Qualia Night

The Science Behind Qualia Night

Qualia Night was designed to offer comprehensive sleep support by optimizing your body’s regenerative power at night. It supports better sleep without relying on botanical sedatives or giving melatonin. It is designed to help the brain better regulate the ensemble of molecules needed to fall asleep, stay asleep, and wake feeling refreshed. 

Qualia's products are formulated based on complex systems science. This emerging scientific paradigm (1) supports upregulation of multiple pathways and processes, (2) identifies and takes advantage of nutrient synergies, and (3) embraces the Goldilocks zone, or just-right amount, when it comes to ingredients and dosage.

While published studies are the foundation of what we do at Qualia, we also take into account the experiences of biohackers and the growing community of self-experimenters, which are leading a revolution in citizen science. 

It’s this combination of complex systems and citizen science that places Qualia at the forefront in developing groundbreaking formulas that deliver real results.

How Does Qualia Night Support Optimized Sleep?

✓It addresses causes of poor sleep including supporting natural melatonin production, circadian rhythms, and homeostatic sleep drive. When these are supported, we experience better quality sleep, getting to deep, restorative sleep more quickly.

✓Contains polyphenols and other compounds that feed healthy gut bacteria, supporting gut microbiota and the gut-brain axis, which is critical for healthy brain and immune function.

✓Supports brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), an important compound the brain and nervous system makes to protect existing neurons and encourage the growth of new neurons, doing both in support of learning, memory, and higher thinking.

✓Supports stem cell function, which plays an important functional role in repair and regeneration.

✓Supports brain and nervous system antioxidant defenses, combining cell membrane antioxidants like astaxanthin and lycopene, with superfood extracts, and herbal tonics.

We fully publish all the research behind every product. Read our booklet about the science and research behind Qualia Night.

KSM-66 Ashwagandha® (Withania somnifera) Root Extract

We included KSM-66 Ashwagandha® because it supports sleep quality, relaxation, muscle recovery, cognitive function, immunity and a healthier stress response: These are the areas at the core of what Qualia Night was designed to deliver.*

Gotu Kola (Centella asiatica) Whole Herb Extract

We included gotu kola because, unlike many other nootropics that are best taken only at the beginning of the day, gotu kola is a great fit at the end of a day of a busy day because it is calming and supports repair and rejuvenation processes.*

Holy Basil (Ocimum sanctum) Leaf Extract

We included holy basil because it’s an adaptogen and one of the leading causes of poor sleep is hyperarousal—an overactive stress response and over aroused nervous system. Holy basil also supports mood, cognition and immunity. This combination makes it a perfect fit for nighttime relaxation and restoration.*

Reishi Mushroom (Ganoderma lucidum) Fruiting Body Extract

Reishi was included in Qualia Night because it supports sleep (without causing sleepiness) and calms/centers the mind. In addition to these traditional uses, modern research on reishi mushrooms has focused on immune system support and rejuvenating processes, including stem cell function.

Schisandra chinensis Fruit Extract

S. chinensis fruits are often described as being an adaptogen, supporting broad resistance to stress, and enhancing mental and physical performance. Another reason it was included is that in preclinical research S. chinensis fruits enhance calmness and relaxation, and support readiness for sleep.

Ziziphus jujuba Seed Extract

Ziziphus jujuba seeds were believed to alleviate stress and calm the mind and spirit. They are one of the most commonly used herbs for supporting sleep and relaxation in China and other parts of Asia, and were included in Qualia Night because of these traditional uses.

Polygala tenuifolia Root Extract

In Traditional Chinese Medicine, Polygala tenuifolia root was often used to reduce forgetfulness. Preclinical research suggests it supports brain protection and repair processes and molecules (such as BDNF and NGF), counters stress, supports sleep, and influences both adenosine and GABA signaling.

White Peony (Paeonia lactiflora) Root Extract

White peony root contains a compound called paeoniflorin that influences adenosine signaling—a molecule involved in the sleep homeostatic drive. In preclinical research paeoniflorin supports brain protection and repair processes, counters stress, influences learning, and promotes a balanced mood.

