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Rae Wellness is a vegan brand that was created because of the lack of affordable wellness solutions. Although their supplements are incredibly affordable, they often have the same ingredients as over-priced alternatives, which is probably the reason why the brand is growing so quickly.
For individuals that struggle with sleep, Rae has created Restful Night, a formula with five unique ingredients that work synergistically to promote calmness, which theoretically should allow you to fall asleep more easily and perhaps even improve your sleep quality.
To understand whether Rae’s sleep supplement works, I’m going to analyze each relevant ingredient in the formula and determine whether it’s actually effective by relying on existing scientific evidence.
Main Takeaways
- It contains a combination of ingredients that have been scientifically proven to promote sleep and relaxation. The primary ingredient, Melatonin, is known to reduce the time it takes to fall asleep. L-Theanine, Lemon Balm, 5-HTP, and Chamomile are not direct sleep inducers but are recognized for promoting relaxation.
- The product includes 3mg of Melatonin, which falls within the range (0.5mg to 5mg) considered effective for regulating the sleep cycle. However, it’s essential to remember that Melatonin should not be used long-term without medical advice.
- Due to its affordable price and research-backed ingredients, giving Rae’s Collagen Booster a try poses a minimal financial risk as it costs $14.99 for a month’s worth of product, which is lower compared to most formulas.
Rae’s Sleep Aid Ingredients & Benefits
The ingredients present in Rae’s sleep supplement are the following:
- Melatonin
- L-Theanine
- Magnesium
- Lemon Balm
- Chamomile
Let’s go over each one to determine their role and effectiveness in this formula.
Melatonin (3 mg)
Melatonin is a hormone secreted by the pineal gland in the brain and it is well known for causing and regulating sleep. Its main benefits lie in being able to solve irregular sleep patterns by helping you fall asleep, or reducing the time it takes for you to fall asleep.
Some studies do not report a significant decrease in sleep latency (the time it takes to fall asleep) 1, 2, 3, but the majority tend to note a shortening of the time it takes to fall asleep in otherwise healthy subjects. 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10
Researchers theorize that this may be related to the hypothermic (temperature-lowering) effects of melatonin and that there’s no guarantee that melatonin actually improves REM sleep (the indicator of sleep quality). 11
However, if you’re looking to fall asleep, melatonin does work, and it seems the best doses for regulating the sleep cycle are between 0.5 mg and 5 mg. Rae’s sleep aid contains 3mg of melatonin, which should effectively help you fall asleep.
One thing to keep in mind is that melatonin shouldn’t be taken long-term. According to John Hopkins Medicine, you should be able to safely take melatonin every night for 2 months, and beyond that only with medical advice.
L-Theanine (100 mg)
L-theanine is a naturally occurring, non-protein amino acid found in tea that promotes relaxation by reducing stress and anxiety levels. Even though L-theanine is not a sedative and does not make you drowsy, it may help you sleep better by promoting relaxation.12
According to scientific evidence, L-theanine increases alpha-1 wave production within 30-45 minutes following oral ingestion of standard supplemental doses (50-250 mg). 13, 14 This increase in alpha-1 waves is highly associated with a state of relaxation. 15
Beyond relaxation, an alpha-1 wave increase is also associated with selective attention mechanisms and mental alertness, thus setting the precedent that L-theanine has both relaxation and attention-promoting properties. 16, 17
Therefore, it does promote a state where you’re more prone to fall asleep.
Magnesium (40 mg)
Research doesn’t indicate that magnesium helps you to quickly fall asleep or improve your sleep quality, however, it suggests that a lack of magnesium negatively impacts sleep.
Low levels of magnesium are associated with poor sleep quality and insomnia. 18 Conditions such as anxiety and depression also correlate with low levels of magnesium, and consequently, both these conditions can contribute to insomnia. 19, 20
Rae’s sleep aid contains about 10% of the recommended daily value of magnesium, which personally I don’t think makes a difference. It’s important, however, that you include more magnesium in your diet by eating a variety of foods such as whole grains as well as leafy vegetables.
Lemon Balm Aerial Extract (50 mg)
Lemon balm, also known as Melissa officinalis, is a herb traditionally known for inducing calmness and improving cognition. Both effects can be seen in scientific literature.
For instance, rats given lemon balm extract at 120-360mg/kg body weight for 15 days appeared to have experienced anxiolytic effects in an open field test, as well as in an elevated maze test. 21 Another study has shown that the anxiolytic effects of lemon balm dosed at 30-300mg/kg were equivalent to 1mg/kg of Diazepam over 10 days. 22
A study with humans consuming 300mg of lemon balm extract at breakfast and again before sleep over a period of 15 days has shown a reduction in anxiety. 23
However, it’s possible that Rae’s sleep aid is underdosed and may not produce any anxiolytic effects. Most studies use higher doses than 50 mg.
Proprietary Blend with 5-HTP & Chamomile (150 mg)
In addition to the aforementioned ingredients, Rae’s sleep aid also contains a proprietary blend with 150 mg of 5-HTP and chamomile, which also seem to have anti-anxiety and anti-stress effects.
5-HTP (5-Hydroxytryptophan) is a percursor to serotonin, which is the neurotransmitter sometimes touted as being responsible for happiness.
A deficiency in tryptophan is highly correlated with depression, as evidenced by serum tryptophan in depressed persons individuals. 24, 25
Research shows that 5-HTP has been successfully used to restore seratonin levels in individuals that may suffer from decreased serotonin levels, particularly those who have depression. 26
Depression is one of the main conditions why one may develop insomnia, therefore, 5-HTP could certainly play a role in your sleep.
Chamomille, on the other hand, is a herb that has been used to treat anxiety, gastrointestinal disorders, inflammation, and insomnia. This is because it contains high amounts of terpenes and flavonoids.
However, more research is necessary to come to a solid conclusion.
Does Rae’s Sleep Aid Work?
If you’re someone that is looking for a solution that helps you fall asleep, then Rae’s sleep aid is definitely an option as it contains ingredients that are proven to reduce sleep latency and promote calmness.
Melatonin is the shining star in this supplement because it’s definitely proven to improve sleep latency (the time it takes for you to fall asleep). The other ingredients such as L-theanine, lemon balm extract, 5-HTP, and chamomile may not directly impact sleep latency, but they promote a state of relaxation, which makes it easier for you to fall asleep.
One thing to keep in mind is that none of these ingredients cause drowsiness even though they promote a state of relaxation. They’re able to promote relaxation by reducing anxiety and stress, an effect that is evidenced throughout the scientific literature I’ve shared in this article.
Therefore, based on what we’ve just covered, we can safely assume that Rae’s sleep aid is effective, and it’s definitely worth a try if you’re someone that wants to be able to fall asleep more easily or wishes to improve sleep quality.
Plus, compared to other alternatives on the market, Rae’s sleep aid costs $14.99, which is significantly cheaper than other products that offer a similar ingredient stack. It’s definitely worth it.
Editor’s note: The content on this website is meant to be informative, but it should not be taken as medical advice. The content of our articles is not intended for use in the diagnosis, prevention, and/or treatment of health problems. It’s always best to speak with your doctor or a certified medical professional before making any changes to your lifestyle, diet, exercise routine, or trying a new supplement.
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