Treat the underlying causes of chronic insomnia and sleep maintenance problems
Restore your healthy sleep cycle and enjoy regular, deep and satisfying sleep again
Balance serotonin levels
Prevent morning 'grogginess' associated with prescription and OTC sleeping tablets
Avoid addiction caused by prescription sleeping medication
SA orders shipped to reach you within 1 to 2 working days. Order online or call 021 797 0193.
What is Insomnia?
Insomnia, or the inability to fall or remain asleep can take many different forms and has multiple causes. We can identify two main types of insomnia.
Sleep-onset Insomnia (problems falling asleep, also called Initial Insomnia)
Sleep-maintenance Insomnia (waking during the night and early in the morning and struggling to return to sleep)
Many people have a combination of these two types of insomnia. Insomnia may also be chronic (nearly every night) or intermittent (occasional insomnia).
It is estimated that over 50% of adults suffer from some sort of insomnia. While we all have occasional nights when we struggle to fall asleep, nothing can describe the frustration of battling to go to sleep night after night!
What is Healthy Sleep?
In order to understand the causes of insomnia, we need to have a look at how the sleep cycle works.
The amino acid L-tryptophan (found naturally in certain foods) is converted into 5-HTP and used in the manufacture of a neuro-transmitter called serotonin. Serotonin, in turn, is transformed into a sleep hormone called melatonin by the pineal gland in the brain. The pineal gland only becomes active after dark. By regulating levels of melatonin, our bodies create the 'sleep-wake cycle'. Of course the process is more complex than this and there are other things that could contribute to sleep problems. However, sufficient production of serotonin and melatonin is crucial in promoting and maintaining healthy sleep.
What causes insomnia?
There are many potential causes of insomnia, including sleep apnea, snoring, bladder or prostate problems, stress or depression. People who are over 60 years old and women going through the menopause are more prone to insomnia, probably due to decreased levels of melatonin in the brain. Other causes of insomnia include 'restless legs' syndrome (RLS), magnesium or iron deficiency, hormonal imbalance, shift work and excessive consumption of caffeine or other stimulants. Insomnia is also a side effect of some prescription anti-depressant medication.
It is thought that more than 50% of all cases of insomnia are linked to psychological causes, including depression, anxiety and stress.
Treatment of Insomnia
Medical science recognizes the strong association between good health and good quality sleep. Unfortunately, due to lack of understanding and limited time, many conventional doctors do not take the time to investigate what the cause of a sleep disturbance might be and simply write out a prescription and send the patient on his or her way. This is not always the best long term solution.
Doctors usually prescribe antihistamines (e.g. Nytol, Benadryl) or a class of drugs called benzodiazepines (e.g. Valium, Lorazapam, Alprazolam, etc) to treat insomnia. While these drugs may be effective in the short term, they can both cause serious long term problems, including addiction and disturbance of normal sleep patterns. Benzodiazepine addiction, in particular, can develop very quickly and using them for longer than a week or two may result in a lifetime of dependence. Using strong drugs to fall asleep often means that the body's natural sleep cycle is disturbed and the ability to fall asleep naturally is lost. The person often needs to take stronger and stronger medication in order to fall asleep at night. Grogginess in the morning is not uncommon.
The Natural Way
Naturopaths recognise that sleep is like a barometer. When someone consistently struggles to sleep, this is a sign that something is wrong and needs to be investigated. Perhaps there are problems at work or in a relationship. Perhaps there is a depression that needs to be treated. Maybe there is a serotonin or a magnesium deficiency which needs attention. Maybe there is another condition which is causing the sleep problem. Simply taking strong drugs to fall asleep is not enough and can further complicate the picture.
Fortunately it is possible to treat insomnia in a natural and more holistic way, resulting in a longterm solution which does not damage your health or lead to addiction.
There are many different 'natural' remedies on the market. Not all of these are as 'natural' as they claim to be. Others are not very effective due to inferior formulation or failure to take a more detailed and scientific approach to the treatment of insomnia. Unfortunately this has meant that many people have given up on finding a healthy, natural approach to insomnia.
