A data-driven approach to sounder sleep

Sleep Elixir is the new frontier in sleep optimization. Our blend promotes sleep by enhancing what is naturally available inside your body. Informed by over 600M hours of sleep data from Pod users, we’ve combined four natural, science-backed ingredients to create a formula that helps people fall asleep faster and feel better the next day. 

How Sleep Elixir works in synergy

Each ingredient in Sleep Elixir is powerful on its own, but their true potential arises in combination. In formulating Sleep Elixir, 200+ subjects tested eight different compounds for over 30K nights of data. These studies identified four natural ingredients that work together in perfect synergy: valerian root, tart cherry, L-tryptophan, and ashwagandha. In our final 6-week study on the Sleep Elixir blend, we found:

• Users reported falling asleep 34% faster
• Users felt 64% better during the day after taking Sleep Elixir

Read about the benefits of each ingredient, and see the Appendix below for more scientific details about each ingredient’s mechanism of action.

1. Valerian Root: Nature’s Relaxant*

Valerian root is a natural remedy that has been used for centuries to address racing thoughts at bedtime and promote falling asleep faster. Its primary active compound, valerenic acid, engages with receptors in your brain to calm active thoughts and ease you into sleep.

2. Tart Cherry: The Melatonin Booster^

Montmorency tart cherries are one of nature’s richest sources of melatonin, the hormone that regulates circadian rhythm. Additionally, tart cherries are rich in antioxidants, which support sleep by reducing cellular stress and inflammation.

3. L-Tryptophan: The Serotonin Precursor#

L-tryptophan is a protein building block that the body does not produce naturally, so you get this nutrient through your food. L-tryptophan is used to make both serotonin and melatonin, which regulate your mood and your circadian rhythm. Together, these hormones help to regulate sleep and promote sleep onset.

4. Ashwagandha: The Stress Reliever+

Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) is an herb used in ancient medicine to help the body adapt to stress. Its active compounds, withanolides, have been shown to reduce levels of cortisol, a stress hormone associated with sleep disruption. Ashwagandha helps to maintain circadian rhythm, promote sleep onset, and improve reported sleep quality by lowering cortisol levels at bedtime.

Appendix

*Valerian root’s primary active compound, valerenic acid, modulates gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptors in the brain1. By increasing GABA receptor activity2, valerian root decreases the response to excitatory neurotransmitters, promoting relaxation and reducing the time it takes to fall asleep3.

^Tart cherry supplementation has been shown to increase melatonin levels4, promoting a more consistent sleep schedule5. Tart cherry contains several types of polyphenols, natural antioxidants which reduce oxidative stress and inflammation. Oxidative stress, or stress at the molecular level, is associated with tissue inflammation. Both oxidative stress on its own, and the associated inflammation, are known disruptors of sleep6.

#L-tryptophan serves as a precursor to both serotonin7 and melatonin5, which regulate your mood and your circadian rhythm. Upon crossing the blood-brain barrier8, L-tryptophan is used to make serotonin, which supports melatonin release7. 

+Ashwagandha’s active compounds, withanolides, have been shown to reduce levels of cortisol, a stress hormone released by the body’s stress response cascade, called the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis9. High cortisol levels before sleeping have been shown to lead to poorer and shorter sleep10. By reducing cortisol levels before bed, ashwagandha helps to promote sleep onset and improve reported sleep quality11.

References

1. Bent, S., Padula, A., Moore, D., Patterson, M., & Mehling, W. (2006). Valerian for sleep: a systematic review and meta-analysis. The American Journal of Medicine, 119(12), 1005–1012. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amjmed.2006.02.026
2. Trauner, G., Khom, S., Baburin, I., Benedek, B., Hering, S., & Kopp, B. (2008). Modulation of GABAA receptors by valerian extracts is related to the content of valerenic acid. Planta Medica, 74(1), 19–24. https://doi.org/10.1055/s-2007-993761
3. Shekhar, H. C., Joshua, L., & Thomas, J. V. (2023). Standardized Extract of Valeriana officinalis Improves Overall Sleep Quality in Human Subjects with Sleep Complaints: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Clinical Study. Advances in Therapy, 41(1), 246–261. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12325-023-02708-6 
4. Howatson, G., Bell, P. G., Tallent, J., Middleton, B., McHugh, M. P., & Ellis, J. (2012). Effect of tart cherry juice (Prunus cerasus) on melatonin levels and enhanced sleep quality. European Journal of Nutrition, 51(8), 909–916. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00394-011-0263-7
5. Brown, G. M. (1994). Light, melatonin and the sleep-wake cycle. Journal of Psychiatry & Neuroscience, 19(5), 345–353. PMCID: PMC1188623.
6. Zhang, Q., Yi, J., & Wu, Y. (2024). Oxidative stress and inflammation mediate the association between elevated oxidative balance scores and improved sleep quality: Evidence from NHANES. Frontiers in Nutrition, 11, 1469779. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnut.2024.1469779
7. Höglund, E., Øverli, Ø., & Winberg, S. (2019). Tryptophan metabolic pathways and brain serotonergic activity: a comparative review. Frontiers in Endocrinology, 10, 158. https://doi.org/10.3389/fendo.2019.00158
8. Monti, J. M. (2011). Serotonin control of sleep-wake behavior. Sleep Medicine Reviews, 15(4), 269–281. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.smrv.2010.11.003
9. Della Porta, M., Maier, J. A., & Cazzola, R. (2023). Effects of Withania somnifera on cortisol levels in stressed human subjects: A systematic review. Nutrients, 15(24), 5015. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu15245015 
10. Yap, Y., Wong, M. L., & Lau, E. Y. Y. (2024). Daily associations between salivary cortisol and electroencephalographic-assessed sleep: A 15-day intensive longitudinal study. Sleep, 47(9), zsae087. https://doi.org/10.1093/sleep/zsae087
11. Deshpande, A., Irani, N., Balkrishnan, R., & Benny, I. R. (2020). A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study to evaluate the effects of ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) extract on sleep quality in healthy adults. Sleep Medicine, 72, 28–36. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sleep.2020.03.012