Sleep & Night Rest
Supplements for sleep and night rest: magnesium in well absorbed forms, B vitamins, amino acids and herbal blends with valerian or lemon balm. We explain which form fits your evening and what to expect.Read more →
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Sleep supplements and natural sleep aids: what to look at
Sleep support in the UK works differently
Melatonin is a prescription-only medicine in the UK. It is not sold as a food supplement here, so you will not find it in this collection or in any British health shop. What you will find are minerals, B vitamins, amino acids and herbal preparations. Together they sit under MIND + SLEEP, the pillar we use for rest and mental balance.
The forms that make a difference
Magnesium is the backbone of most evening formulas. Magnesium contributes to normal psychological function and to the normal functioning of the nervous system. That is the kind of statement European food law allows, and it is enough to explain why the mineral belongs in a wind-down routine. The figure to read on a label is the elemental magnesium: the amount of actual magnesium in the capsule, not the weight of the whole compound. A chelated form such as bisglycinate carries only a small share of elemental magnesium, so a large number on the front of the tub can still mean a modest dose. We keep magnesium in different forms next to each other for that reason: bisglycinate and glycinate for people whose stomach reacts to citrate or oxide, and powders for anyone who would rather not swallow three capsules at ten in the evening.
Beyond magnesium, the range splits into three groups:
- B vitamins: vitamin B6 contributes to normal psychological function and to the reduction of fatigue and tiredness.
- Amino acids: glycine, L-theanine and 5-HTP, usually taken in the hour before bed.
- Herbal preparations: valerian, lemon balm, passionflower and hops, as capsules, tinctures or teas.
For the herbs there are no approved European health claims. So we describe what they are and how people use them, and we leave the promises out.
How we select what goes on the shelf
Three things decide whether a sleep product goes live with us: the form, the dose and whether the combination makes sense. We would rather stock a short formula with a real dose of elemental magnesium and vitamin B6 than a twelve-ingredient blend where every botanical sits at a token amount. We are brand-neutral and outcome-first: we carry what delivers, not what pays us most, and we buy directly from the brands, so authenticity is not in question. Every product passes our compliance team, we test products ourselves and independent labs spot-check batches. See how we select brands and products.
Who this collection suits, and what to expect
These products suit people who sleep reasonably well but want a steadier evening: trouble switching off, a busy head at bedtime, or a routine knocked out of shape by shift work or travel. Give it two to three weeks of consistent use before you judge the result, because minerals build up slowly and one restless night tells you little. If you regularly lie awake for hours, wake at the same time every night or feel drained through the day, discuss that with your GP first. Supplements work alongside a dark, cool bedroom and a fixed getting-up time, not instead of them. If daytime tension is the real driver, our support for stress and relaxation is often the better starting point.
Frequently asked questions
They support the systems involved in winding down, rather than sedating you. The mineral and vitamin part of the category is the best defined: magnesium contributes to normal psychological function and to the normal functioning of the nervous system, and vitamin B6 contributes to normal psychological function and to the reduction of fatigue and tiredness. Herbal ingredients such as valerian and lemon balm have no approved European health claims, so we describe them without attaching an effect. They work best alongside regular bed and wake times.
Not as a food supplement. In the UK melatonin is classed as a prescription-only medicine, so no shop, health store or website may sell it over the counter, in any format. That is why our UK sleep range is built from minerals, B vitamins, amino acids and herbal preparations instead. If you think melatonin is right for your situation, for example after long-haul travel or with a longer-standing sleep problem, your GP or a registered pharmacy is the route to discuss it.
It depends on your stomach and on how much magnesium you want per serving. Chelated forms are gentler for most people, while oxide delivers a lot of magnesium per gram but is poorly absorbed.
| Form | What stands out | Suits |
|---|---|---|
| Bisglycinate | Chelated, gentle on the stomach | Evening use, sensitive digestion |
| Citrate | Well absorbed, can loosen stools | General use, sluggish digestion |
| Malate | Well absorbed, neutral taste | Daytime and training days |
| Oxide | High magnesium per gram, low absorption | Budget options, small capsules |
Always compare the elemental magnesium per serving, not the compound weight.
UK reference intakes cover food and supplements together, and most people already get part of the total from bread, nuts, leafy greens and pulses. Official UK guidance is set out below.
| Group | Amount per day |
|---|---|
| Men, 19 to 64 years | 300 mg |
| Women, 19 to 64 years | 270 mg |
| From supplements | 400 mg or less is unlikely to cause harm |
Source: NHS
Higher supplemental doses can cause loose stools, which is one reason we favour split servings.
Read the label first, because timing follows the formula. Magnesium is usually taken with the evening meal or about 30 to 60 minutes before bed, and splitting the daily amount over the day is often kinder on the stomach. Amino acid formulas such as glycine or the amino acid L-theanine are generally taken in the hour before bed. Herbal capsules and tinctures often suit an earlier slot, so the wind-down starts before you are already lying awake.
Expect effects after two to three weeks of consistent use for minerals and vitamins, because levels build up gradually. Herbal preparations are often used more like an evening ritual, so people judge them night by night, which makes single nights unreliable evidence either way. Keep the rest of your routine steady while you try something new, and change one variable at a time. If nothing has shifted after a month of consistent use, the formula is probably not the right fit for you.
Well-dosed magnesium and B vitamins are not sedatives, so morning heaviness is not what you should expect from them. Herbal sleep preparations are different: some can cause drowsiness, and product labels normally warn against driving or operating machinery if you are affected. If you wake up foggy, look at the dose and the timing before you drop the product entirely. Taking a formula too late at night is a common and easily fixed cause.
Combining a magnesium product with a separate herbal formula is common, but check the labels for overlap, since blends often already contain magnesium, vitamin B6 or the same botanicals. Adding up the same nutrient twice is how people quietly exceed sensible amounts. If you take prescribed medication, including anything for sleep, mood or blood pressure, speak to your GP or pharmacist before you start, as herbal ingredients can interact. During pregnancy or breastfeeding, ask your midwife or GP first.
