R405.00 Incl. VAT
Our Insomnia Supplement is carefully formulated to help the body relax, calm the mind, and ease tension for a smoother transition into sleep. It supports the body’s natural rhythms, promoting quicker sleep onset, deeper rest, and more restorative sleep cycles for long-term balance and wellbeing.
Our Herbal Insomnia Supplement is designed to naturally support relaxation and encourage restful sleep. By combining calming botanicals, this supplement works in harmony with the body's natural processes to address insomnia without disruption. It provides a gentle and holistic solution for managing sleep disturbances, promoting a tranquil bedtime experience and facilitating rejuvenating sleep.
Adults (18+): 2–4 capsules in the evening.
Adolescents (12–16): 1–2 capsules in the evening.
Children under 12 years: Not recommended.
How to take: Swallow with water about 30 minutes before bedtime. Best taken on an empty stomach or after a light snack.
Combine with tincture at bedtime if required, as tincture absorbs quicker.
Ingredients as traditionally used for this supplement.
Glycine
Gaba
L-Theanine
L-Tryptophan
Magnesium Bisglycinate
Selenium
Taurine
Vit B6, C, D3, E, Zinc
Lion’s Mane
Passionflower
Reishi
Valerian & other herbs
Capsule Ingredients:
For best results, use both Capsule, and tincture
| Ingredient | Sleep Role | Section | Onset Speed |
| GABA | Reduces nervous system overactivity, easing restlessness and supporting quicker sleep onset. | Sleep Onset | Rapid – 30–60 min |
| L-Theanine | Encourages relaxation and lowers stress responses, making it easier to drift into sleep calmly. | Sleep Onset | Rapid – 30–60 min |
| Passionflower | Calms the mind and nervous system, reducing time to fall asleep. | Sleep Onset | Rapid – 30–60 min |
| Valerian | Shortens the time needed to fall asleep and improves early sleep quality. | Sleep Onset | Moderate – 1–2 weeks consistent use, but can aid onset in 60 min |
| Glycine | Promotes relaxation and helps regulate body temperature, contributing to deeper, restorative sleep. | Sleep Depth | Rapid – 30–60 min |
| Magnesium Bisglycinate | Relaxes muscles and nerves, reducing tension and supporting slow-wave sleep. | Sleep Depth | Moderate – several days to build, benefits seen within 1 week |
| Taurine | Calms brain activity and supports both deep and REM sleep phases. | Sleep Depth | Moderate – within days, stronger effect with consistent use |
| Reishi | Promotes relaxation and stress resilience, extending deep sleep cycles. | Sleep Depth | Slow – builds over 1–2 weeks |
| Lion’s Mane | Supports overnight brain recovery and memory consolidation during sleep. | Sleep Depth | Slow – requires 2+ weeks for noticeable effects |
| L-Tryptophan | Provides the building blocks for serotonin and melatonin, regulating circadian rhythm and dream quality. | Sleep Regulation | Moderate – 1–2 nights, stronger after several days |
| Vitamin B6 | Supports melatonin synthesis, improving sleep–wake regulation. | Sleep Regulation | Slow – requires consistent daily use |
| Vitamin D3 | Helps align circadian rhythm for consistent sleep patterns. | Sleep Regulation | Slow – requires consistent daily use |
| Vitamin C | Reduces stress-related disturbances, supporting smoother sleep cycles. | Sleep Regulation | Moderate – benefits within days, stronger over weeks |
| Vitamin E | Protects brain cells during sleep, reducing oxidative stress that disrupts rest. | Sleep Regulation | Slow – consistent use required |
| Zinc | Assists melatonin regulation, supporting regular sleep phases and continuity. | Sleep Regulation | Moderate – benefits within 1–2 weeks |
| Selenium | Strengthens antioxidant defense in the brain, stabilizing overall sleep quality. | Sleep Regulation | Slow – consistent use required |
Catnip: Enhances the body's natural ability to induce a sedative effect, contributing to relief from insomnia, anxiety, and stress.
Chamomile: Potentiates the body's own anxiolytic and sedative mechanisms, promoting relaxation and addressing insomnia.
Hops: Enhances the body's natural ability to induce relaxation by modulating GABA receptors, contributing to stress reduction.
Lavender: Modulates GABA receptors to support the body's own anxiolytic and sedative processes, aiding stress and insomnia management.
Lemon Balm: Aids the body's natural calming mechanisms by inducing a soothing effect, particularly effective for insomnia, anxiety, and stress relief.
Motherwort: Alleviates nervous palpitations by supporting the body's natural mechanisms, promoting a calm state.
Oat Straw: Promotes relaxation through the body's natural neurotransmitter modulation, particularly effective for addressing insomnia.
