Sleep problems are one of the biggest complaints that women in perimenopause bring to their doctors. Indeed, sleep is vital for our overall health and wellbeing, and when we do not get enough of it, we feel pretty terrible. There are solutions to sleep difficulties in perimenopause, but it can be hard to find them. Where some women struggle with anxiety, others will be kept awake with night sweats.

One of the ways some women combat sleeplessness and interrupted sleep in perimenopause is to take supplements that help with sleep. Unlike medications that are sleep aids, sleep supplements have fewer side effects, making them a good place to start if you have trouble sleeping. Let’s look at Nature Made Calm and Relax supplements to see how effective they are against perimenopause sleep troubles. 

The Nature Made Brand

You will likely recognize this brand instantly when you do a quick online search for calm and relax nature made. The yellow cap and brown bottle with the red logo and green leaves is one that surely has sat on the shelves at your local grocery store or pharmacy. 

Nature Made is a vitamin company that has been making supplements since the 1970s. They use high-quality ingredients and have been named U.S. News #1 Pharmacist Recommended Brand. Many of their products are also USP Verified, meaning they have approval for use by the United States Pharmacopeia. The USP sets standards for pharmaceutical products, which is especially valuable given that the FDA does not regulate vitamins and supplements.

Ingredients in Nature Made Calm and Relax

The phrase “it’s what’s inside that truly counts” is so true when it comes to supplements. This supplement is meant to help ease stress and tension and is helpful when taken at night. It contains two primary ingredients:

• Magnesium oxide – 300 mg – 71%DV
• Ashwagandha root and leaf extract – 125mg (There is no %DV established for this herb)

Other inactive ingredients include: rice flour, hypromellose, magnesium stearate, silicon dioxide, and maltodextrin. 

The supplements are considered gluten-free and vegetarian and have no color added, artificial flavors, or preservatives.

What are the benefits of magnesium and ashwagandha?

There is quite a bit of evidence to support the use of both magnesium and ashwagandha in a supplement designed to help you calm down and relax. For starters, magnesium is one of the most critical nutrients in the body. It is responsible for hundreds of chemical reactions and is especially important in our bone and muscle health. There is also plenty of evidence that shows magnesium helps regulate our sleep cycles. Many people take a magnesium supplement alone to treat insomnia and other sleep disturbance problems.

The second ingredient in Nature Made Calm and Relax is ashwagandha. This medicinal herb has been used for millennia in Ayurvedic medicine. The roots and leaves of this herb have adaptogenic properties, meaning they help the body process and reduce stress. At the core of all chronic diseases is some form of stress. Therefore, it is vital to help our bodies mitigate stress wherever possible. 

Nature Made Calm and Relax Reviews

Because there are few clinical trials to back up supplements, reviews are one of the best ways to gauge a supplement’s effectiveness. 

Per Amazon, the Nature Made Calm and Relax supplement has over 500 reviews, with an average rating of 4.5 stars. Most people say they live up to their name by making them feel calm and relaxed. Some people who have anxiety and depression even reported that it helped them shut off their minds and feel more at ease. Additionally, many people found they fell asleep more quickly and stayed asleep longer once they started taking these supplements. Another perk of these supplements is that most people find it is at a reasonable price point.

There are very few reviews that are 3 stars and under. Of those reviews, people found they were not helpful, or they made them moodier if they have an underlying mood disorder like depression.

Are Nature Made Calm and Relax Supplements Helpful for Perimenopause?

Because there are so many positive testimonials that this supplement helps adult men and women relax and sleep better, it is safe to say they may positively affect women struggling with peri-related sleep issues. Indeed, many women in perimenopause already use magnesium to get a better night’s rest. 

However, before trying any supplement, even this one which seems relatively low risk, it is best to check with your doctor first. Additionally, if your lack of sleep interferes with your quality of life and your ability to perform in your day-to-day activities and work, it is necessary to consult your doctor to make a plan to help you get your sleep back on track. 

Disclaimer: This is not medical advice, does not take the place of medical advice from your physician, and is not intended to treat or cure any disease. Patients should see a qualified medical provider for assessment and treatment.