Artemis Rest & Relax Tea | 30g

Artemis Rest and Relax Tea

What is Rest and Relax Tea?

Worries can build up causing you anxiety and loss of important sleep, which is so vital for general health and wellbeing. Rest and Relax Tea is a blend of natural herbal ingredients with relaxing and calming properties that help you cope with the stresses of life.

Why use Rest and Relax Tea?

Sometimes all those details of your life that need your attention can prey on your mind and are hard to put aside even at night, which means that sleep is affected, which is so important for general health and wellbeing. This can lead to tiredness and feelings of worry and anxiety, and as these feelings build you may find that problems become blown out of proportion and seem less manageable. Difficulty in managing problems can lead to exhaustion and lack of sleep and can cause anxiety and stress. Rest and Relax Tea is a blend of natural herbal ingredients with relaxing and calming properties to support you through difficult times and help you cope better with the stresses in your life.

What are the Key Benefits of Rest and Relax Tea?

• Traditional medicinal plant formula 
• Natural ingredients that help cope with stress and anxiety
• Natural ingredients that promote relaxation and sleep
• Suitable for all age groups including children
• All ingredients are certified organic, GE free and vegan
• Does not contain sugar or artificial sweeteners
• Does not contain added colours, flavours, preservatives, gluten, wheat or dairy

What is anxiety?

Anxiety is a normal reaction to everyday events such as financial worries, a pending job interview or relationship problems. Symptoms of anxiety can include gastrointestinal problems, shortness of breath, restlessness, sweating, lethargy, problems sleeping and frequent urination. Anxiety is usually related to a specific event or a recent trauma, and symptoms should relent once the event has passed or been resolved. However, if the feeling of anxiety persists, it could be due to a more serious condition and a health professional should be consulted.

What is an anxiolytic?

An anxiolytic is a substance that can relieve anxiety, aid sleep, or have a calming effect.

What is insomnia?

Sleep is a time when our body restores vital processes. Insomnia is a sleep disorder that can be short term or long term and is characterised by difficulty falling asleep, staying asleep, waking in the night, waking too early and not being able to go back to sleep, or a combination of all these. If you are anxious and have worries on your mind, this can disturb your normal sleep patterns and leave you tired and unrefreshed in the morning, which can add to your anxiety. Lack of quality sleep can have serious effects on your ability to function in everyday life, as well as impacting on your health and overall quality of life.

What is stress?

Stress is a natural physiological response going back to our caveman days designed to alert the body to danger and respond to it; also known as the “flight or fight response”. During the stress response, the brain signals the adrenal glands to release the hormones cortisol and adrenaline, and these hormones cause several changes throughout the body such as increased heart rate, rapid breathing and increased blood glucose, which prepare the body for a rapid response to the situation. Stress also affects our emotions, mood, behaviour and many of our body systems, including our cardiovascular, respiratory, gastrointestinal and immune systems. Normally the stress induced changes will settle back to normal once the cause of the stress has gone. However, constant or extreme stress can become a chronic condition and lead to serious health problems including anxiety disorder and depression.

What is GABA (gamma-Aminobutyric acid)?

A neurotransmitter is a brain chemical that allows nerve cells to communicate. Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), is the main inhibitory neurotransmitter in the brain. Glutamate is the main excitatory neurotransmitter in the brain. Whereas glutamate has a stimulating effect on the brain, GABA has a sedating and calming effect on the brain. These neurotransmitters bind to specific receptors and can be regulated by various external chemicals. For example, alcohol decreases glutamate activity, caffeine increases glutamate and decreases GABA release, tranquilizers and sleeping pills like benzodiazepines increase GABA activity.

What are the Ingredients of Rest and Relax Tea?

