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 WBZ Boston News consulted Dr. Catherine Ulbricht, co-founder of Natural Standard and Senior Attending Pharmacist at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston to learn about relaxation drinks. These new drinks often contain herbal extracts or natural hormones and are designed to help reduce stress and anxiety and improve sleep.
While the safety and effectiveness of these products have not been rigorously tested, some of their ingredients, such as melatonin, have been shown to offer benefits in human studies.
The drinks have been gaining popularity. The number of companies that make relaxation drinks has grown from two to 50 in the last few years.
Dr. Ulbricht cautions that these products may not be safe for everyone. "If you have a predisposition to liver disease and are on medications that might affect the liver, then kava, which is also in some of these drinks, might not be the best for you," Dr. Ulbricht told WBZ Boston News. The drinks are not regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
To schedule an expert interview or book signing with Dr. Ulbricht, please e-mail questions@naturalstandard.com.
For more information melatonin, GABA, 5-HTP and other ingredients in relaxation drinks, please visit Natural Standard's Foods, Herbs & Supplements database.
- Merrill K. Relaxation Drinks Becoming Big Business. WBZ News. View Article
- Natural Standard: The Authority on Integrative Medicine. www.naturalstandard.com
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