How to Treat Chronic Insomnia Naturally and Permanently
For people who suffer from chronic insomnia (regularly more than once a week) and who struggle to fall asleep as well as remain asleep (sleep-maintenance insomnia), it is important to take a long term approach, rather than struggling every night to find ways to fall asleep.
Chronic insomnia is often linked to low serotonin levels caused by depression, anxiety, dietary deficiencies, chronic illness, prostate problems, menopause or being over the age of 60. Insomnia may be almost a nightly battle and you may also wake up in the middle of the night and early morning. People who suffer from chronic insomnia and fall into any of these categories, will need a more long term solution to their sleeping problems to balance serotonin levels and restore healthy sleep patterns. Natural remedies have a long history of use for the holistic and effective treatment of chronic insomnia.
What is Serenite-LT?
Many of our customers are already familiar with Serenite Plus, which has been used safely and effectively for many years to help our customers to fall asleep naturally. Due to ongoing product research and customer demand, it became obvious that there was a definite need for a remedy which could not only help to induce drowsiness in the short term, but also treat the underlying causes of chronic insomnia in the long term.
This lead to the development of Serenite-LT - a unique herbal remedy with added nutrients, especially formulated to treat the underlying causes of chronic insomnia in the long term. Using up-to-date scientific knowledge of insomnia and natural sleep patterns, Serenite-LT combines selected herbs and sleep facilitating nutrients in an effective formula which will help you to solve your sleep problems permanently.
How has Serenite-LT helped others?
"After years of battling with insomnia, I have finally found a product that works! Thank you so much!"
- Dylan G.
"I am going through the menopause and have all the usual symptoms - hot flushes, depression and insomnia being the worst. Your advise to take Serenite-LT along with MellowPause has done wonders. Not only can I sleep better at night, but I also feel fresher and with more energy in the day - and the hot flushes have completely gone. Your customer service has also been excellent and I will be sure to recommend your website to my friends and family."
- Milly
"Not only has this remedy helped me with my sleep problems, but it has also helped my depression. I can't tell you what a difference this has made to my life after going through a really bad year. I can now go to sleep easily and have a wonderful deep sleep without the sleeping tablets which made me feel horrible! I will always be grateful for your help."
S.C.
What are the Ingredients?
Hypericum perforatum - a herb which is widely used as a natural alternative to the prescription drugs for depression and anxiety. research supports its effectiveness in stabilizing levels of neurotransmitters responsible for mood, sleep, concentration, libido and general feelings of well being.
Schizandra chinesis - also known in Traditional Chinese Medicine as Wu-wei-zi - is an effective adaptogen, increasing the body's ability to cope with stress and improving overall systemic functioning. Schizandra is also known to have a range of other benefits, including liver protection, anxiety reduction and improved immune system functioning.
Calcium lactate - a mineral essential for regular sleep patterns
Magnesium lactate - a deficiency in magnesium is known to be linked to insomnia
Vitamin B6 - often deficient in people who are under emotional or physical stress, the addition of Vitamin B6 to the daily supplements has been shown to assist with the treatment of chronic insomnia.
How do I use Serenite-LT?
For a complete solution which will restore healthy sleep patterns naturally within 3 - 6 weeks:
Use Serenite-LT tablets twice daily as directed. Serenite-LT normally takes effect within 3 - 5 weeks, although some people respond even earlier.
While waiting for Serenite-LT to take effect, Serenite Plus Drops will help you to fall asleep in the short term.
Eat a healthy diet and make sure you have regular exercise
Avoid alcohol, caffeine and other recreational drugs
If you are depressed, anxious or stressed, take steps to make changes that will help you
Many people have found that their sleep problems disappear completely after a 6 month's course of Serenite-LT (initially combined with Serenite Plus) and that they are able to once again fall asleep and stay asleep without the use of any medication at all.
Dosage: Adults and Teenagers over 15: Take two tablets two to three times daily
Children 12 - 15: Take one tablet two to three times daily
(For children under 12, please see our Du Du Sleep Drops)
Caution:
Safety during pregnancy and breastfeeding has not been clinically established. Pregnant women and nursing mothers can safely use our Triple Complex Sleep Tonic.