Key Ingredients:

Chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla):

Chamomile is a flowering plant that belongs to the Asteraceae family and grows the world over. It has been used in traditional medicine by many cultures since ancient times for its calming and anti-inflammatory properties and to treat digestive ailments. Chamomile tea is used in contemporary herbal medicine for its many medicinal properties including mild sedation, helping with sleep problems, to treat various gastrointestinal disorders such as irritable bowel, inflammatory bowel, flatulence and heartburn; also, colic and croup in children^3. Studies have identified many bioactive compounds in extracts of Chamomile including terpenoids and flavonoids^{1, 2.} Clinical studies have indicated that Chamomile extract has anxiolytic properties and may help with insomnia and anxiety^3. The sedative effects of chamomile are thought to be due to the flavonoid apigenin modulating the receptor for gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), which is the main inhibitory neurotransmitter in the brain^{1, 2, 3.}

Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia):

Lavendula, commonly known as English Lavender, is an aromatic shrub belonging to the family Lamiaceae that is native to Mediterranean regions and grown the world over for its fragrant purple flowers. Lavender has been used for its medicinal properties for centuries including as a cleansing and purifying herb by the Romans, in traditional herbal medicine for inducing relaxation, treating parasitic infections, healing burns, soothing insect bites, and the oil is used to help with depression, sleep problems and mood swings^11. Lavender is used in contemporary herbal medicine for its anticonvulsant, antidepressive, anxiolytic, sedative, and calming properties^4. The main pharmacologically active compound identified in lavender essential oil is linalool, a monoterpene that has a calming sedative effect in animal models^5. Lavender also has anxiolytic effects as demonstrated in animal models and clinical studies^6. Several mechanisms of action for lavender in reducing anxiety have been suggested including blocking the binding of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), which is the main inhibitory neurotransmitter in the brain, stimulation of the cholinergic system to increase acetylcholine levels in the brain, binding to N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors in the brain, which regulates the action of the excitatory neurotransmitter glutamate and regulating serotonin levels in the brain^{4, 5, 7, 8, 9.} Clinical studies have indicated that extract of lavender oil known as silexan, taken orally may be beneficial for neurological disorders such as anxiety disorder and depression^{4, 10.} Clinical studies demonstrated that Silexan was an effective anxiolytic^{4, 9,} and comparable with lorazepam and paroxetine in treating generalised anxiety disorder^{11, 12,} with beneficial effects on improving sleep quality and duration^10. The mechanism of action is thought to be by inhibiting voltage-operated calcium channels, which has calming effects by reducing the release of stimulating neurotransmitters like glutamate and norepinephrine^10.

Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis):

Lemon Balm is a flowering plant belonging to the Lamiaceae or mint family that is native to large areas of Europe and Asia. As a traditional medicine Lemon Balm was used for it calming and relaxing properties, as a carminative, sedative, as a tonic and improving memory^{13, 14.} It is used in contemporary herbal medicine as an herbal supplement for its effect on mood, cognitive function and anxiety, to reduce stress and ease anxiety and to help with sleeping disorders; also, to treat gastrointestinal problems^{15, 16.} Clinical and preclinical studies have demonstrated effective use of lemon balm as an anxiolytic to treat anxiety disorders, relieve stress and help improve sleep disorders^{14, 17, 18, 19.} A study of volunteers with mild-to-moderate anxiety disorders and sleep disturbances demonstrated a significant improvement in symptoms with an extract of lemon balm by reducing worry and stress that can disrupt normal sleep, and it was suggested that this may be an alternative to prescription medication^20. Extracts of Lemon Balm contain several bioactive components including citronellal, citronellol, linalool, rosmarinic acid, and several flavonoids. Laboratory studies have demonstrated that Lemon Balm extract binds to several brain receptors, including the gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptor, which is the major inhibitory neurotransmitter in the central nervous system and this is thought to contribute to its anxiolytic and calming effects. ^{14, 17, 18, 19.}

Licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra):

