Alluna

What is Alluna?

Alluna is an all-natural sleep aid that claims to 'help your mind and body relax so you can drift off to sleep naturally'. Will Alluna really help you get a good nights rest? Let's take a closer look at Alluna...

Alluna's Ingredients

Alluna's ingredient profile is extremely simple - it contains valerian root extract and hops extract. Alluna claims that "Research has shown that the compounds in valerian root extract and hops extract, stimulate neurotransmitter receptors which promote sleep. They can help your body maintain a healthy sleep pattern to provide you with long-term, consistent results."

When I searched the internet for clinical information on Valerian Root I came across 2 different studies. Here is a summary of the results:

Study 1 - 8 volunteers with mild insomnia (usually had problems falling asleep) were evaluated for the effect of valerian on sleep latency (defined as the first 5-minute period without movement) [14]. Results were based on nighttime motion measured by activity meters worn on the wrist and on responses to questionnaires about sleep quality, latency, depth, and morning sleepiness filled out the morning after each treatment. The test samples were 450 or 900 mg of an aqueous valerian extract and a placebo. Each volunteer was randomly assigned to receive one test sample each night, Monday through Thursday, for 3 weeks for a total of 12 nights of evaluation. The 450-mg test sample of valerian extract reduced average sleep latency from about 16 to 9 minutes, which is similar to the activity of prescription benzodiazepine medication (used as a sedative or tranquilizer). No statistically significant shortening of sleep latency was seen with the 900-mg test sample. Evaluation of the questionnaires showed a statistically significant improvement in subjectively measured sleep. On a 9-point scale, participants rated sleep latency as 4.3 after the 450-mg test sample and 4.9 after the placebo. The 900-mg test sample increased the sleep improvement but participants noted an increase in sleepiness the next morning. Although statistically significant, this 7-minute reduction in sleep latency and the improvement in subjective sleep rating are probably not clinically significant.

Study 2 - The second study examined longer-term effects in 121 participants with documented nonorganic insomnia [15]. Participants received either 600 mg of a standardized commercial preparation of dried valerian root (LI 156, Sedonium?*) or placebo for 28 days. Several assessment tools were used to evaluate the effectiveness and tolerance of the interventions, including questionnaires on therapeutic effect (given on days 14 and 28), change in sleep patterns (given on day 28), and changes in sleep quality and well-being (given on days 0, 14, and 28). After 28 days, the group receiving the valerian extract showed a decrease in insomnia symptoms on all the assessment tools compared with the placebo group. The differences in improvement between valerian and placebo increased between the assessments done on days 14 and 28.

Although the results of some studies suggest that valerian may be useful for insomnia and other sleep disorders, results of other studies do not. Interpretation of these studies is complicated by the fact the studies had small sample sizes, used different amounts and sources of valerian, measured different outcomes, or did not consider potential bias resulting from high participant withdrawal rates. Overall, the evidence from these trials for the sleep-promoting effects of valerian is inconclusive.

Alluna Conclusion

One thing to note about Alluna is that it does not contain the amount of Valerian used in any of the clinical studies. Alluna only costs $12, but you are really getting what you pay for. If you want to buy plain valerian root, head over to your local grocer. If you want a sleeping pill that really works, check out our top-rated sleeping pills.