By: Natalie Johnson
Conservatively, it is estimated that over 30% of adults worldwide struggle with varying degrees of insomnia. This silent epidemic affects mental clarity, emotional resilience, and physical energy. Sleep is intended to be a simple nightly reset for our minds and bodies. However, millions of people struggle to fall asleep and stay asleep. For some, it’s lying in bed for hours with a racing mind. For others, it’s waking up at 3 AM: alert, restless, unable to shut down.
It may manifest as brain fog during the day, heightened emotional sensitivity, or a wired-but-exhausted feeling that never fully subsides. Sleep issues rarely show up in just one form, but they always take a toll. The search for a better night’s sleep has led many to try quick fixes like melatonin and, more specifically, synthetic melatonin.
Dependency and Diminishing Returns
Melatonin, often regarded as a common aid in falling asleep, has faced scrutiny when used in synthetic form. A recent study (2023) tracked college-aged students and their use of melatonin in their sleep routines. Regular users of melatonin reported 17% higher sleep disturbances and increased depressive symptoms compared to non-users. A concerning cycle shows that regular melatonin use predicts sleep disruption, which then worsens mood disorders. In other words, regular consumption of melatonin may actually worsen sleep issues rather than support them.
Why?
High doses of synthetic melatonin can disrupt our natural sleep cycle. When taken regularly, especially at the wrong time, our body begins to rely on the external melatonin instead of producing its own. This shift of our circadian rhythms through the intake of synthetic melatonin is usually temporary, and it often overlooks the root causes of the need for support in the first place – chronic stress, overstimulation or hyperarousal.
The result?
Users who regularly boost melatonin synthetically, often slide from occasional use to quiet dependency, relying on it not as support, but as a crutch.
New research confirms what many already feel: higher doses and long-term use of melatonin can cause hormonal changes, daytime grogginess, and metabolic shifts. No surprise, then, that many are now turning to holistic plant-based alternatives.
But What’s the Alternative?
Given the many side-effects linked to synthetic melatonin, more people are turning to alternatives – especially natural remedies that work with the body, not against it. Phytomelatonin, the plant-based form of melatonin found in foods like walnuts, kidney beans, cherries, and grains, offers a gentle, bioidentical support for sleep. While the levels are modest, studies show that even small intakes can raise melatonin and significantly boost antioxidant capacity and inflammation reduction. Unlike synthetic melatonin, phytomelatonin doesn’t flood the system it supports your body’s natural circadian rhythm gently, signaling that it’s safe to rest—without the spike, crash, or grogginess.To truly reset sleep, we have to work with the systems that govern relaxation, safety, and emotional release too.
Nature’s Remedies: Calming Adaptogens, Phytogens and Herbs
The remedies? You’ll find them in wild forests, tucked in ancient traditions, or growing quietly in grandma’s garden. They don’t sedate. They support. They don’t override. They restore.
Let’s name a few:
Ashwagandha → An ancient adaptogen gaining mainstream momentum, known for reducing cortisol and calming the stress axis.
Lemon Balm → Soothes the nervous system and helps untangle the racing thoughts that keep us up at night.
Lavender → A timeless floral remedy. Its scent alone lowers anxiety and signals the brain to soften and release.
Passionflower → Boosts GABA, the brain’s own brake pedal—gently inviting rest.
Chamomile → A humble flower with powerful calm. Sip it, inhale it, soak in it.
Magnesium → A mineral many are deficient in, easing tension in the muscles and mind alike.
Valerian Root → A herbal sedative, best in low doses, used for centuries to support deep sleep.
Holy Basil (Tulsi) → A revered herb in Ayurveda, balancing mood and blood sugar while grounding the body.
Reishi Mushroom → Known as the “mushroom of immortality,” it’s a calming tonic that supports adrenal balance and immune health.
These co-healers meet your body where it is—and remind it how to soften, how to release, how to rest.Passionflower helps boost levels of the brain-calming chemical, GABA, promoting relaxation at bedtime.
These increasingly popular adaptogens and herbs help your body achieve balance and relaxation rather than sedation.
Deep Sleep
Reflecting this broader understanding, one company has emerged with a uniquely integrative approach. NØØT, a US-based premium supplement brand rooted in biohacking, longevity science, and integrative medicine, is redefining what deep and restorative sleep can look like.
Known for clean formulations and a brain-forward philosophy, the brand develops products that intersect neuroscience, plant medicine, and functional nutrition. Deep Sleep, the company’s answer to a better night’s sleep, combines natural ingredients in a thoughtful way, supporting your body’s own sleep mechanisms.
Phytomelatonin (from plants) in a low dose.
Lemon Balm to help calm the mind.
Ashwagandha to lower stress.
Magnesium for muscle relaxation.
Vitamin B6 to support your body’s melatonin production.
Deep Sleep is designed to help you unwind, stay asleep, and wake up feeling recharged. According to NØØT’s founder, Dia Schwarz, it’s about clean supplements that support your body’s natural blueprint through microdosing for long-term benefit.
Adaptogens are nature’s regulators—they don’t dull your senses; they boost your strength. They help your body adapt over time. Microdosing promotes subtle shifts for lasting change, allowing the body and mind to recalibrate gradually without overwhelming the system.”
The Future of Sleep
There isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach to sleep disruption. There are, however, approaches that boost your own body’s ability to regulate itself without the cliff-hanging approach so often utilized through synthetic means. If there is a path to use as a guide, a few core practices will go a long way to achieving restful and rejuvenating sleep.
The use of plant-based supplements like NØØT’s Deep Sleep
An informed approach to reintroducing your natural sleep rhythms and tendencies can bring you closer to sleep experiences achieved through natural means rather than sedation, fostering a gradual reconnection with the power of nature and your own body’s intelligence.
Insomnia gets us thinking when all we want is to rest.
But maybe it’s not just sleep we’re missing, maybe it’s safety, stillness, and space to unwind.
It’s time we stopped numbing & started listening.
The answers were never hidden; we just needed a wake-up call. A natural one. More inspirations, Products and answers for holistic health can be found here: www.noot.us
About NØØT
NØØT’s portfolio features products like Genius Mushrooms for cognitive performance, NeuroFLAME for brain and body inflammation support, and Deep Sleep for optimizing sleep cycles and addressing jet lag. Other formulations, such as VeCoGlow– a potent vegetarian option for skin health and skin glow- and RejuvaNAD+, center on anti-aging and longevity. Meanwhile, Happy Mood and Stress Less promote mental resilience for high-stress lifestyles, potentially providing solutions for students and professionals facing cortisol overload and burnout.
Beyond its expanding portfolio of premium natural supplements, NØØT is committed to educating and inspiring healthier lifestyles, igniting a movement focused on proper nutrition, supplementation, mindfulness, biohacking, and longevity.