Serenite-LT should not be combined with Mindsoothe or any other anti-depressant medication and is not recommended for people with uncontrolled high blood pressure.
How long until I see results?
Serenite-LT is an effective long term solution to chronic insomnia. With regular use, results should be noted within 3 - 5 weeks. During this initial period, many people like to use our Serenite Plus Drops to induce a pleasant sense of relaxation and drowsiness before bedtime.
How long will a bottle last?
One bottle of Serenite-LT will last approximately a month, depending on dosage.
FAQ's
Won't a prescription SSRI, anti-depressant or sleeping tablet do the same job?
Of course this is your choice and can be discussed with your doctor. However, remember that insomnia may be a side effect of some of the prescription anti-depressants. Furthermore, clinical trials have suggested that St John's Wort, one of the ingredients of Serenite-LT, is just as effective as many of the major prescription anti-depressants, but has far fewer undesirable side effects. Research has also clearly indicated the role of nutritional supplements like calcium, magnesium and Vitamin B6 in healthy sleep.
What about other natural products like Valerian and L-tryptophan?
Valerian is a herb which is often used for insomnia and it can be very effective. However, we prefer not to make use of Valerian in our remedies. Most experienced naturopaths are aware of the fact that continued use of Valerian can worsen or cause depression.
L-triptophan is not a herbal product. L-triptophan is a chemical which is naturally found in some foods. It is used by the body to manufacture serotonin and melatonin. That is why L-triptophan has been used as an aid to sleep and a treatment for depression. In the 1980's there was a serious problem of contamination of L-triptophan. This caused over 40 deaths and more than 2000 people developed a disabling muscle disorder called eosinophilia-myalgia syndrome (EMS). Although it is asserted that the problem was temporary and has now been resolved, at Feelgood Health we care for your health and would not like to take a similar risk!
What about Melatonin?
Because melatonin is a naturally occurring substance in the body and is directly responsible for inducing sleep, it can be a very effective aid in the treatment of insomnia.
However, melatonin is either synthetic (called pharmaceutical melatonin) and therefore not a natural remedy - or it can be directly derived from animal sources, which carries the risk of contamination. It is not always clear what the source is of the melatonin sold in health stores.
There has also not been sufficient research on the long term effects of taking additional melatonin. There are suggestions that regular use could suppress the body's own production of melatonin, causing a chronic sleep problem or that taking additional melatonin can have a negative effect on the immune system, particularly in people who are prone to auto-immune illnesses like arthritis, lupus, MS, etc. The amount of melatonin found in sleep and depression remedies is many times the amount needed for healthy sleep and no one really knows what the effects could be in the long term.
Our policy at Feelgood Health is to introduce as few foreign chemicals into the body as possible, especially those that have not been adequately researched and, as far as possible, to use herbs and other natural ingredients which have been tried and tested, clinically and traditionally, to be both highly effective and safe.
What else can I do to help?
Exercise regularly!
Avoid alcohol and caffeine products at least 4 hours before bedtime
Try to use the hours before bedtime for relaxation to help your body to wind down.
Have a warm bath just before you go to bed
If you are worried, anxious or depressed, talk about your feelings to someone you trust
If you have unresolved issues or problems that are causing stress, consult a counselor for help in making changes to your life.
How do I order?
South African customers order below or phone 021 7970193 for assistance.
Our ComboPacks consist of multiple remedies that work well together to provide increased support at a discounted price.
Serenite-LT + Serenite Plus Support healthy sleep naturally with SerenitePlus for night time use and Serenite-LT for long term benefits.
Retail price: R210.50- SAVE 10% [ VAT incl.]
8 Gabriel Rd
Plumstead, Cape Town
T: +27 21 797 0198
Disclaimer: The information on this website is intended for educational purposes only. It is not intended to diagnose, treat or cure and is not a substitute for a professional consultation with a medical or health professional. Do not make any changes or additions to your prescription medicine without first consulting your doctor. Should symptoms persist, please consult your doctor.
