10 mg melatonin and a 905 mg blend: what’s in Rest Balance, and why it needs your doctor’s yes

Rest Balance has a longer label than most of our formulas. Two capsules hold 10 mg of melatonin, small amounts of vitamin B6, calcium and magnesium, and a 905 mg blend of 14 herbs and amino acids. That’s 18 named ingredients in one serving.

This article walks through every line of the Supplement Facts panel: what each ingredient is, what the label does and doesn’t tell you, and why we ask you to get your doctor’s yes before the first night.

The label at a glance

The serving size is 2 capsules, and a bottle of 60 holds 30 servings, so it lasts 30 days. The directions: two capsules with an 8 oz glass of water, 20–30 minutes before bed.

Ingredient	Per 2 capsules	% Daily Value
Vitamin B6 (as pyridoxine HCl)	1.8 mg	106%
Calcium (as calcium carbonate)	17 mg	1%
Magnesium (as magnesium citrate)	13 mg	3%
Melatonin	10 mg	Not established
Sleep formula proprietary blend	905 mg	Not established

Other ingredients: hypromellose (a vegetable capsule), magnesium stearate (vegetable) and silicon dioxide. The label lists no allergens.

Melatonin, 10 mg

Melatonin is a hormone your brain makes in response to darkness. According to the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH), it helps with the timing of your circadian rhythm, your roughly 24-hour internal clock, and with sleep.

In Rest Balance, melatonin has its own line, outside the blend, so you can see the exact amount: 10 mg per serving. That’s a strong dose. It’s the main reason for three rules on this formula: ask your doctor first, take it only when you’re ready for bed and can give yourself a full night, and skip other melatonin products while you take it.

Some people feel groggy the next morning with melatonin. Take it 20–30 minutes before bed, not in the middle of the night, and allow a full night. If mornings still feel heavy, talk to your doctor. NCCIH also notes that less is known about the safety of melatonin supplements over the long term.

The 905 mg blend: what "proprietary blend" means

The other 14 ingredients sit in one "sleep formula proprietary blend" of 905 mg. Under the FDA’s labeling rules for dietary supplements, a proprietary blend prints its total weight and lists its ingredients in order of weight, from most to least, but doesn’t have to print each ingredient’s amount.

So here is what the label tells you: the blend weighs 905 mg in total, L-tryptophan is listed first and 5-HTP last. It doesn’t tell you how many milligrams of each are inside, and we won’t guess at numbers the label doesn’t print.

Here’s the blend, grouped by what each ingredient is.

Building blocks: L-tryptophan and 5-HTP

L-tryptophan is an amino acid you get from food. 5-HTP, from Griffonia simplicifolia seed, is the step between it and serotonin, which the body uses to make melatonin.* Both sit on the same pathway, which is part of why your doctor should know you’re taking them, especially if you take any medicine that acts on serotonin.

St. John’s wort

St. John’s wort (Hypericum perforatum, aerial parts) has a long history in herbal practice for a calm, balanced mood.* It’s also the ingredient that most needs a doctor’s look. NCCIH notes that St. John’s wort interacts with many medicines and can make some of them work less well, including birth control pills and the blood thinner warfarin. If you take any medication at all, ask before you start.

Ashwagandha

Ashwagandha root (Withania somnifera) is a traditional herb that supports the body’s response to everyday stress.* It’s an active herb, and one more reason to check with your doctor first.

Chamomile, lemon balm and passion flower

Three plants long used in evening teas, here in a capsule: chamomile flower (Matricaria chamomilla), lemon balm (Melissa officinalis, aerial parts) and passion flower (Passiflora incarnata). They support relaxation.*

GABA, L-theanine and L-taurine

Three amino acids. L-theanine is the amino acid found in tea. Together they support relaxation.*

Hops, Chinese skullcap, goji and inositol

Hops flower (Humulus lupulus) and Chinese skullcap root (Scutellaria baicalensis) are traditional evening herbs. Lycium, better known as goji fruit (Lycium barbarum), and inositol round out the blend.

Vitamin B6, calcium and magnesium

Vitamin B6, 1.8 mg (106% DV), helps your body make neurotransmitters, including serotonin.* Calcium (17 mg) and magnesium (13 mg) are small amounts, 1% and 3% of the Daily Value.

If you want a full dose of magnesium, that’s a different formula: Magnesium Foundation gives 275 mg, with no melatonin. For how the two compare, read Magnesium or melatonin? Choosing between Magnesium Foundation and Rest Balance.

Why Rest Balance needs your doctor’s yes

The label’s caution is short: ask your doctor first, especially if you take medication. Here is why, ingredient by ingredient:

• 10 mg of melatonin is a strong dose. Skip other melatonin products while you take Rest Balance.
• St. John’s wort interacts with many medicines.
• 5-HTP and L-tryptophan work on the serotonin pathway, which matters if you take medicine that does too.
• Ashwagandha is an active herb your doctor should know about.

Ask first, too, if you’re pregnant or nursing, under 18, or have a medical condition. Take Rest Balance only when you’re ready for bed, never take more than the label says, and skip other melatonin and sleep products while you use it.

To make the conversation quick, bring a photo of the Supplement Facts panel and a list of every medicine and supplement you take. Your doctor can then give you a clear yes or no.

What the label says it does

"Supports restful nights, eases occasional sleeplessness & restores morning calm.*" That’s the claim on the bottle, and it’s the only one we make. Rest Balance works alongside good evening habits, not in place of them. If sleep is hard most nights, talk to your doctor. For habits that help, read when your mind won’t switch off at night.

Your next step

Once your doctor says yes, see the full label on the Rest Balance page.

References

1. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health. Melatonin: What You Need To Know.
2. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health. St. John’s Wort.
3. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. 21 CFR 101.36, Nutrition labeling of dietary supplements.
4. Rest Balance Supplement Facts label.