Sleep is a strange thing. Your body has to sleep but so many things make it difficult to do so. Stress, bad mattress, to much light (TV), kids…..you name it. I had a difficult time sleeping and I have tried numerous OTC and prescription products so when the melatonin sleep strip made it into my mouth and changed my sleeping patterns and my wife’s sleeping patterns I was sold. I couldn’t figure out why it was so much better than other things I have tried, other than the fact that I had to take them laying down because they worked so fast. So I did a little research and I found that the ingredient I love so much is the theanine. So here is some info from WebMD on my favorite enlyten strip.

Sleep Aid Information

What is Theanine?

When your mother told you to have a cup of tea and relax, what she meant was to have a cup of Theanine. Theanine, one of Nature’s own stress remedies, reduces stress and relieves anxiety. This herbal product is now available as a nutritional supplement.

Theanine (chemical name: r-glutamylethylamide) is one of the chemicals found in green tea, and is used to reduce stress and anxiety without the tranquilizing effects found in many other calming agents. Scientific evidence shows that Theanine stimulates the brain’s production of alpha waves, making the user feel relaxed but alert and not drowsy. Theanine also helps the body produce other calming amino acids, such as dopamine, GABA, and tryptophan. As might be expected from a calming supplement,.

This natural supplement comes from the leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant. These leaves may be used to make an extract or brewed as a tea. Theanine is one of the major components of amino acids in Japanese green tea. In Japan, Theanine is added to chewing gum and soft drinks to provide a soothing, relaxing effect without making you drowsy or groggy like other relaxants.

Holistic health practitioners and herbalists have known for centuries that Camellia provides a relaxing and calming tea. Western scientists are only beginning to study the effects of Theanine and the benefits that this natural substance may hold.

Benefits of Theanine

The primary use for Theanine is to reduce stress and anxiety. Reports from people who have used Theanine and the doctors who have studied its effects in their patients suggests that Theanine is effective as a treatment for:

The relaxing nature of Theanine A recent study found that the overwhelming majority of visits to the doctor’s office were related in some way to stress or anxiety. Blood pressure, immune response, heart disease, and cancer have all been connected to stress, either as a cause or as a contributing factor. We can lower the body’s stress levels by learning to relax and using proper nutrition. Part of that nutrition may include Theanine, a main ingredient of tea. The stress-reducing properties of Theanine can help alleviate most conditions in which stress is a major factor.

How Theanine Works?

Theanine enters the brain by passing through blood-brain barrier. Once it is in the brain, Theanine causes significant increases in serotonin and/or dopamine concentrations in the brain, especially in striatum, hypothalamus, and hippocampus. Serotonin and dopamine are often referred to as the brain’s “feel good chemicals.” The body naturally produces more of these chemicals when we are happy or feeling good. When serotonin and dopamine concentrations are increased, the individual feels more relaxed and calmer.

Theanine Dosage

Theanine is a nutritional supplement, not a medication. There are no established doses for this product.

What is melatonin?

Melatonin is a hormone produced in the pineal gland, a small gland in the brain, that helps regulate sleep and wake cycles. Very small amounts of melatonin are found in foods such as meats, grains, fruits, and vegetables. It is also available as a dietary supplement, though it has no known nutritional value.

Your body has its own internal clock that helps regulate your natural cycle of sleeping and waking hours (or circadian rhythm) in part by controlling the production of melatonin. Normally, melatonin levels begin to rise in the mid- to late evening, remain high for most of the night, and then decline in the early morning hours. Natural melatonin production is partly affected by light

Natural melatonin levels decline gradually with age. Some older adults produce very small amounts of melatonin or none at all.

Melatonin Dosage

In adults, melatonin is taken in different dosages from 0.2 to 20.0 mg, depending on the reason for using the supplement. The recommended dose is typically 0.5 mg. The appropriate dosage of melatonin varies widely from one person to another. If you have difficulty getting to sleep or staying asleep, your health professional can help determine the proper dosage and whether melatonin is right for you.

Source: WebMD