Clinically shown
to reduce stress and improve sleep²
Standardized level
of rosmarinic acid
Three authorized health claims
in Canada¹
100% natural
with a long history of traditional use
Sustainably sourced from France, Italy and Poland,
with full traceability to farm level
Cyracos™ is a standardised lemon balm leaf extract with clinically proven benefits for sleep and relaxation at a consumer-friendly dose of 600 mg a day. The World Health Organization defines stress as a natural state of worry or mental tension caused by difficult situations.⁸ A clinical study on Cyracos™ measured the effects of the ingredient on symptoms of stress such as mild anxiety and sleep quality.²
The lemon balm used to make Cyracos™ is grown and harvested sustainably, in accordance with the principles of our Sourcing4Good programme, which promotes responsible practices across our supply chains, while improving both producer livelihoods and the environmental impacts of our products.
We work closely with our lemon balm suppliers to promote sustainability throughout the value chain. Together, we continue to drive tangible actions to protect and promote the environment and the wellbeing of the communities where we source ingredients and operate our facilities.
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Lemon balm extract has been shown to improve mood by affecting stress levels and mild anxiety,² ⁹ in particular through the action of its rosmarinic acid on the gamma amino butyric acid (GABA) pathway.¹³ GABA is the primary inhibitory neurotransmitter in the human central nervous system,¹⁰ with low levels associated with mild anxiety.¹¹ Rosmarinic acid is a naturally occurring phenolic compound in lemon balm leaf¹² and a potent inhibitor of GABA transaminase (GABA-T). Inhibition of GABA-T increases GABA levels in the brain.¹³ Cyracos™ has a broad spectrum of actives, including a standardised level of >7% rosmarinic acid and >14% hydroxycinnamic acid, which are both natural polyphenolic compounds associated with effects on sleep and relaxation.¹⁴
In a prospective, single-center, open-label study in 2011, 20 adults diagnosed with mild to moderate anxiety and sleep disturbances consumed 300 mg of Cyracos™ twice a day for 15 days.²
Cyracos™ was found to significantly reduce (as compared to baseline):
Furthermore, clinical ratings revealed that 95% of the participants responded positively to Cyracos™ supplementation. The study also demonstrated that Cyracos™ was well tolerated, with no side effects. While the results of this small study are promising, more research is warranted.
“Traditionally used in herbal medicine as a sleep aid (in cases of restlessness or insomnia due to mental stress)”
“Traditionally used in herbal medicine to help promote sleep during periods of restlessness or insomnia due to mental stress”
“Traditionally used in herbal medicine to help reduce insomnia, a symptom of stress”
Our lemon balm is sustainably sourced from the French, Italian and Polish countryside through cooperative partnerships. We make long-term agreements with our suppliers, typically with partnerships which provide a stable and profitable outlet for their volumes. Lemon balm is a high-value crop for farmers, offering excellent diversification opportunities for those with existing drying facilities.
The crop is harvested from year one, and from year two, up to three cuts per year are possible, from May to October (prior to blossom). With over 15 years of experience sourcing lemon balm and our main supplier located close to our production facility, we work directly on the field for a sustainable supply with a limited environmental footprint. Our suppliers are also engaged in improvement plans to lower their carbon emissions by setting up biomass boilers, solar panels, biogas stations and switching to green electricity.
As part of our commitment to protecting the environment, we have an active stewardship program in place, including:
Generally considered healthier and more nutritious than the other main cereals, oats offer a full range of benefits in a single ingredient. OatWell™ can be provided in three different concentrations of beta-glucans, all delivering both soluble and insoluble fibres, along with an average of 21% - 23% protein.
OatWell™ uses a unique production process to fractionate the oat kernel into three product lines: beta-glucan products, oat flours, and oat oils. Our production process preserves the native structure of oat beta-glucans, retaining their high molecular weight during fractionation into oat brans with a high amount of beta-glucans.
The molecular weight of oat beta-glucan is essential to delivering health benefits. OatWell™'s beta-glucan has a very high molecular weight (2000-2500 kDa as naturally found in oats), which contributes to its unique viscosity and thickening properties. This viscosity has an important impact on physiological functions, such as reducing blood cholesterol levels, moderating blood glucose and insulin levels, and potentially benefiting satiety.
Benefits of OatWell’s high molecular weight:
The prebiotic effects of oat bran fibre have been validated through years of research. In a review by Malkki and Virtanen, they cite: “in the large bowel, soluble dietary fibre increases the fermentation activity, especially production of butyric acid, enhances growth and colonisation of some probiotic bacterial strains, increases production of microbial mass and thereby aids the removal of nitrogen via faeces. It also increases wet weight of stools, thereby alleviating constipation”.²¹
Research conducted on oat beta-glucan demonstrates that it meets three important criteria, confirming its status as a prebiotic fibre:¹ ²
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