Glycyrrhiza glabra is a perennial plant belonging to the legume family (pea and bean) and is native to Southern Europe and India. Its roots contain the sweet flavour known as licorice that has been used as a botanical drug in several ancient cultures21. It was used in traditional oriental medicine to replenish and invigorate and in other cultures to treat several ailments including peptic ulcers, liver diseases like hepatitis C, lung diseases and skin conditions. Licorice has several active ingredients, the main one being glycyrrhizin, a triterpenoid saponin. The pharmacological effects of glycyrrhizin have been extensively studied and include anti-inflammatory, anti-viral, antimicrobial, immunomodulatory antioxidative as well as cancer and liver protecting effects^{22, 23.} Licorice has also been found to have neuropharmacological properties such as neuroprotective, antidepressant, and anxiolytic effects, which are thought to be mediated by interacting with receptors in the brain, particularly of the GABA and dopamine system^24. Glycyrrhizin is an adaptogen, which is a plant that helps the body cope better with stress. Glycyrrhizin modulates the production of the stress hormone cortisol and works by inhibiting 11beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase, the enzyme responsible for inactivating cortisol, which helps maintain steady levels of cortisol and this also helps with sleep problems^{25, 26.}

Passionflower (Passiflora incarnata):

Passionflower is a perennial vine belonging to the Passifloraceae family and its many species are found mainly in Central and South America. The flower has been used as a traditional herbal remedy for anxiety, as a sedative and to help with sleep disturbance. Several preclinical experiments have demonstrated pharmacological activities of Passionflower extract, and these include anxiolytic and sedative properties, which have been supported in some clinical studies^27. A placebo controlled study has demonstrated that a tea containing a low dose of Passionflower improves sleep in healthy adults with mild fluctuations in sleep quality^28. A clinical study demonstrated that Passionflower extract was as effective as the prescription drug oxazepam for the management of generalized anxiety disorder^29. The pharmacological effects of Passionflower were demonstrated in laboratory experiments to be mediated by modulation of the GABA system^30.

St John's Wort (Hypericum perforatum):

St John’s Wort is a perennial flowering plant with characteristic yellow flowers belonging to the Hypericaceae family. It is native to parts of Europe, Asia and North Africa, and has been used for centuries to treat nervous conditions. Clinical studies have supported the use of St John’s Wort as a mood enhancer and have shown that it is an effective antidepressant that works in a similar way to prescription antidepressant medications^{31, 32.} It is known that St John’s Wort can interact with several prescription medications and alter their effectiveness and increase side effects, therefore caution is advised^{33, 34.} Extracts of St John’s Wort contain several bioactive components including hypericin, hyperforin and flavonoids that contribute to its antidepressant effects^35. The mechanism of action includes binding to receptors for neurotransmitters involved in regulating mood, including serotonin and dopamine, and increasing levels of serotonin in the brain, in a similar way to conventional SSRI (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor) antidepressants^{32, 34, 36.}

What are the Contraindications/Interactions of Rest and Relax Tea?

There are no documented herb-drug interactions within the recommended dosage. However, you should always check the ingredients for known allergies and to ensure you do not have any allergies or sensitivities to these ingredients. Stop using if you develop any irritation or allergy while taking Rest and Relax Tea. Always read the label and use as directed or seek advice from your healthcare professional.

Caution:

Rest and Relax Tea should be used with caution if: 

• pregnant or while breast-feeding as effects of St John Wort in pregnancy are not established
• taking prescription medications for depression and other prescription medications without talking to your doctor, as St John’s Wort has the potential to interact with some prescription drugs 
• taking sedative medications as Passionflower can increase sedation
• taking blood pressure medications as Passionflower can have blood pressure lowering effects

Note:

Licorice can be toxic if taken in large amounts and can interfere with the effects of endogenous (naturally produced) steroid hormone levels. 

What are the Directions for using Rest and Relax Tea?

Use one level teaspoon (1g) of Rest and Relax Tea powder per cup (150ml) and infuse with boiling water for 5-10 minutes. Measure out the appropriate volume, depending on age (see Dosage below). 

Dosage:

Acute use

Take the following dose 3 times daily for 3-6 weeks.
Adult one cup
4-10 years 50-100ml
1-4 years 20-40ml
6-12 months 10ml
Babies 5ml

Upkeep use

Take the following dose once times daily for as long as required.
Adult one cup
4-10 years 50-100ml
1-4 years 20-40ml
6-12 months 10ml
Babies 5ml

Special instructions

For best results:

• Shake the can before opening, as the contents may settle. 
• Do not microwave. To avoid external contamination close can immediately after use. Store in the fridge in hot and humid climates and keep away from heat and moisture. 

