Zhou Nutrition: Driftoff
What is it:
A daily supplement to help you fall asleep and get better sleep.
Does it work:
Yes
Affiliated Link:
Review:
Drift Off aids in falling asleep and generally getting better sleep. It is a blend of both Eastern and Western medicinal practices as is most of Zhou Nutrition’s products. The product is of good quality and works well.
I’ve noticed a decided decrease to the time it may take me to fall asleep when I use the product. Everyone’s experience will be different here, but I do notice myself experiencing deep yawns about 30-45 minutes after taking it. I’ve used it both as a sleep aid on a regular (work nights for 2 weeks) and irregular when needed schedule. My preferred use is irregularly when I’m having trouble getting to sleep or I know I need to get a good night's sleep. This in my opinion is rare for natural sleep aids, typically I find I need to use them regularly to get a benefit. There is some note to my duration of sleep, but full disclosure I regularly wake in the middle of the night. That time doesn’t seem to push back any further (typically around 3-4 hours after falling asleep). My ability to fall back asleep does seem to have increased though. On some occasions when using the product I’ve woken in my normal interval feeling like I’ve achieved enough sleep by that point, this does not occur often though. What does typically occur is substantiation to Zhou’s claims of waking more energetic. I have never experienced drowsiness or a sluggish feeling after taking it. In fact I often wake before my alarm and am ready to get up in the mornings after use.
Deep Dive:
Zhou Nutrition is a Utah based company that creates quality supplements. Zhou makes it a point to use high quality ingredients. They also make sure you are completely aware of what is in their products. They do both incoming and outgoing lab testing which is important. Not only do they test the ingredients they receive to create the supplements but also then test the supplements they create. Some companies only do the latter so it is good to see they are sticklers for quality. Beyond just nice labeling they do a great job of organizing their products into different health related categories.
Drift Off is a supplement designed to help you get to sleep easier and then achieve better and more restful sleep. Each of the ingredients included seem to be correlated to these endeavors. There is also care to make it a non-habit forming formula.
The formula listed on the product is:
Valerian root extract, GABA (Gamma Amino Butyric Acid), L-Tryptophan, Chamomile aerial extract, Passionflower aerial extract, Lemon Balm leaf extract, Hops cone extract, Melatonin.
Valerian Root:
Herb, Sedative, Widely used in historical medicine, Cats like it
Flowering plant, root is dried for use (Zhou uses an extract [more potent])
Has sedative properties
Valeric Acid → Valproic acid (known anticonvulsant)
GABA levels
Contains and promotes
Valeric Acid stops a known GABA inhibitor
Partial agonist for serotonin receptors
Specifically 5-HT5a (circadian rhythm)
TCM and other modalities have used it for:
Insomnia, inflammation, sedation, pain relief, antihemorrhagic (stops bleeding), blood pressure, menstrual cramps
Possible sleep function interactions:
Falling asleep, anti-anxiety, blood pressure control
GABA Gamma Amino Butyric Acid:
Neurotransmitter, anti-anxiety, helps with NREM
Helps manage anxiety providing a feeling of calm and relaxation
Stabilizes blood pressure and can help lower blood pressure for those with hypertension
Can help with inflammation
Increases NREM and has an effect on its duration
L-Tryptophan
Amino Acid
Precursor to:
Serotonin (via 5-HTP), Melatonin, Vitamin B3
Properties achieved via Serotonin productions:
Antidepressant
Anxiolytic (anti-anxiety)
Reduction of headaches/migraines from those suffering from
See Melatonin information for those properties
Vitamin B3 (Niacin) in regards to sleep:
Necessary for DNA repair during NREM
Chamomile
Plant, Used in historical medicine
Antioxidant properties
Terpenoids (typically unstable may not be in use here)
Polyphenols (organic compounds):
Quercetin, Patuletin, luteolin, apigenin
Mild sedative
Historically used for the following that in turn promote better sleep
Digestion, anti-anxiety, anti-inflammatory
Passionflower
Flowering Vine (many species), Used in historic medicine
Antidepressant properties via trace Beta-Carboline amounts
Acts as a MAO(Monoamine oxidase) inhibitor
Contain many different flavonoids, glycosides and organic acids
Increases GABA
May have an effect on:
Lowering blood pressure, anti-anxiety, insulin control, reducing menopause symptoms, anti-inflammatory
Lemon Balm:
Plant (mint family), Used in historical medicine
Cited in multiple different sources for its medicinal properties
Paracelsus, Culpeper both wrote about it
Heart & Liver health
May aid in regulating blood pressure and reducing irregular heartbeat issues
May aid the liver in cholesterol synthesis
Natural antibacterial
May help with overactive thyroid issues
Traditional uses include
Anti-anxiety, mood stabilizer, nootropic, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, digestive aid
Hops
Plant (Cannabaceae family), commonly used in brewing
Interact with and have similar functions as Valerian Root
Known sedative
Alpha acid 2-methyl-3-buten-2-ol is similar to a known anesthetic (tert-amyl alcohol)
May have a role in melatonin receptor reaction
Claims are made for the benefit in the following:
Metabolism, cardiovascular disease, depression, insomnia, decreased nocturnal activity
Historical used for sleep
Sleeping on a pillow made of hops
Finding those harvesting hops to be drowsy or to fall asleep while working
Melatonin
Hormone
Controls the circadian rhythm
Shown to reduce the time to fall asleep and length of sleep
Anti-oxidant
Direct scavenger of oxidative stress
Aids the immune system as an anti-inflammatory
Things that reduce natural melatonin production:
Caffeine, tabaco, alcohol, blue light, bright light exposure, poor vision
Final Thoughts:
I like it as a ‘when needed’ sleep aid and recommend it to anyone having trouble with their sleep cycle. Or to keep in the cabinet for those times you really just need to get a good night’s sleep.
Affiliated Product link: Driftoff
Other Great Zhou Nutrition Products:
Zhou Neuro Peak - Awesome Nootropic, I take one before recording podcast episodes.
Zhou Elder-Mune Supplement - Tasty way to get an immune system boost.
Zhou Vitamin D3 + K2 - Good starter D3+K2 supplement for boosting immune support and a couple thousand other processes in the body.
Zhou Methyl-B12 - Vitamin B12 energy booster as a tasty lozenge.
Zhou Nutrition Store on Amazon - High quality products from a trustable company. Products are well organized into different health categories.