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Sleep

NOW
4.3
(4327 ratings)
GABA 200 mg
Valerian 600 mg
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Score 80.0

A popular and effective herbal blend for sleep, stress, and mood support featuring Valerian, Hops, Passionflower, and GABA at good dosages and a competitive price.

Quantity: 90 Capsule(s)Servings size: 1 Veg Capsule(s) (90 servings)
Selected goals:
Other goals:
Stress Relief
Mood Support
Sleep Support

Score 80.0

A popular and effective herbal blend for sleep, stress, and mood support featuring Valerian, Hops, Passionflower, and GABA at good dosages and a competitive price.

Analysis

NOW Sleep (ID 135568) is formulated as a capsule-based supplement aiming to support stress relief, mood, and sleep. It contains 600mg of Valerian root extract (standardized for Valerenic Acids), 300mg of Hops, 200mg of Passionflower extract (standardized for Flavonoids), and 200mg of GABA. Valerian, Hops, and Passionflower are well-known botanicals used for their sedative and anxiolytic properties. Valerian is one of the most studied herbs for sleep. Hops is often combined with Valerian to enhance relaxation. Passionflower is traditionally used for anxiety and insomnia. GABA is a neurotransmitter that promotes relaxation, though its oral bioavailability and direct impact on brain GABA levels are subjects of ongoing scientific discussion among nutritionists; however, many users report benefits. The dosages provided in this product for the herbal extracts are considered effective ranges for promoting relaxation and sleep. With over 4000 reviews, it's a popular and generally well-received product online.

Pros
  • Contains a synergistic blend of well-researched traditional calming herbs including Valerian, Hops, and Passionflower.
  • Provides effective dosages of Valerian root extract (600mg) and Hops (300mg) for relaxation and sleep support.
  • Includes GABA, a popular ingredient for promoting relaxation, which many users find beneficial despite debates on its oral bioavailability.
  • Highly rated with a large number of positive online reviews, indicating broad user satisfaction.
  • Offers good value for money with a competitive price per serving ($0.15).
Cons
  • The oral bioavailability of GABA is a debated topic among some nutritionists, suggesting its direct brain effect might be limited for some individuals.
  • May cause drowsiness, making it unsuitable for daytime use or before activities requiring alertness.
  • Individual responses to herbal supplements can vary significantly, so efficacy is not guaranteed for everyone.
Warnings
  • Do not drive or operate heavy machinery after consuming this product.
  • Consult your healthcare professional before use if you are pregnant, nursing, taking medication, or have a medical condition.
  • Keep out of reach of children.
$13.87($0.15 per serving)
Pure Formulas
$ 16.06
Daily Vita
$ 15.60
Amazon
$ 13.87
Vitacost
$ 15.49
iHerb
$ 16.52
Ingredients
IngredientAmount per serving
Valerian root extract (Valerenic Acids) 600 mg
Hops 300 mg
Passionflower extract (Flavonoids) 200 mg
GABA 200 mg
Gluten Free Adults 18–50 Vegan Dairy Free Vegetarian
Categories
Valerian 90.0
The product provides a substantial 600mg dose of Valerian root extract, standardized to Valerenic Acids, which is an effective and well-studied amount for sleep and anxiety support. This high concentration ensures robust therapeutic potential from this key ingredient.
GABA 75.0
While the 200mg dose of GABA is common in calming supplements and many users report benefits, the scientific community has ongoing discussions regarding the extent of orally administered GABA's ability to cross the blood-brain barrier directly. However, it likely contributes to overall relaxation through indirect mechanisms or peripheral effects.
Goals
Sleep Support 90.0
Valerian root extract, Hops, and Passionflower are extensively used for their sedative properties and ability to improve sleep quality and latency. This blend is specifically potent for addressing sleep disturbances by promoting relaxation necessary for a restful night.
Stress Relief 85.0
The combination of Valerian, Passionflower, and Hops is well-regarded for their anxiolytic properties, effectively contributing to stress reduction. GABA also aims to calm the nervous system, which is beneficial for alleviating stress and promoting a sense of tranquility.
Mood Support 80.0
The ingredients like Valerian and Passionflower have mild mood-stabilizing effects by promoting relaxation and reducing anxiety, which can indirectly uplift mood. GABA's role in calming the nervous system also contributes to a more balanced emotional state, supporting overall mood.
78 Value

Sleep Essentials

Swanson
4.5
(718 ratings)
This product offers exceptional value by including melatonin and a wide array of calming herbs and minerals at a significantly lower price per serving ($0.07). While individual herbal doses are lower than NOW Sleep, its broad spectrum of ingredients provides comprehensive sleep and relaxation support for a fraction of the cost, making it a highly cost-effective choice.
80 Value

Full Spectrum Rhodiola Holy Basil Valerian Stress Complex

Swanson Premium Brand
4.6
(270 ratings)
This alternative offers an excellent balance of stress relief and mild sleep support at a very attractive price ($0.08 per serving). Its inclusion of adaptogens like Rhodiola and Holy Basil alongside Valerian provides comprehensive benefits for stress adaptation, offering a unique value proposition for those whose sleep issues stem from chronic stress.
75 Value

