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M-01 · Sleep, Stress & Attention

Herbal sleep formula

By Andrew Kornfeld · Guide v7.2 · September 2026

sleep-formula
Passionflower and valerianPassionflower and valerian
M-01 · #bonus

Herbal sleep formula

Gaia Herbs Professional, Sleep Formula (sold retail as Sound Sleep) · 60 liquid phyto-caps
Sleep · stress · attention

An all-herbal formula built around passionflower, valerian, California poppy, skullcap and hops, with vervain, gotu kola and a trace of lavender, extracted into Gaia's liquid capsules. Each of the lead herbs has small randomized trials for sleep onset and quality in other populations; none has been tested in IBD, and none needs to be, because what it is here for is the night, not the gut. Some versions of this blend have included kava root; if yours does, know the FDA's liver caution and keep an eye on those enzymes.

Not with alcohol, benzodiazepines, sleep medications (zolpidem and relatives), opioids or other sedatives: valerian, hops, passionflower and California poppy add to their effect. Not before driving. Not in pregnancy. If the label lists kava: not with liver disease, and keep courses short.
References 187–189
Andrew's notes

As needed, one to three nights a week, never nightly. For me this formula has proved vastly superior to melatonin, which I treat as a hormone rather than a supplement (C-08). A sleep aid is a tool for a bad night, not a habit; the habit is protecting your sleep.

Buy on Fullscript→go.supplementsforibd.com/sleep-formula
SKU
GH-SF
Evidence2

Adjacent RCTs of the lead herbs for sleep; none in IBD

Andrew's score4

Andrew's judgment, 1–5.

Valerenic acid, one representative constituent of valerian (not the whole formula)
Valerenic acid, one representative constituent of valerian (not the whole formula) · C15H22O2 · 234.3 g/mol · PubChem CID 6440940

References

  1. Ngan A, Conduit R. A double-blind, placebo-controlled investigation of the effects of Passiflora incarnata (passionflower) herbal tea on subjective sleep quality. Phytother Res 2011;25(8):1153–1159.
  2. Shinjyo N, Waddell G, Green J. Valerian root in treating sleep problems and associated disorders: a systematic review and meta-analysis. J Evid Based Integr Med 2020;25:2515690X20967323.
  3. US Food and Drug Administration. Consumer advisory: kava-containing dietary supplements may be associated with severe liver injury. 2002.

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