Passionflower: Enhances the body's natural anxiolytic mechanisms, contributing to sedative effects for insomnia and anxiety relief.
Skullcap: Modulates GABA receptors to support the body's own anxiolytic processes, addressing headaches and muscle aches associated with stress.
Valerian: Enhances the body's natural sedative mechanisms by modulating GABA receptors, contributing to insomnia, anxiety, and stress relief.
Not suitable for pregnant women.
Do not use with alcohol or before driving or operating machinery.
Protect from sunlight.
Store below 25°c.
Practitioner’s Technical Info for both Tinctures & Capsules
Description
This insomnia capsule combines sedative herbs, amino acids, adaptogens, minerals, and vitamins to promote rapid sleep onset, deepen sleep phases, and restore circadian balance. The formulation supports the central nervous system, hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis, neurotransmitter pathways, and peripheral mechanisms such as vascular tone and muscle relaxation. The synergy is designed not only to induce sleep but to address chronic insomnia by stabilizing neuroendocrine function, lowering nighttime arousal, and improving brain–body recovery.
| Sleep Stage | Key Ingredients | Active Compounds | Mechanism & Effect |
| Stage 1 (Sleep Onset) | Valerian, Passionflower, L-Theanine, GABA, Ashwagandha | Valerenic acid, apigenin, theanine, GABA, withanolides | Bind to GABA_A and benzodiazepine receptors, reduce cortical hyperarousal, lower cortisol, promote rapid transition from wakefulness into light sleep. |
| Stage 2 (Light Non-REM) | Skullcap (if included), Magnesium, Glycine, Gotu Kola | Flavonoids, Mg²⁺, glycine, asiaticoside | Enhance inhibitory neurotransmission, lower core body temperature, stabilize hippocampal circuits; reduce night-time awakenings and increase spindle activity for memory consolidation. |
| Stage 3 (Deep Slow-Wave Sleep) | Valerian, Glycine, Magnesium, Lion’s Mane, Taurine | Valerenic acid, glycine, Mg²⁺, erinacines/hericenones, taurine | Strengthen inhibitory tone, promote slow-wave oscillations, increase nerve growth factor, reduce sympathetic firing; restore physical energy and tissue repair. |
| Stage 4 (Consolidated Deep Sleep) | Reishi, Passionflower, Taurine | Reishi triterpenes, apigenin, taurine | Enhance vagal tone, extend deep sleep duration, calm autonomic system, prevent premature waking. |
| REM Sleep (Dreaming Phase) | Tryptophan, Zinc, Reishi, Vitamin D3 | Serotonin → melatonin, zinc ions, reishi polysaccharides, calcitriol | Ensure melatonin synthesis, regulate circadian clock, support hippocampal emotional processing, stabilize REM duration and reduce fragmentation. |
| Pain Relief Across All Stages | Crampbark, White Willow, Feverfew | Viburnin, salicin, parthenolide | Reduce muscle tension, inhibit prostaglandins, ease headaches; minimize pain-related awakenings. |
| Stress & Anxiety Control | Ashwagandha, Gotu Kola, Taurine | Withanolides, asiaticoside, taurine | Balance HPA axis, reduce cortisol and adrenaline surges, calm amygdala-driven anxiety that delays sleep. |
HERBS – Sleep Stage Roles
AMINO ACIDS – Sleep Stage Roles
VITAMINS & MINERALS – Sleep Stage Roles
BALANCE OVERVIEW
✅ Interpretation:
Relative Weight Contribution in our capsule
1. HERBS – Contribution
Category Balance
✅ Conclusion:
Our formula is amino-acid dominant, making it best for long-term sleep depth and continuity. The amino acids carry the middle and deep stages of sleep, ensuring cycles are strong and restorative. Herbs are still critical for falling asleep quickly, as they provide rapid calming and sedation; without them, people may take longer to drift off. Vitamins and minerals are not major sedatives, but they optimize the environment for the herbs and amino acids to work consistently over weeks, helping circadian rhythm, neurotransmitter synthesis, and stress resistance.
When used together with our Insomnia Tincture, the capsule covers the structural foundation of sleep (deep stages, REM regulation, circadian balance), while the tincture accelerates sleep onset through faster-acting liquid absorption of herbal sedatives like Valerian, Passionflower, Lemon Balm, and Hops. This combination allows users to fall asleep more quickly while maintaining proper depth and stability throughout the night, offering both immediate relief and long-term correction of insomnia patterns.
Dosage:
Children under 12 years
👉 Because of the combined herbs plus high-dose amino acids/minerals, capsules are not suitable for children under 12. The tincture is safer since you can scale drop-by-drop.
Children 12–16 years
👉 Children 12–16 years may use the capsule, but at a lower dose: 1–2 capsules in the evening before bed, depending on body weight and sensitivity.