Product Size

30ml

References

The following references provide scientific support for the use of this product:

Chamomile

1. Srivastava JK, Eswar Shankar E Gupta S. Chamomile: A herbal medicine of the past with bright future. Mol Med Report. 2010 Nov 1; 3(6): 895–901
2. McKay DL, Blumberg JB. A review of the bioactivity and potential health benefits of chamomile tea (Matricaria recutita L.). Phytother Res 2006 Jul;20(7):519-30. 
3. Zick SM, Wright BD, Sen A, Arnedt JT. Preliminary examination of the efficacy and safety of a standardized chamomile extract for chronic primary insomnia: A randomized placebo-controlled pilot study. BMC Complement Altern Med. 2011 Sep 22; 11:78. 
4. Koulivand PH, Ghadiri MK, Gorji A. Lavender and the Nervous System. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med 2013; 2013:681304
5. Fismer KL, Pilkington K. Lavender and sleep: A systematic review of the evidence. European Journal of Integrative Medicine 4 (2012) e436–e447
6. Malcolm BJ, Tallian K. Essential oil of lavender in anxiety disorders: Ready for prime time? Ment Health Clin.2018 Mar 26;7(4):147-155.
7. Schuwald AM, Noldner M, Wilmes T, Klugbauer N, Leuner K, Muller WE. Lavender Oil-Potent Anxiolytic Properties via Modulating Voltage Dependent Calcium Channels. s. PLoS ONE 2013 8(4): e59998. 
8. De Sousa P, Hocayen PAS, Andrade LC, Andreatini R, A Systematic Review of the Anxiolytic-Like Effects of Essential Oils in Animal Models. Molecules 2015, 20, 18620-18660 
9. López V, Nielsen2 B, Solas M, Ramírez MJ, Jäger AK. Exploring Pharmacological Mechanisms of Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) Essential Oil on Central Nervous System Targets. Front Pharmacol. 2017 May 19;8: 280
10. Kasper S, Müller WE, Volz HP, Möller HJ, Kocj E, Dienel A. Silexan in anxiety disorders: Clinical data and pharmacological background. World J Biol Psychiatry.2018 Sep;19(6):412-420.
11. Kasper S. An orally administered Lavandula oil preparation (Silexan) for anxiety disorder and related conditions: an evidence based review. Int J Psychiatry Clin Pract.2013 Nov;17 Suppl 1:15-22. 
12. Kasper S, Gastpar M, Müller WE, Volz HP, Möller HJ, Schläfke S, Dienel A. Lavender oil preparation Silexan is effective in generalized anxiety disorder – a randomized, double-blind comparison to placebo and paroxetine. Int J Neuropsychopharmacol. 2014 Jun;17(6):859-69. 
13. Shakeri A, Sahebkar A, Javadi B. Melissa officinalis L. - A review of its traditional uses, phytochemistry and pharmacology. J Ethnopharmacol 2016 Jul 21; 188:204-28. 
14. Scholey A, Gibbs A, Neale C, Perry N, et al. Anti-stress effects of lemon balm-containing foods. Nutrients. 2014 Oct 30;6(11):4805-21
15. Moradkhani H, Sargsyan E, Bibak H, Naseri B, Sadat-Hosseini M, Fayazi-Barjin A, Meftahizade H. Melissa officinalis L., a valuable medicine plant: A review Journal of Medicinal Plants Research Vol. 4(25), pp. 2753-2759, 29 December Special Review, 2010
16. Abascal K, Yarnell E. Nervine Herbs for Treating Anxiety. Alternative and Complementary Therapies December 2004; 309-315. 
17. Sarris J, McIntyre E, Camfield DA. Plant-based medicines for anxiety disorders, Part 1: a review of preclinical studies. CNS Drugs 2013 Mar;27(3):207-19. 
18. Sarris J, McIntyre E, Camfield DA. Plant-Based Medicines for Anxiety Disorders, Part 2: A Review of Clinical Studies with Supporting Preclinical Evidence. CNS Drugs 2013 April;27(3):301-19 
