All of us have had to deal with anxiety and sleep problems before, some more severely and frequently than others depending on genetic and environmental factors. However, these are symptoms that can manifest in anyone, especially during periods of heightened stress from work, school, or family life.

Elevated levels of stress hormones don’t just compromise your mental health, but can also negatively affect your physiological health - including your immunity and cognition (ability to think clearly and learn). Thankfully, there are many effective ways to naturally reduce stress levels including exercise, meditation, social interaction, and herbal supplements.

Many people are turning away from pharmaceutical drugs, which often have undesirable side effects, and looking for natural solutions to help their daily stress and anxiety. Some of today’s most popular herbal supplements for anxiety and sleep have actually been used since ancient times. Traditional medicine practices across the world have utilized herbal extracts with adaptogenic compounds, which increase our body’s resilience and ability to recover from physical or emotional stress.

In this article, we will focus on 3 supplements that have compelling research data to back up their health benefits and safety: CBD, Lion's Mane extract, and L-theanine. These are some of the most well-known and beloved supplements in the herbal wellness community, and their benefits for anxiety and sleep can synergize when taken together - which is why we've combined them together in Mind Unwind. 

CBD, Lion’s Mane, and L-theanine have all demonstrated the ability to reduce stress and anxiety, and even depressive symptoms when studied in patients in small clinical studies. They each have a unique but complementary set of biological mechanisms to achieve this.

CBD can lower heart rate, blood pressure, and rebalance stress hormone levels by interacting with our body’s endocannabinoid system, which regulates a wide range of physiological and emotional functions. It can also stimulate serotonin receptors in your brain which help to regulate your mood.

Lion's Mane increases the production of Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) and Nerve Growth Factor (NGF), which help protect and maintain healthy brain cells and nervous system. Both BDNF and NGF levels are also associated with stress response sensitivity.

L-theanine increases the levels of a neurotransmitter known as GABA, which is calming and inhibits over-excitation in your brain. It can also increase the level of serotonin, known as the “happy” neurotransmitter.

While the above represents an oversimplification of the complex biology, the takeaway is that taking these natural remedies together can help maximize the overall effects on stress and anxiety in a synergistic manner. This is similar to the concept of “combination therapy” used by Oncologists to fight cancer, in which multiple medications are administered at the same time for a more powerful effect.

Poor sleep can be caused by many things, but the most common reasons are stress and anxiety. While all three of these supplements can improve sleep by reducing stress and anxiety, research has also demonstrated the effects they can have on improving sleep go even further than that!

The beneficial effects on sleep include decreased time to fall asleep, improved sleep quality and satisfaction, and increased REM sleep - which is the “dream” phase of your sleep that is critical for memory formation and strengthening brain connections that are important for mental and overall well-being and health.

Most people have probably experienced reduced cognitive performance when feeling nervous or if they didn’t get enough sleep the night before. Sleep is crucial for learning and memory formation. Chronic stress and sleep deprivation can also reduce brain and whole body immunity and increase inflammation.

Fortunately, the brain is capable of healing itself and herbal supplements can boost these natural healing abilities. There is growing evidence in the scientific community that CBD, Lion’s Mane, and L-theanine all exhibit neuroprotective properties - meaning they help keep our brain cells alive, healthy, and thriving. In fact, all three compounds are listed as beneficial brain supplements by the Alzheimer’s Drug Discovery Foundation. Both Lion's Mane and L-theanine are also commonly taken as nootropics (cognition boosting supplements) for focus and productivity. Pre-clinical studies show that Lion’s Mane may also increase neurogenesis (new brain cell formation) and help with long-term improvements in cognition and memory.

We certainly think so! Each has wide-ranging benefits for your health even beyond what’s been discussed above. Stacking these supplements can provide synergistic benefits that could maximize their individual effects.