Category
Sleep & stress
Compounds marketed for relaxation, sleep onset, or stress resilience.
Browse published ingredients in this bucket. Scores are model outputs for orientation - read each page for mechanisms, dosing notes, and who should avoid. How we score.
Where readers often start
In Sleep & stress, these published hubs are a common entry point (by overall score for this sort order): Magnesium · Melatonin · Magnesium glycinate · L-theanine · Magnesium bisglycinate.
Comparisons inside this category
Side-by-side pages where both ingredients appear in Sleep & stress.
Magnesium
78Magnesium helps true deficiency and specific symptoms (e.g., migraine prevention contexts in clinical care); sleep benefits are plausible but less uniformly proven.
PromisingEv 76Hype 52Melatonin
76Melatonin is evidence-supported for jet lag and some sleep timing problems; chronic insomnia management is more nuanced.
PromisingEv 78Hype 50Magnesium glycinate
73Glycinate is not a sedative on its own - expectations should track magnesium repletion and tolerability.
PromisingEv 68Hype 46L-theanine
72Theanine has reasonable short-term cognition/relaxation trial signals - useful for some, not transformative for all.
PromisingEv 68Hype 50Magnesium bisglycinate
72Bisglycinate is frequently confused with generic glycinate labeling - brands rarely prove superiority with head-to-head trials.
PromisingEv 68Hype 44Ashwagandha
71Ashwagandha shows repeated signals for stress and sleep in human trials, yet extract standardization and safety monitoring matter.
PromisingEv 70Hype 62Chamomile
70Chamomile is not a benzodiazepine substitute for severe anxiety.
PromisingEv 66Hype 34Glycine
68Glycine has intriguing sleep-latency trial data for some people; evidence base is smaller than melatonin for circadian issues.
PromisingEv 62Hype 48Inositol
66Inositol is not insulin for PCOS.
PromisingEv 64Hype 44St. John's wort
66Strong interaction profile with many drugs; some depression trial support but requires clinician oversight. We summarize evidence, safety, and hype as editorial context-not medical advice.
CautionEv 72Hype 48L-tyrosine
64Helpful in narrow cognitive stress models; less proven as daily anxiolytic.
PromisingEv 60Hype 52Rhodiola rosea
64Rhodiola has intriguing acute fatigue/stress trial data, but replication and standardization are inconsistent.
Mixed evidenceEv 62Hype 55Bacopa monnieri
62Bacopa is not instant focus like caffeine.
PromisingEv 60Hype 56N-acetylcysteine
62NAC is not a harmless daily antioxidant for everyone at high doses.
PromisingEv 58Hype 52Valerian root
62Valerian is plausible for mild sleep improvement, but trial inconsistency keeps it in the “maybe” bucket - not a guaranteed sedative.
Mixed evidenceEv 58Hype 52Lemon balm
60Lemon balm is gentle; effects are not dramatic for everyone.
Mixed evidenceEv 56Hype 42SAM-e
60SAM-e is not an OTC antidepressant replacement.
PromisingEv 56Hype 46Holy basil (tulsi)
58Tulsi is widely consumed as tea; concentrated capsules add uncertainty.
Mixed evidenceEv 52Hype 50L-tryptophan
58Tryptophan is not a free pass to stack with antidepressants.
Mixed evidenceEv 54Hype 48Passionflower
58Passionflower is mild; severe anxiety disorders need evaluated care.
Mixed evidenceEv 52Hype 46Phosphatidylserine
58PS is not a prescription cognitive drug.
PromisingEv 54Hype 52Reishi mushroom
56Reishi extracts vary in triterpenoid content; alcohol vs hot-water extracts differ.
Mixed evidenceEv 50Hype 54Alpha-GPC
54Alpha-GPC is not prescription cognitive care.
PromisingEv 50Hype 625-HTP
525-HTP crosses Rx territory when stacked carelessly.
Mixed evidenceEv 48Hype 62Black cohosh
52Black cohosh is not risk-free estrogen therapy.
Mixed evidenceEv 48Hype 54DHEA
52DHEA is closer to hormone tinkering than typical vitamins.
Mixed evidenceEv 48Hype 64Kava
52Anxiolytic herb; liver toxicity concerns have led to restrictions; quality and dose matter. We summarize evidence, safety, and hype as editorial context-not medical advice.
CautionEv 56Hype 62DMAE
48Compound marketed for focus and mood; older trials exist but replication is limited; fishy odor at higher doses. We summarize evidence, safety, and hype as editorial context-not medical advice.
Weak evidenceEv 42Hype 64Huperzine A
48Huperzine is not casual memory tea for people on many meds.
Insufficient evidenceEv 44Hype 58Schisandra
48Schisandra shows up in liver and focus formulas without airtight dosing standards.
Insufficient evidenceEv 42Hype 58Theacrine
46Theacrine is not side-effect-free stimulation.
Insufficient evidenceEv 42Hype 72GABA
42GABA supplements may work peripherally or via expectation more than direct CNS flooding.
Weak evidenceEv 35Hype 70
Common questions in this category
Focused pages tied to ingredients below - use them to jump into safety, efficacy, and context.
- 5-HTP
5-HTP benefits
- 5-HTP
5-HTP side effects
- 5-HTP
Does 5-HTP work?
- 5-HTP
Is 5-HTP legit?
- 5-HTP
Is 5-HTP safe?
- 5-HTP
Should I take 5-HTP?
- Alpha-GPC
Alpha-GPC benefits
- Alpha-GPC
Alpha-GPC side effects
- Alpha-GPC
Does Alpha-GPC work?
- Alpha-GPC
Is Alpha-GPC legit?
- Alpha-GPC
Is Alpha-GPC safe?
- Alpha-GPC
Should I take Alpha-GPC?
- Ashwagandha
Ashwagandha benefits
- Ashwagandha
Ashwagandha side effects
- Ashwagandha
Does Ashwagandha work?
- Ashwagandha
Does ashwagandha lower cortisol?