Importance of Good Natural Sleep

Here is what is supposed to happen when you sleep: You cycle through a few 90-minute periods between deep and light sleep. The best sleep includes at least 5 of these cycles per night, for a total sleep time of about 8 hours. Anything less than 8 hours of good sleep (with the emphasis on good) will lead to sleep deprivation like our candidate for natural sleep remedies in the photo. All kinds of health problems arise from sleep deprivation, so let’s just agree that a lack of good sleep is bad news.

In light of that comment, how would you like to have an herbal supplement that could do the following?

• Relieve your night-time restlessness and sleep problems
• Boost your mood
• Lower your anxiety
• Calm you down
• Balance your nerves

Natural Sleep Help from the Amazon

Hang on to your hat, because a new wonder herb from a South American tree fits this description and more. The common name of this herb is mulungu, scientifically Erythrina mulungu, a member of the pea family.

The plant kingdom offers a wide variety of herbs that can help you relax, manage stress, and sleep better. I have always loved valerian, hops, and kava kava. Recently, however, I was hunting around to see what other herbs are used elsewhere in the world, and I was delighted to discover mulungu from the Amazon. As I delved into the background for mulungu, I found that it is more than a natural sleep aid. The many uses of this herb are derived from a long history in folk medicine as well as from current scientific research. This is an ideal combination of information that I require for verifying the use of any kind of herbal preparation, so I though I’d just pass it on to you.

Indeed, what I found is that herbal preparations of mulungu in its native land include all of the above, plus:

• Hepatotonic (tones, balances, strengthens the liver)
• Stress, anxiety, depression, hysteria, panic disorders, compulsive disorders
• Sedative for insomnia, restlessness, and sleep disorders
• Hepatitis, obstructions, high liver enzyme levels, sclerosis
• High blood pressure and heart palpitations
• Drug and nicotine withdrawal

Tribal and Herbal Medicine Uses

Mulungu has long been used in Brazil by Amazon natives as a natural sedative, to calm an overexcited nervous system and promote restful sleep. However, it is much more than natural sleep remedy. In both North and South American herbal medicine systems, mulungu is considered to be an excellent mild sedative. It is especially important in preparations for treating insomnia and anxiety. In both Peru and Brazil, mulungu is even used for epilepsy.

Although it is not yet well-known in the United States, some herbal practitioners are starting to use mulungu to quiet hysteria from trauma or shock, to calm the nervous system, and to treat insomnia and promote healthy sleeping patterns.

Biological Activities and Clinical Research

The folk medical uses of mulungu have been validated by scientific research in several recent studies in the Journal of Ethnopharmacology, the Journal of Natural Products, and the Brazilian Journal of Biological and Medicinal Research. For example, one study using an animal model (correlating to human generalized anxiety disorder, as well as panic disorder) was undertaken on an extract of mulungu. The researchers reported that the mulungu extract had an effect similar to the commonly-prescribed anti-anxiety drug diazepam (former brand name, Valium). It was suggested in this study that the phytochemicals in mulungu may alter certain kinds of neurotransmission similar to that of GABA (gamma-amino butyric acid). GABA is widely used as a supplement for its calming action.

Further research also validated the traditional use of mulungu as an antimicrobial agent for throat and urinary infections. Mulungu demonstrated antibacterial activity in studies on the disease-causing bacteria, Staphylococcus aureus, Mycobacterium fortuitum and Mycobacterium smegmatis.

Current Practical Uses

Mulungu is not yet widely known in North America as a natural sleep remedy. Nevertheless, it is a wonderful rainforest herb with well-established uses in Brazil and surrounding countries. It deserves and will undoubtedly achieve much more attention as more herbalists and their clients discover the power of this herb for helping people attain optimal wellness through natural stress management. Indeed, mulungu provides the same calming effect of kava kava, whose reputation has been undermined by negative press propaganda about supposed liver damage that has led to unwarranted fears. Moreover, since mulungu has an additional positive effect on the liver, this herb is poised as the new replacement for kava kava.

New Herbal Sleep Aid

I am always looking for ways for people to get better sleep with a natural sleep remedy. Fortunately, regarding the use of mulungu, I didn’t have to call up any of my colleagues in Rio de Janeiro to get some material for me. An herbal importer had also discovered this herb and made it available in the U.S. This is when I got my research team together and created a formula that incorporates mulungu and a couple of other ingredients that are well known to boost good sleep. We came up with what we call, “Mulungu Sleep Formula.” (By the way, in case you ever have the opportunity to create a supplement formula yourself, one of your perks is being able to hold  the cost WAY down. You’ll see what I mean when you hit that link above that takes you to my nutrition store.)

Mulungu and Stress Management

This herb is much more than a natural sleep remedy. People who use mulungu or any other herbs for natural sleep also seem to manage daily stress better. And this leads to more good sleep, and even better stress management. What a great way to get live!

All the best in natural health,

Dr. D