Griffonia: Good for Mind and Sleep?

As winter draws to a close, the metabolism can be further affected by emotional imbalances caused by the prolonged darkness of the cold season. With the approach of the time change, and even though this change heralds the spring season, the return of light and the gradual softening of temperatures, the organism, under the influence of fatigue, may experience a temporary increase in its imbalances. Mood swings can be more frequent, stress and anxiety more pronounced. Natural supplementation offers many remedies for these late winter and off-season discomforts. Among the most effective plants is griffonia, which promotes both mental balance and sleep. But what makes it so valuable? All the answers are below!

Traditional Knowledge Revealed Late

For a long time, people in Africa, particularly in Ghana and the Ivory Coast, have used griffonia to relieve all sorts of everyday ailments. The juice from the leaves was known to relieve liver and intestinal complaints, while the stems were used to soothe intercostal sensitivities and the seeds were recommended to soothe headaches and promote sleep. Despite the local use of griffonia for well-being, its recognition on an international scale, especially in the Western world, was long in coming. It began to make inroads after a series of events in the world of nutritional supplementation. In the mid-1980s, when tryptophan, the precursor of serotonin, was a very popular dietary supplement in the United States, an epidemic occurred, the cause of which was attributed to tryptophan, although this was never scientifically proven. This unfortunate event prompted laboratories to look for an alternative for their dietary supplements, which they found in Griffonia, which is rich in 5-HTP. And so, beginning in the 1990s, Griffonia gradually made its way into naturopathic medicine.

Griffonia, a Generous Member of the Caesalpiniaceae Family

Griffonia is a shrub that grows naturally in the forest regions of tropical Africa over a wide area stretching from Liberia to Gabon to the edge of the savannas. It is characterized by oval leaves and fruits in the form of large egg-shaped pods filled with seeds. These fruits are highly sought after in natural health supplements. Their benefits are derived from rare and specific concentrations of active ingredients, the seeds being highly concentrated in 5-HTP and well endowed with lectins.

What is 5-HTP?

5-HTP, or hydroxytryptophan, is an amino acid produced by the body from tryptophan, another amino acid found in protein-rich foods. After absorption and crossing the brain barrier, 5-HTP is converted into serotonin, a neurotransmitter that plays an essential role in regulating mood, anxiety, sleep, and appetite. A true intermediary between tryptophan and serotonin, 5-HTP has properties relatively close to those of these two essential natural substances. Griffonia seeds, which contain large quantities of 5-HTP, are therefore of great value in terms of well-being and harmony. To get a more precise idea of the 5-HTP content of Griffonia, it’s worth noting that the seeds contain up to 15% 5-HTP, an interesting percentage whose benefits can be increased tenfold by supplementation, concentration, standardization or titration.

Griffonia, a Source of Good Mood and Restful Sleep

Due to its excellent active 5-HTP content, Griffonia is a natural source of positive mood and restful sleep. Traditionally, people in tropical Africa, particularly in Ghana and the Ivory Coast, have relied on Griffonia to promote mental equilibrium. In particular, it is one of the key plants in the pharmacopoeia for low morale and seasonal affective disorder. More than just a plant to boost morale, griffonia also has other benefits for both physical and emotional well-being. It is therefore highly relevant for simultaneously acting on balance during periods when stress and anxiety are coupled with sleep problems that accentuate fatigue. As a precursor to serotonin, 5-HTP helps relieve minor physical discomforts such as headaches, as well as minor mental disorders such as nervousness, difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep. As far as sleep is concerned, Griffonia is best known for its benefits at the beginning of the night when it gently helps you fall asleep.

Which Treatment with Which Supplement?

To help you manage the upcoming time change and enter spring under the most positive of auspices, griffonia-based supplements-whether made up of this plant alone or a synergy of mind- and sleep-friendly plants, including griffonia-are naturally beneficial. In keeping with the two major complementary benefits of 5-HTP-rich griffonia seeds, the complexes tend to focus on either emotional balance or sleep. In the first case, supplements combine griffonia with plants known for their positive, balancing properties, such as St. John’s wort, or substances with strong anti-stress properties, such as magnesium. In the second case, when it comes to helping you fall asleep, griffonia is often accompanied by natural resources to help you manage stress and get a quick, restful night’s sleep. On the nutritional side, B vitamins or amino acids such as L-tyrosine can be added to griffonia with profit. On the botanical side, holy basil and valerian are more appropriate.

To Conclude

Please note that some precautions should be taken when using St. John’s wort as part of a treatment. Do not take St. John’s wort with Griffonia or 5-HTP. Obviously, the supplements containing this synergy are precisely designed to make the most of it without any risk of upsetting the balance. A course of Griffonia or 5-HTP is also incompatible with the use of antidepressants, analgesics and other drugs whose effects are antagonistic to the benefits of Griffonia. Finally, it’s important to note that a course of griffonia or 5-HTP may cause mild side effects: gastrointestinal upset, temporary nausea and drowsiness. It’s important to adjust your habits to the time you take them to avoid any risk. If in doubt about the compatibility of certain medications with Griffonia or 5-HTP, it is strongly recommended to seek medical advice before taking any medication, use a brand you are familiar with. Read the label carefully.