19. Shi Y, Dong J-W, Zhao J-H, Tang L-N, Zhang J-J. Herbal Insomnia Medications that Target GABAergic Systems: A Review of the Psychopharmacological Evidence. Curr Neuropharmacol2014 May; 12(3): 289–302
20. Cases J, Ibarra A, Feuillère N, Roller M, Sukkar SG. Pilot trial of Melissa officinalis L. leaf extract in the treatment of volunteers suffering from mild-to-moderate anxiety disorders and sleep disturbances. Med J Nutrition Metab 2011 Dec;4(3):211-218. 
21. Fiore C, Eisenhut M, Ragazzi E, Zanchin G, Armanini D. A history of the therapeutic use of liquorice in Europe. J Ethnopharmacol. 2005 Jul 14;99(3):317-24.
22. Asl MN, Hosseinzadeh H. Review of pharmacological effects of Glycyrrhiza sp. and its bioactive compounds. Phytother Res 2008 Jun;22(6):709-24. 
23. Shamsa F, Ohtsuki K, Hasanzadeh E, Rezazadeh S. The Anti-inflammatory and Anti-viral Effects of an Ethnic Medicine: Glycyrrhizin. J Medicinal Plants Volume 9, Supplement No. 6, 2010
24. Zhao ZL, Kim SC, Liu HF, Wu YY, Li LB et al. Blockade of nicotine sensitization by methanol extracts of Glycyrrhizae radix mediated via antagonism of accumbal oxidative stress. BMC Complement Altern Med 2017 Nov 16;17(1):493. 
25. Isbrucker RA, Burdock GA. Risk and safety assessment on the consumption of Licorice root (Glycyrrhiza sp.), its extract and powder as a food ingredient, with emphasis on the pharmacology and toxicology of glycyrrhizin. Regul Toxicol Pharmacol 2006 Dec;46(3):167-92. 
26. Al-Dujaili EA, Kenyon CJ, Nicol MR, Mason JI. Liquorice and glycyrrhetinic acid increase DHEA and deoxycorticosterone levels in vivo and in vitro by inhibiting adrenal SULT2A1 activity. Mol Cell Endocrinol 2011 Apr 10;336(1-2):102-9. 
27. Miroddi M, Calapai G, Navarra M, Minciullo PL, Gangemi S. Passiflora incarnata L.: ethnopharmacology, clinical application, safety and evaluation of clinical trials. J Ethnopharmacol 2013 Dec 12;150(3):791-804. 
28. 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 Aug;25(8):1153-9. 
29. Akhondzadeh S, Naghavi HR, Vazirian M, Shayeganpour A, Rashidi H, Khani M. Passionflower in the treatment of generalized anxiety: A pilot double-blind randomized controlled trial with oxazepam. J Clin Pharm Ther 2001; 26:363–367. 
30. Appel K, Rose T, Fiebich B, Kammler T, Hoffmann C, Weiss G. Modulation of the γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) system by Passiflora incarnata L. Phytother Res. 2011 Jun;25(6):838-43. 
31. Apaydin EA, Maher AR, Shanman R, Booth MS, Miles JN, Sorbero ME, Hempel S. A systematic review of St. John's wort for major depressive disorder. Syst Rev 2016 Sep 2;5(1):148. 
32. Wurglics M, Schubert-Zsilavecz M. Hypericum perforatum: a 'modern' herbal antidepressant: pharmacokinetics of active ingredients. Clin Pharmacokinet 2006;45(5):449-68.
33. Dugoua JJ, Mills E, Perri D, Koren G. Safety and efficacy of St. John's wort (hypericum) during pregnancy and lactation. Can J Clin Pharmacol 2006 Fall;13(3):e268-76. 
34. Caccia S. Antidepressant-like components of Hypericum perforatum extracts: an overview of their pharmacokinetics and metabolism. Curr Drug Metab 2005 Dec;6(6):531-43.
35. Nahrstedt A Butterweck V. Biologically active and other chemical constituents of the herb of Hypericum perforatum L. Pharmacopsychiatry 1997 Sep;30 Suppl 2:129-34 
36. Lundstrom K, Pham HT, Dinh LD. Interaction of Plant Extracts with Central Nervous System Receptors. Medicines (Basel) 2017 Feb 23;4(1).