical engineering from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign respectfully.  Dr. Decker continues to enjoy academic research and writing and uses these skills to support integrative medicine education as a writer and contributor to various resources. Dr. Decker supports Allergy Research Group® as a member of their education and product development team.
These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

 

References
[1] Shergis JL, et al. Ziziphus spinosa seeds for insomnia: A review of chemistry and psychopharmacology. Phytomedicine. 2017 Oct 15;34:38-43.
[2] Yokoyama K, et al. Protective effects of Choto-san and hooks and stems of Uncaria sinensis against delayed neuronal death after transient forebrain ischemia in gerbil. Phytomedicine. 2004 Sep;11(6):478-89.
[3] Jung MJ, et al. Antioxidant activity from the stem bark of Albizzia julibrissin. Arch Pharm Res. 2003 Jun;26(6):458-62.
[4] Choi SH, et al. Distribution of free amino acids, flavonoids, total phenolics, and antioxidative activities of Jujube (Ziziphus jujuba) fruits and seeds harvested from plants grown in Korea. J Agric Food Chem. 2011 Jun 22;59(12):6594-604.
[5] Laus G. Advances in chemistry and bioactivity of the genus Uncaria. Phytother Res. 2004 Apr;18(4):259-74.
[6] Moylan S, et al. Oxidative & nitrosative stress in depression: why so much stress? Neurosci Biobehav Rev. 2014 Sep;45:46-62.
[7] Jung JW, et al. Effect of chronic Albizia julibrissin treatment on 5-hydroxytryptamine1A receptors in rat brain. Pharmacol Biochem Behav. 2005 May;81(1):205-10.
[8] Cho SM, et al. Hypnotic effects and binding studies for GABA(A) and 5-HT(2C) receptors of traditional medicinal plants used in Asia for insomnia. J Ethnopharmacol. 2010 Oct 28;132(1):225-32.
[9] Kang TH, et al. Sedative activity of two flavonol glycosides isolated from the flowers of Albizzia julibrissin Durazz. J Ethnopharmacol. 2000 Jul;71(1-2):321-3.
[10] Yoo JH, et al. Rhynchophylline, One of Major Constituents of Uncariae Ramulus et Uncus Enhances Pentobarbital-induced Sleep Behaviors and Rapid Eye Movement Sleep in Rodents. Nat Prod Sci. 2016 Dec 1;22(4):263-9.
[11] Peng WH, et al. Anxiolytic effect of seed of Ziziphus jujuba in mouse models of anxiety. J Ethnopharmacol. 2000 Oct;72(3):435-41.
[12] Chen J, et al. A Review of Dietary Ziziphus jujuba Fruit (Jujube): Developing Health Food Supplements for Brain Protection. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2017;2017:3019568.
[13] Cheung RC, et al. Marine Peptides: Bioactivities and Applications. Mar Drugs. 2015 Jun 29;13(7):4006-43.
[14] Messaoudi M, et al. Anxiolytic and antidepressant-like effects of garum armoricum (GA), a blue ling fish protein autolysate in male wistar rats. Cur Topics Nutr Res. 2008 Aug 1;6(3).
[15] Messaoudi M, et al. The effects of garum armoricum (GA) on elevated-plus maze and conditioned light extinction tests in rats. Current Topics in Nutraceutical Research. 2008 Feb 1;6(1).
[16] Messaoudi M, et al. Behavioral, cognitive and physiological effects of Garum Armoricum, a fish protein enzymatic autolysate, in human healthy subjects. Fund Clin Pharma. 2009 Jun 1;23:74.
[17] Quantitative analysis of alpha waves under Stabilium. Denentoshi Hospital. Koesi, Japan. Unpublished data.
[18] Dorman T, et al. The effectiveness of Garom Amoricum (Stabilium) on Reducing Anxiety in College Students. J Adv Med. 1995; 8(3):193-200.

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