Get to Know the 6 Herbs in Our Calm Down™ Blend
Sleep deprivation is practically our national pastime. Back in 2019, the American Academy of Sleep Medicine found that, while we collectively rank sleep #2 on our list of “must-haves” (after family, of course), we’re falling short on the amount we need to function as our best selves. Back then, the cause was downright wholesome and predictable: We stayed up binge-watching TV and movies. Fast-forward to 2021, and 3 in 10 adults struggle to sleep at least once a week… often because of the state of the world and the pandemic. Scroll the news any time of day, and it’s full of things that’ll keep us up at night!
Our Hello Dreams™ Sleep Strips with Melatonin & Calm Down™ herbal blend couldn’t have launched at a better time. We developed these strips to be an easy, effective way to take herbs to help quiet the mind, drift into deep slumber, and awake restored.* Simply place one on your tongue, let it melt, swallow, and slip off to sleep.*
These strips are thicker and more substantial than, say, a breath-freshening strip if you’ve ever tried one of those. (That’s because we include so many more ingredients to help you get to sleep and stay asleep.*) As soon as you try one of our sleep strips, you’ll taste the pleasant, minty flavor complemented by an herbal earthiness. And, yes, you can use these after you’ve brushed your teeth – they don’t contain any sugar but will taste sweet!
So what’s inside? Good question. Get to know the six herbs we use in our Calm Down™ Blend. They all have rich histories of use in Traditional Chinese Medicine, and they were all carefully selected for their specific benefits.*
1. Sour Jujube Date Seed
Why we use it: It’s a venerable herb that promotes deep, tranquil slumber by reducing irritability and mental distress as well as taming physical tension and restlessness.* It’s the herbal hero in our Calm Down™ Herbal Blend.
Common name: Jujube or Chinese date
TCM name: Suan Zao Ren
Botanical name: Ziziphi spinosae semen
Part used: seeds
Neat tidbits: As far back as the 4th century BC, Jujube was known as one of the most valuable fruits in China.
2. Poria
Why we use it: It’s a mushroom that supports Jujube’s sedating action.* It gently calms and soothes the mind and nervous system.*
Common name: Poria
TCM name: Fu Ling
Botanical name: Wolfiporia cocos
Part used: fruiting body
Neat tidbits: This mushroom actually grows underground!
3. Licorice Root
Why we use it: It’s a balancing herb that encourages synergy among the stronger-acting herbs.* It adds a nourishing, natural sweetness to the overall formula.*
Common name: Licorice
TCM name: Gan Cao
Botanical name: Glycyrrhiza uralensis
Part used: Roots
Neat tidbits: Yes, this is the plant that gives the old-fashioned candy its name and signature flavor. It has long been used for natural sweetness (it’s sweeter than sugar!). Licorice has been widely used, with a history dating back to ancient Egypt, Assyria, China, and India.
4. Szechuan Lovage Rhizome
Why we use it: This warming herb is known for its ability to help provide bodily ease and support for those with occasional sleeplessness.*
Common name: Szechuan Lovage
TCM name: Chuan Xiong
Botanical name: Ligusticum wallichii
Part used: Rhizome (underground stem)
Neat tidbits: This plant is a member of the carrot family, and it’s considered to be a fundamental herb in TCM.
5. Anemarrhena Rhizome
Why we use it: It’s a cooling herb that works with Jujube Seed and Szechuan Lovage Rhizome to prepare the body for sleep by calming the overactive mind and supporting circulation.*
Common name: Anemarrhena
TCM name: Zhi Mu
Botanical name: Anemarrhena asphodeloides
Part used: Rhizome
Neat tidbits: This herb is a member of the lily family.
6. Luohanguo
Why we use it: Otherwise known as “monkfruit,” this ingredient was added to this formula for its flavor-enhancing and balancing powers.
Common name: Monkfruit
TCM name: Luo han guo
Botanical name: Siraitia grosvenorii
Part used: fruit
Neat tidbits: The common name likely comes from the Buddhist monks who first grew this sweet fruit in Asia centuries ago. This herb is a member of the same family as gourds and squash. It is sometimes used as a calorie-free, no-sugar natural sweetener.
The Importance of Balance and Synergy
If you’re a regular reader, you might have heard us discuss the importance of balance in Traditional Chinese Medicine. While the study is complex and nuanced with a history that dates back millennia, at its most basic and simplest, TCM is about balance. We keep that concept in mind when we formulate our products. We balance ancient wisdom with modern life, and we balance the individual herbs used within each formula.
It’s not simply “just add more” – we look at the characteristics of each herb, along with their flavor and other aspects. In most cases, TCM uses multiple herbs in combination to achieve specific benefits. This is because of a concept called synergy.
Synergy means that the sum of the parts are stronger or better than the individual components. Think of synergy like your family: The individual members are pretty great, but the unit you form is better than any of its parts! You can also think: “entourage effect,” “strength in numbers” or “we’re better together.” No matter how you consider it, synergy means that our Hello Dreams™ sleep strips are formulated to be your new bedtime must-have!*
*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.