Adults (16/18+ years)
Do they need to take the capsule with meals?
Here’s how it works with our capsule blend:
✅ Best compromise for our formula:
Take capsules 30–60 minutes before bedtime, on an empty stomach or after only a light snack (not directly with a full meal). This ensures the amino acids and herbs can act quickly, while the mineral doses remain gentle enough not to irritate the stomach.
What is Insomnia?
Insomnia
Insomnia is a sleep disorder characterized by difficulty falling asleep, staying asleep, or experiencing non-restorative sleep despite having the opportunity to sleep. It can lead to various symptoms, including fatigue, mood disturbances, difficulty concentrating, and impaired daytime functioning. Insomnia can be a short-term or chronic condition and may be influenced by a variety of factors, including stress, lifestyle, medical conditions, and certain medications.
Chemicals Involved
Several chemicals and neurotransmitters play a role in regulating sleep-wake cycles and influencing insomnia. One key neurotransmitter involved in sleep is gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA).
The intricate interplay of these chemicals and hormones in the brain and body contributes to the regulation of sleep. Imbalances or disruptions in these systems can lead to sleep disturbances, including insomnia. Treatment approaches for insomnia may involve addressing underlying causes, making lifestyle changes, and, in some cases, using medications that target neurotransmitters involved in sleep regulation.
Symptoms of Insomnia
Insomnia is characterized by difficulties in initiating or maintaining sleep, and it can lead to various symptoms that affect both nighttime sleep and daytime functioning. The severity and duration of symptoms can vary. Common symptoms of insomnia include:
It’s important to note that insomnia is a symptom itself and can be a secondary symptom of other underlying conditions, such as anxiety, depression, or medical issues. If someone is experiencing persistent insomnia or if the symptoms significantly impact their quality of life, it is advisable to consult with a healthcare professional for a proper evaluation and appropriate management.
The role of the Pineal Gland in Insomnia
The pineal gland, a small, pinecone-shaped gland located in the brain, plays a crucial role in the regulation of the sleep-wake cycle through its production of the hormone melatonin. Melatonin is often referred to as the “sleep hormone” because its release is closely tied to the circadian rhythm, helping signal the body that it is time to sleep. The pineal gland and melatonin production are implicated in the development and management of insomnia in the following ways:
Circadian Rhythm Regulation:
Melatonin’s Role in Sleep Initiation:
Insomnia and Melatonin Disruption:
Use of Melatonin Supplements for Insomnia:
Age-Related Changes:
It’s important to note that while melatonin and the pineal gland are crucial for the regulation of sleep, insomnia is a multifaceted condition with various contributing factors. Other neurotransmitters and hormones, such as serotonin and cortisol, also play roles in sleep regulation and can impact insomnia. Additionally, psychological factors, lifestyle choices, and underlying medical conditions can contribute to the development and persistence of insomnia.
Preventing Insomnia
Remember that individual responses to sleep habits can vary, and it’s essential to find a combination of strategies that work for you. If persistent insomnia is a concern, consult with a healthcare professional for personalized guidance.
Ingredients which are traditionally used for this disorder
Technical info:
Active Compounds
Ashwagandha: The withanolides in Ashwagandha reduce cortisol release from the adrenal glands, lowering HPA axis hyperactivity that often keeps the mind alert at night. By enhancing GABAergic signaling in the hypothalamus and amygdala, Ashwagandha supports transition into stage 1 non-REM sleep, particularly useful for stress-induced insomnia where sympathetic tone is elevated.
Crampbark: Viburnin glycosides and coumarins in Crampbark act on calcium ion channels in smooth and skeletal muscle, reducing nocturnal spasms and musculoskeletal tension. By calming peripheral discomfort, it indirectly improves stage 2 sleep continuity and reduces awakenings caused by pain or restless muscle contractions.
Feverfew: Sesquiterpene lactones such as parthenolide modulate serotonin release and prostaglandin activity in cranial vessels, reducing vascular headaches and migraines that interfere with falling asleep. Its effect is most relevant to sleep initiation, helping prevent pain-related arousal during early non-REM stages.
Gotu Kola: Triterpenoids including asiaticoside and madecassoside enhance GABA receptor activity and improve cerebral microcirculation. This improves stability of stage 2 non-REM sleep and supports hippocampal signaling, reducing nocturnal anxiety-driven wakefulness.
Lion’s Mane Mushroom: Erinacines and hericenones stimulate nerve growth factor (NGF), enhancing hippocampal plasticity and circadian signaling between the suprachiasmatic nucleus and pineal gland. This improves melatonin release and consolidation of stage 3 deep non-REM sleep, vital for restoration in chronic insomnia.