True Calm

NOW
4.6
(4161 ratings)
From the same brand, NOW True Calm offers a blend of GABA, amino acids (Taurine, Glycine, Inositol), and B vitamins that are excellent for general calmness and stress relief, which indirectly benefits sleep. At $0.11 per serving, it's cheaper than NOW Sleep and offers a strong focus on neural relaxation without relying as heavily on sedative herbs.
95 Performance

Theanine Serene With Relora

Source Naturals
4.6
(32 ratings)
This alternative offers a superior blend for comprehensive stress relief, mood support, and relaxation that leads to sleep, featuring higher doses of L-Theanine, GABA, and Magnesium, along with the adaptogenic blend Relora and Holy Basil. While more expensive, its robust formulation provides broader and potentially more potent effects on the nervous system.
90 Performance

StressMaster

Advanced Nutrition by Zahler
4.3
(153 ratings)
StressMaster provides a significantly more comprehensive formula for stress and mood support, incorporating a wider array of adaptogenic herbs like Rhodiola and Eleuthero, along with L-Theanine and a higher dose of GABA. Although it comes at a much higher price per serving, its extensive ingredient profile offers more holistic support for complex stress management beyond basic sleep aid.
92 Performance

Valerian Chamomile Hops

Swanson
4.4
(180 ratings)
For those prioritizing the core sleep herbs, this alternative offers significantly higher and standardized doses of Valerian (500mg extract), Chamomile (500mg extract), and Hops (660mg extract) compared to NOW Sleep. Its focused, high-potency approach makes it a potentially more effective choice for strong herbal sleep induction, justifying its higher price per serving.
78 Budget

Sleep Essentials

Swanson
4.5
(718 ratings)
This product offers a broader spectrum of ingredients including Melatonin, Passionflower, Skullcap, Hops, Chamomile, Valerian, Magnesium, Calcium, GABA, and L-Taurine, all at a significantly lower price per serving ($0.07) compared to NOW Sleep, making it an excellent budget-friendly alternative that covers multiple aspects of sleep and relaxation.
70 Budget

Super Snooze Melatonin with Herbal Blend

Sundown Naturals
4.5
(176 ratings)
At $0.11 per serving, this alternative is cheaper and includes melatonin, which directly aids sleep onset, unlike NOW Sleep. While its individual herbal doses are lower, the inclusion of melatonin, Chamomile, and Magnesium offers a different pathway to sleep support at a more accessible price point.
70 Budget

Full Spectrum Valerian Chamomile & Hops

Swanson Premium Brand
4.6
(1375 ratings)
This Swanson product provides a simple, traditional blend of Valerian, Chamomile, and Hops at a very competitive price of $0.14 per serving. While the dosages are lower than NOW Sleep, it offers a cost-effective option for those seeking a basic herbal combination for relaxation and mild sleep support without GABA.
78 Value

Sleep Essentials

Swanson
4.5
(718 ratings)
This product offers exceptional value by including melatonin and a wide array of calming herbs and minerals at a significantly lower price per serving ($0.07). While individual herbal doses are lower than NOW Sleep, its broad spectrum of ingredients provides comprehensive sleep and relaxation support for a fraction of the cost, making it a highly cost-effective choice.
80 Value

Full Spectrum Rhodiola Holy Basil Valerian Stress Complex

Swanson Premium Brand
4.6
(270 ratings)
This alternative offers an excellent balance of stress relief and mild sleep support at a very attractive price ($0.08 per serving). Its inclusion of adaptogens like Rhodiola and Holy Basil alongside Valerian provides comprehensive benefits for stress adaptation, offering a unique value proposition for those whose sleep issues stem from chronic stress.
75 Value

True Calm

NOW
4.6
(4161 ratings)
From the same brand, NOW True Calm offers a blend of GABA, amino acids (Taurine, Glycine, Inositol), and B vitamins that are excellent for general calmness and stress relief, which indirectly benefits sleep. At $0.11 per serving, it's cheaper than NOW Sleep and offers a strong focus on neural relaxation without relying as heavily on sedative herbs.
95 Performance

Theanine Serene With Relora

Source Naturals
4.6
(32 ratings)
This alternative offers a superior blend for comprehensive stress relief, mood support, and relaxation that leads to sleep, featuring higher doses of L-Theanine, GABA, and Magnesium, along with the adaptogenic blend Relora and Holy Basil. While more expensive, its robust formulation provides broader and potentially more potent effects on the nervous system.
90 Performance

StressMaster

Advanced Nutrition by Zahler
4.3
(153 ratings)
StressMaster provides a significantly more comprehensive formula for stress and mood support, incorporating a wider array of adaptogenic herbs like Rhodiola and Eleuthero, along with L-Theanine and a higher dose of GABA. Although it comes at a much higher price per serving, its extensive ingredient profile offers more holistic support for complex stress management beyond basic sleep aid.
92 Performance

Valerian Chamomile Hops

Swanson
4.4
(180 ratings)
For those prioritizing the core sleep herbs, this alternative offers significantly higher and standardized doses of Valerian (500mg extract), Chamomile (500mg extract), and Hops (660mg extract) compared to NOW Sleep. Its focused, high-potency approach makes it a potentially more effective choice for strong herbal sleep induction, justifying its higher price per serving.