Griffonia
Perfect for: Improving brain activity and maintaining a positive mood
Botanical name: Griffonia simplicifolia
Botanical family: Fabaceae
Part of the plant used: Seed
Active substances: 5 hydroxytryptophan (5HTP)
Origin: Equatorial Africa
Benefits:
Griffonia is mainly used for its action on mood. It is an alternative to chemical antidepressants and their side effects. Griffonia also acts on sleep disorders, it promotes deep and restorative sleep and fights against insomnia. Finally, Griffonia plays a role in the regulation of appetite and satiety.
Story :
Griffonia is a climbing plant native to West Africa used for millennia in traditional medicine. Griffonia is a leguminous plant and bears black pods filled with seeds, resembling beans. African populations have always used it to treat many pathologies. They also use it in cooking where it is appreciated for its richness in nutrients and proteins. It was only at the end of the 20th century that scientists identified a new active principle in the seeds of Griffonia: 5-HTP (HydroxyTryPtophane), an amino acid that is the immediate precursor of serotonin, the natural soothing hormone produced by the body that plays the role of regulator of stress, emotions and cravings. Serotonin is also the preliminary form of melatonin, a relaxation and sleep hormone that contributes to natural, deep and restorative sleep and thus regulates the sleep cycle.
To be found in : The Balance
