Blue Toad Botanicals’ new stack supports nerve health with grains of paradise and mushroom extracts

Targeted therapeutic functional mushrooms and botanical stacks producer, Blue Toad Botanicals, unveils an anxiety support supplement, You’ve Got Some Nerve Functional Mushroom Capsules. The new stack features a West African flowering plant, grains of paradise (Aframomum melegueta), also known as guinea pepper, which clinical trials demonstrate can improve mood and sleep.

Other than its core ingredient, You’ve Got Some Nerve features functional mushrooms and a broad range of botanicals and vitamins in its formulation. The stack includes a potent blend of NeuroAEA (anandamide and myristicin), feverfew, passion flower, skullcap, NeuroAGARIC (muscimol), methylated B-complex, benfotiamine, a proprietary terpene stack, and acetyl-L-carnitine.

“Living with nerve issues can be challenging and can take a significant toll on people’s quality of life. It can affect mood and sleep and impact overall quality of life…informing the development of this product was my own history of struggling with these issues,” says Paul Frantellizzi, co-founder, chief innovation officer, and CEO at Blue Toad.

“The addition of a branded, clinically studied ingredient like Vanizem to this formulation helps us build trust with our customers and offers new, disruptive benefits to our product. We were extremely excited about the standardized content of 10% vanilloids,” he adds.

Targeting endocannabinoid system

The grains of paradise ingredient, branded Vanizem, is supplied by PLT Health and features proprietary selection and extraction methods. It contains standardized bioactives, including 10% vanilloids, of which 1.5% are 6-Paradol, which targets the endocannabinoid system.

Grains of paradise, also known as guinea pepper, have clinically demonstrated to improve mood and sleep.In a recently completed clinical study, Vanizem was shown to improve self-reported tension scores and sleep quality scores, along with mood, vigor, ease of falling asleep, and easier morning awakening.

Studies showed that a low dose showed significant results within three days in improving mental well-being, reducing stress and anxiety levels, supporting sleep, and contributing to overall relaxation.

PLT Health’s Spain-based innovation partner, Nektium Pharma, developed Vanizem.

“The team at Blue Toad ‘gets’ what self-care through the use of botanicals is all about. They were one of the first companies that recognized the potential for Vanizem. We are excited at the launch of this new product and look forward to more people being introduced to the benefits of Vanizem,” comments Steve Fink, vice president of marketing for PLT Health Solutions.

Nutrition Insight recently caught up with key industry suppliers to discuss new developments in the relaxation supplements category, which continues to exhibit high activity in novel ingredient solutions. One emergent trend in the space is the growing interest in multifunctional formulations that combine relaxation aids with other wellness benefits, such as immune support and hormonal balance, which innovative botanical ingredient blends can address.