In France, about ten million drugs against insomnia are used every day! However, sleeping pills have many side effects that should encourage us to choose a natural solution.

Benzodiazepines are still in vogue

Benzodiazepines were discovered in the late 1950s and represent a class of drugs that are widely used today for both insomnia and anxiety. Valium, Halcion, Mogadon, Tranxene or Seresta are still very often prescribed, but Stilnox is currently the most widely used sleeping pill in France (14.8 million boxes in 2003).

Unfortunately benzodiazepines cause many side effects, the most common of which is an increase in the sedative effect of sleeping pills. Symptoms include difficulty concentrating, memory loss, mental confusion, muscle weakness and problems with balance and coordination. Elderly patients are the most sensitive to this type of medication but they are the ones who are prescribed the most! These effects have been shown to contribute to falls and fractures in the elderly and to traffic accidents. A recent study showed that benzodiazepines are responsible for 1600 traffic accidents and 100 driving-related deaths each year in England.

The other major adverse effect of sleeping pills is the addiction phenomenon. After using it for only a few weeks, the psychological and physical dependence sets in and the body needs it to function normally. It is proven that the sleep-inducing effect diminishes after a few weeks. People continue to use them only to avoid withdrawal symptoms such as perceptual distortion, hallucinations, hypersensitive senses, jumpy muscles.

In addition to its many side effects, it is important to point out that sleep induced by sleeping pills is not natural: it changes the structure of sleep, decreasing the duration of the two most important stages, REM sleep and deep slow wave sleep.

The Sleep Formula (Formula S), the natural alternative is a combination of natural compounds useful in case of insomnia.

Insomnia can be defined in different ways:

• when you can't sleep more than 6 hours a night
• when the time to fall asleep exceeds half an hour
• when the total time awake during the night is more than 20 minutes

This formula developed by a Belgian doctor, Dr. Thierry Schmitz, combines plants, amino acids and vitamins.

Valerian is a plant with a real sleep-inducing effect demonstrated by numerous studies. This plant strongly decreases agitation, reduces the time to fall asleep and improves the quality of sleep. Valerian is as effective as some chemical sleeping pills, sedatives and hypnotics but without the side effects.

Tryptophan is an amino acid that has been shown to have a favorable effect on depression and sleep disorders. In fact, tryptophan is metabolized into a hormone, serotonin, which is considerably reduced in depressed people. Tryptophan is also involved in the synthesis of melatonin, a hormone well known for its positive effects on sleep.

St. John's Wort is an herb often used to calm the nerves, especially in cases of anxiety and depression but it can also be used in the treatment of insomnia

Passionflower is a plant widely used in cases of insomnia and restores quality sleep. In addition, it decreases anxiety and stress caused by modern life.

GABA is a naturally occurring amino acid that decreases the excitability of the central nervous system which gives it sedative, anxiolytic and muscle relaxant properties. It improves the quality of sleep (promotes deep sleep) and relaxes both the mind and the body.

Vitamin B3 plays a positive role in sleep because it spares tryptophan, which is destroyed in the liver during stress. It is therefore recommended by many nutritionists in case of difficulties in falling asleep due to stress.

Vitamin B6 is a regulator of the nervous system.

Instructions for use of the Sleep Formula

1. In the person who does not take sleeping pills

This is the ideal case: 4 capsules (can be increased to 8 capsules) 1 hour before bedtime provide quality sleep.

2. In the person taking sleeping pills

This formula can be used as a replacement for traditional sleeping pills, provided that a withdrawal period is respected for the latter. This withdrawal must be done very gradually (3 months) by decreasing the doses very slowly.

In parallel of this withdrawal, one will take the Sleep Formula at a rate of 6 to 8 capsules 1 hour before the bedtime until the end of the withdrawal of the sleeping pills. Then a dose of 4 capsules 1 hour before bedtime should be sufficient.

The Sleep Formula has no side effects and provides quality sleep because it does not alter the different stages of sleep like sleeping pills.