Passionflower: Flavonoids such as apigenin and vitexin bind to GABA_A receptors, prolonging inhibitory currents in cortical and thalamic neurons. This facilitates the onset of sleep, shortens sleep latency, and deepens stage 2 and stage 3 non-REM sleep, particularly effective in anxiety-driven insomnia.
Reishi Mushroom: Triterpenes and polysaccharides in Reishi regulate autonomic balance by enhancing vagal tone. By reducing sympathetic nervous system dominance, it stabilizes heart rate variability and improves REM sleep regulation, supporting the emotional processing function of REM cycles.
Valerian Root: Valerenic acid and valepotriates directly bind to GABA_A receptors and inhibit GABA breakdown, producing benzodiazepine-like effects. Valerian accelerates sleep onset (stage 1), deepens slow-wave sleep (stage 3), and lengthens overall non-REM phases. It is the primary fast-acting sedative element in the formula.
White Willow Bark: Salicin and related salicylates inhibit prostaglandin synthesis and reduce pain signaling in the spinal cord. By lowering peripheral pain, White Willow supports uninterrupted deep non-REM sleep, especially for those with inflammatory pain that causes multiple night awakenings.
Amino Acids & Neurotransmitter Precursors
Glycine: Functions as an inhibitory neurotransmitter in the spinal cord and preoptic hypothalamus. By lowering core body temperature via vasodilation, glycine induces natural sleepiness and supports deeper stage 3 non-REM sleep consolidation.
GABA: As the brain’s chief inhibitory neurotransmitter, GABA supplementation strengthens inhibitory tone in cortical and limbic structures. This accelerates transition from wakefulness to stage 1 sleep and reduces cortical hyperarousal, central to many cases of sleep-onset insomnia.
L-Theanine: Promotes alpha brainwave activity through modulation of glutamate and dopamine, creating a state of relaxed wakefulness before sleep. It improves transition into stage 1 non-REM sleep while enhancing serotonin and GABA availability, which benefits sleep maintenance and quality.
L-Tryptophan: Precursor to serotonin and melatonin, tryptophan is essential for circadian regulation. Adequate levels ensure pineal melatonin synthesis, which initiates sleep onset and maintains REM cycles. It is particularly effective in restoring circadian-driven insomnia.
Taurine: Acts as a partial agonist at GABA_A and glycine receptors, stabilizing neuronal excitability. Taurine reduces nocturnal cardiac palpitations and calms the central nervous system, improving continuity across all sleep stages, particularly stage 2 and stage 3 non-REM.
Minerals
Magnesium Bisglycinate: Enhances GABA_A receptor binding and NMDA receptor modulation in the hypothalamus and cortex. Magnesium deficiency leads to fragmented sleep and restless legs. Adequate levels deepen stage 3 slow-wave sleep and improve overall sleep efficiency.
Zinc Bisglycinate: Modulates NMDA receptors and supports melatonin synthesis. Zinc improves REM sleep duration and circadian rhythm stability, ensuring balanced progression through sleep cycles.
Selenium AAC: Functions as a cofactor for glutathione peroxidase, protecting neurons in sleep-regulating centers from oxidative stress. Selenium indirectly supports circadian regulation by balancing thyroid hormone metabolism, contributing to improved REM–non-REM cycling.
Vitamins
Vitamin B6: Cofactor in serotonin and melatonin synthesis pathways, converting tryptophan into these key neurotransmitters. Adequate B6 supports both sleep initiation and maintenance of REM sleep quality.
Vitamin C: Regulates adrenal catecholamine release, lowering nighttime adrenaline surges that delay sleep onset. Its antioxidant effect protects neurons in sleep-regulating brain regions.
Vitamin D3: Regulates circadian signaling through receptors in the hypothalamus and pineal gland. D3 deficiency is strongly linked with poor sleep efficiency and shortened REM phases.
Vitamin E: Antioxidant protection of neuronal membranes and mitochondrial function. By reducing oxidative stress in hippocampal and hypothalamic regions, Vitamin E supports long-term sleep architecture stability.
Technical specifications are only available to registered distributors. Please log in to view the Technical Information.
For more technical advice, please contact one of our distributors in your area.
If you are interested in becoming a practitioner, please visit our training website for more information on herbs and their applications.
Herbs for Africa now manufactures and distributes all TransLife tinctures. To order, please shop on Herbs for Africa.
How your account works
Your TransLife account has been copied to Herbs for Africa.
Log in with the same username and password at herbsforafrica.com.
If you need assistance, contact “Peter 083 989 2611”.
Pricing & discounts
Your wholesale role and discounts are preserved for all tincture products on Herbs for Africa.
Orders & history
New orders and invoices will appear in your Herbs for Africa account.
Your past TransLife orders remain available on translifeherbs.co.za.
Need help?
Email support@herbsforafrica.com or call Peter 083 989 2611