Stress Relief Formula
Discover How A Root Used In Chinese Medicine Can Help You Fall Asleep
What Is Polygala Anyway?
Polygala tenuifolia is a root used in Traditional Chinese Medicine and is one of the most used herbs to support the brain and central nervous system. Traditionally it was often used to reduce forgetfulness and support brain performance during the aging process(i.e., it’s what we’d regard as a nootropic today). It was also commonly used in formulas to support sleep and promote a calmer, more balanced mood.
Preclinical research suggests it supports brain protection and repair processes and molecules (such as BDNF and NGF), counters chronic stress, supports sleep, and influences both adenosine signaling—a molecule involved in the sleep homeostatic drive—and GABA signaling—a neurotransmitter involved with relaxation at night and sleep. The roots have several bioactive compounds thought to be relatively unique to this plant including tenuigenin, tenuifolin, yuanzhi-1, tenuifolisides, and tenuifolioses.
While the root of Polygala tenuifolia Willdenow has been used for the treatment of insomnia, depression, and amnesia, the toxicological properties of the herb have been overlooked, because it has been used for a long time for various purposes.
Polygala Increases Your ability To Sleep
Tenuifolin at doses of 40 and 80mg/kg (p.o.) significantly prolonged the total sleep time by increasing the amount of non-rapid eye movement (NREM) and rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, associated with the significant increase in the bouts of episodes respectively.
After administration of tenuifolin, the cortical EEG power spectral densities during NREM and REM sleep were similar to that of natural sleep (vehicle) and thus compatible with physiological sleep.
Scientific Studies Show Positive Sleep Support effects Of Polygala
A double-immunohistochemistry staining test showed that tenuifolin increased the c-Fos positive ratios of GABAergic NREM sleep-promoting neurons in ventrolateral preoptic area (VLPO), cholinergic REM sleep-promoting neurons in laterodorsal tegmental area (LDT) and pontomesencephalic tegmental area (PPT) and decreased the c-Fos positive ratios in wake-promoting neurons (locus coeruleus (LC) and perifornical area (Pef)).
Neurotransmitter detections revealed that tenuifolin significantly reduced the noradrenaline (NA) levels in LC, VLPO, PPT and LDT, elevated the GABA levels in VLPO, LC and Pef and increased the acetylcholine (Ach) levels in LDT and PPT. In addition, tenuifolin did not cause any change to locomotor activity.
Conclusion:
Taken together, these results provide the first experimental evidence of the significant sleep-enhancing effect of tenuifolin in mice. This effect appears to be mediated, at least in part, by the activation of GABAergic systems and/or by the inhibition of noradrenergic systems. Moreover, this study adds new scientific evidence and highlights the therapeutic potential of the medicinal plant P. tenuifolia in the development of phytomedicines with hypnotic properties.
Polygala VS Alprazolam
This study is the first comparison of an herbal supplement with a well-established hypnotic for sleep.
The beneficial effects for sleep of the herb Polygala tenuifolia (with main sedative components. being 3,4-methoxycinnamic acid and phenylpropanoids) and Alprazolam were investigated,
and our results indicated that both could benefit sleep via the shortening of sleep induction.
Increase In The Number Of Waves Means Better Quality Of Sleep
Time and the increase in wave forms of electroencephalogram (EEG) associated with stages 1,
2 and 3 of the non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep. Increase of numbers of theta waves, v waves, delta waves and k complex were observed in mice, indicating deeper and better quality of sleep.
There was an obvious increase in the duration of theta plus delta waves in both Polygala and Alprazolam treated groups, while the wave duration was slightly longer in the Polygala group than the Alprazolam group. When the Alprazolam treated group was added with Polygala, the theta plus delta wave duration increased and exceeded that from Alprazolam treatment alone.
Similarly, increase of duration of k complex was also observed in both Polygala and Alprazolam treated groups. This study illustrated that the herbal agent Polygala tenuifolia could have at least similar efficacy in the induction of sleep as the manufactured drug Alprazolam. To Learn More Click Here!