Sleep Well

No More Counting Sheep

FAQ

  • HOW DOES VALERIAN WORK?

  • Valerian root has been helping people relax and get them to sleep for nearly 2000 years. Scientists haven’t figured out exactly how it works but it’s known to help you get to sleep quicker and have a better night’s sleep. Despite a number of studies in the United States and Europe, there is no conclusive scientific evidence that shows how valerian works. It’s believed that valerian increases the amount of gamma amino butyric acid (GABA) in the brain. Valium works in the same way, which is why valerian is often called ‘nature’s valium’. GABA is an amino acid that acts as a neurotransmitter in the central nervous system. So it reduces nerve transmission in the brain, calming nervous activity and anxiety.

    That’s the techy bit but what we do know is that Valerian has been a popular alternative to prescription medicines for helping people remain calm since early Roman times – there’s even stories of Centurions giving their cohort a bit of valerian root to chew on the night before battle!

    You don’t have to be preparing for a battle to enjoy a soothing mug of Sleep Well. Simply drink 30 minutes before bedtime as part of your bedtime routine. Remember, it’s also important to maintain a varied and balanced diet, and a healthy lifestyle to give you the best chance of a great night’s sleep. See our Sleep Zone for more tips on bedtime done right.

  • IS SLEEP WELL SAFE FOR CHILDREN?

  • The main ingredient in Sleep Well is whole milk which is known for its nutritional goodness. Our bedtime drink also contains valerian in small amounts. Studies in the United States and Europe have identified very few side-effects (See Can Valerian be Harmful? FAQ) from consuming valerian; however, no studies have been undertaken involving children under 12 years of age so if you want to give a glass of Sleep Well to younger children, we would always recommend that you check with your family GP.

    For children under 3 years of age parents should always check with their GP or other medical professional and consider giving a smaller serving of 100ml.

    Please do not give Sleep Well to infants under 12 months because vanilla and chocolate Sleep Well contain honey.

  • IS SLEEP WELL SAFE FOR PREGNANT OR BREASTFEEDING WOMEN?

  • We do not recommend that Sleep Well is consumed by women who are pregnant or breastfeeding. Please consult with your family GP.

  • SHOULD I DRINK SLEEP WELL HOT OR COLD?

  • Sleep Well tastes just as good hot or cold. To heat Sleep Well, simply empty the contents into a saucepan and warm them to the desired temperature or empty into a cup and heat for 1 minute in the microwave. If you’re going to drink it cold, you might prefer to chill it in the fridge before.

  • HOW MUCH SLEEP WELL CAN I DRINK?

  • We recommend that one serving of 250ml should be sufficient to help you enjoy a better night’s sleep. You can drink more than this if you wish but while there are very few reported side-effects from taking valerian, drinking excess liquid before bedtime might actually disturb your sleep if you have to get up in the night. The recommended effective amount of valerian is between 400 and 900mg. Sleep Well contains 226mg/100ml of aqueous valerian extract and therefore one 250ml serving should be sufficient.

  • CAN I DRINK ALCOHOL IF I DRINK SLEEP WELL?

  • Drinking Sleep Well and alcohol at the same time may increase the drink’s sedative effect. If you’re going to drink alcohol and Sleep Well within a few hours of each other we recommend you don’t try to operate machinery or drive.

  • CAN VALERIAN BE HARMFUL?

  • In clinical studies, there have been few adverse effects attributable to valerian in participants. Headaches, dizziness and gastrointestinal disturbances are the most common side effects reported in clinical trials, but similar side effects were also reported for the placebo taken during the same trials (source: https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Valerian-HealthProfessional/)

  • HOW LONG WILL MY ORDER TAKE TO ARRIVE?

  • We pack your order on the day it’s received or next working day if you order at the weekend or on a Bank Holiday. Our parcels are usually delivered by Royal Mail but larger orders may arrive by a different carrier. We allow 3-5 working days for delivery but sometimes it can be less.