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Sleep deprivation may lead to serious problems. To prevent such problems, a person may use a medicinal plant to help him get the sleep he badly needs.
A person may have difficulty falling asleep due to several reasons such as the presence of stress and anxiety, the death of someone close to him, a drastic (perhaps unacceptable) change in his career, and exposure to an accident or trauma. In rare cases, sleeping trouble may be caused by hormonal imbalances within the body. Having trouble falling asleep or having insomnia can lead to serious problems. Some of the effects of sleep deprivation are the following:
· Inconsolable anxiety and depression
· Slow and delayed reflexes
· Unexplainable exhaustion of the mind and of the body
· Unhealthy and slow metabolism
· Delayed recovery from infections and diseases
· Compromised or suppressed immune system
· Significantly reduced attention span
· Sudden irritability All these effects can be prevented if a person will just have enough hours of sleep. And a person may get those hours of quality sleep if he will use the medicinal plant called Griffornia (scientific name: Griffornia simplicifolia). The Griffornia is a vine which is native to Africa and it is a part of African folk medicine. Griffornia was used for multiple reasons: as a remedy for diarrhea; as a relief for vomiting and stomachache; and as an aphrodisiac. Then research was conducted on the used of the Griffornia seed. The research reported that the compounds of Griffornia seed increase the levels of serotonin in the brain. With higher levels of serotonin, a person can cope better with anxiety, depression, and insomnia. Serotonin also plays a role in regulating the appetite and preventing obesity and anorexia. Serotonin is naturally produced by the brain. But Griffornia can increase the levels of serotonin in the brain because the seed contains a compound called L-5 hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP). This chemical is an intermediate compound when the amino acid tryptophan is transformed into serotonin. Thus, when a considerable amount of L-5 hydroxytryptophan enters the body, more serotonin is formed out of this chemical. This was further supported in another study which involved the use of positron-emission tomography (PET) scanning, with eighty healthy volunteers and six people with major depression. People who were infused with 5-HTP displayed a significant decrease in anxiety. Some of them who have panic disorders reported a relief when infused with 5-HTP. Thus, the study concluded that 5-HTP relieves depression, anxiety, and insomnia. The L-5 hydroxytryptophan can be obtained from Melatrol. In combination with other powerful ingredients, the 5-HTP can help a person overcome sleeping problems. Melatrol can break the vicious cycle of “stress-sleepless nights-more stress”. |