Hawthorn Leaf and Flower Extract

The leaf and flowers of Hawthorn—Crataegus sp. such as C. monogyna and C. oxyacantha—was a heart tonic (i.e., something intended to make the heart function more efficiently) in European herbal traditions. It was included in Qualia Night because we wanted to include support for heart rejuvenation, and using an herb that has a reputation for calming and sleep supportive properties made it a perfect fit.*

Saffron Stigma Extract

Saffron is a spice derived from the flowers of Crocus sativus. Saffron is a source of crocin, picrocrocin, and safranal as well as the macular (eye) carotenoids zeaxanthin and lycopene. We felt saffron would be a fit in Qualia Night because of a combination of sleep support, mood enhancement, and relaxation.*

Vineatrol®20 Grapevine Extract

During our research on the homeostatic sleep drive, we discovered preclinical and animal studies indicating that resveratrol interacts with this system. We also found mentions of low doses of resveratrol benefiting sleep quality and next day feelings of being refreshed in news articles.

Olivex® Olive Fruit Extract

Olive polyphenols have been receiving attention for heart and brain health, as well as healthy aging and ATP production.  Adenosine—the “A” in ATP—is believed to be the key molecule in the homeostatic sleep drive.

Wild Blueberry Fruit Extract

Blueberry polyphenols serve many roles in our formula. They support the gut-brain axis, support cognitive function and synergistically enhance the grape extracts we included in Qualia Night. Blueberries have also been found to support healthy stem cell activity in animal studies, supporting rejuvenation functions.

Sesame Seed Extract

Qualia Night included a sesame seed extract because the product’s goals included a focus on brain health, the gut-brain axis, and repair functions and molecules like BDNF. Sesame seeds contain a compound called sesamin that supports these areas, and is complementary with other ingredients.

γ-Oryzanol

γ-Oryzanol has interesting animal research that suggests its sleep supportive actions might be related to histamine signaling. Circadian changes on histamine neurotransmission play an important role in sleep-wake cycles and both daytime and night time performance.

AstaPure® Haematococcus pluvialis microalgae extract (3% astaxanthin)

We included astaxanthin in Qualia Night because of the growing body of research on cognitive function support, as well as protective, repair and regenerative processes in the brain. Also astaxanthin provides immune and gut-brain axis support.

Lycopene

Lycopene is one member in a class of natural pigments called carotenoids—carotenoids are fat-soluble yellow, orange, or red pigments. We included lycopene in Qualia Night because of a growing body of research, mostly in animals, suggesting support of protective, repair and regenerative processes in the brain.

L-Tryptophan

L-tryptophan has been studied for and used to support healthier sleep. And, while high doses are often used, in a study that compared different dose amounts, a low dose performed the best.

L-Theanine

L-theanine promotes alpha brain waves (α-waves), which are thought of as a marker of relaxation. L-theanine interacts with cells in innate and adaptive immunity, supporting general immune health.

Betaine (trimethylglycine)

Betaine has largely been used to support liver and heart health, with a prominent role in normalizing homocysteine metabolism. Newer research suggests betaine is an inhibitory neurotransmitter—neurons have betaine/GABA transporters. And there is increasing data to suggest that betaine may support cognition and neuroprotection.

Uridine (as Uridine-5'-monophosphoric acid disodium salt)

We included Uridine in Qualia Night for its central role in cellular metabolism, and because uridine is considered to be one of the natural sleep-promoting substances. We use a phosphorylated form of uridine because it is stable and this helps it get past the digestive system and liver intact.*

Grapefruit Whole Fruit Extract

We included a grapefruit extract standardized for naringin in this formula because of preclinical research suggesting that it may support enzymes in both adenosine—a key molecule in the sleep homeostatic drive—and GABA metabolic pathways. But we only included a very low amount of naringin—about what would be found in ⅓ of an ounce of grapefruit juice—because we did not want to substantially influence the activity of the cytochrome P450 enzymes that naringin may influence.

Quercetin (as Quercetin dihydrate)

Quercetin is a plant flavonol, which is one of the polyphenol categories. We included a small amount of quercetin for this formula because preclinical research suggests that it may support enzymes in both adenosine—a key molecule in the sleep homeostatic drive—and GABA pathways.*

Magnesium (as 400 mg magnesium glycinate)

Magnesium is used in more than 300 enzymes, including reactions in the GABA, an important relaxation neurotransmitter, and melatonin, the darkness hormone, signaling processes. Magnesium also plays a role in circadian rhythms, which are essential for healthy sleep-wake cycles. We choose to use a glycinate form of magnesium, because this form is often thought of as being the best choice for sleep support.

Vitamin B6 (as pyridoxal 5'-phosphate)

Pyridoxal 5'-phosphate (P5P) is the active form of vitamin B6. The P5P form is the bioactive form of vitamin B6: it requires less metabolic “work” to be used as coenzyme in vitamin B6-dependent enzyme reactions. P5P is included in this formula because it’s needed in the brain pathways that produce three important nighttime molecules—GABA, melatonin, and serotonin.*