The science behind a quieter night
Subtle on the surface. Serious underneath.
Unwind is built on two compounds with decades of peer-reviewed research behind them — magnesium and L-theanine. We didn't invent them. We just made them easy to take, in clinically meaningful doses, in a form you'll actually enjoy.
The blend, in plain English
200mg magnesium glycinate The form of magnesium most consistently linked to improvements in sleep quality, with the gentlest digestive profile. Magnesium is a co-factor in over 300 enzymatic processes in the human body — including the nervous system's transition from "wired" to "rested."
200mg L-theanine An amino acid found almost exclusively in tea leaves. The clinically studied dose range for stress and sleep support is 200–400mg. We chose 200mg because it sits at the lower, well-tolerated end of the curve — enough to do the work, not so much that it leaves you sedated.
Both compounds are recognised as safe by major regulatory bodies, including the European Food Safety Authority and the US FDA, when consumed within recommended ranges.
What the research actually says
On magnesium and sleep
A 2025 randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of 155 adults reporting poor sleep found that magnesium bisglycinate supplementation produced a statistically greater reduction in Insomnia Severity Index scores over four weeks compared to placebo. The effect was most pronounced in participants whose dietary magnesium was already low — a group that, by some estimates, includes the majority of South African adults. Schuster J, Cycelskij I, Lopresti A, Hahn A. Magnesium Bisglycinate Supplementation in Healthy Adults Reporting Poor Sleep: A Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Trial. Nature and Science of Sleep, 2025. DOI: 10.2147/NSS.S524348
An earlier double-blind RCT in 46 adults with insomnia showed improvements in sleep efficiency, sleep onset latency, and early-morning awakening after eight weeks of supplementation, alongside improvements in serum melatonin, renin and cortisol levels. Abbasi B, et al. The effect of magnesium supplementation on primary insomnia in elderly: A double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial. J Res Med Sci, 2012. PubMed: 23853635
On L-theanine and sleep and stress
A randomised, placebo-controlled, double-blind crossover trial assessed the effect of 200mg L-theanine daily over four weeks in healthy adults. Participants showed significant improvements on the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index — specifically in sleep latency, sleep disturbance, and reduced reliance on sleep medication — alongside reductions in self-rated anxiety and depression scores. Hidese S, et al. Effects of L-Theanine Administration on Stress-Related Symptoms and Cognitive Functions in Healthy Adults: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Nutrients, 2019. PMC6836118
A systematic review of dietary supplementation trials concluded that 200–400mg of L-theanine reduces stress and anxiety in people exposed to stressful situations, with a strong tolerability profile. Williams JL, et al. The effects of green tea amino acid L-theanine consumption on the ability to manage stress and anxiety levels: a systematic review. Plant Foods Hum Nutr, 2019.
Why the combination is greater than the sum
Magnesium acts primarily on the body — the muscles, the autonomic nervous system, the physical readiness for sleep. L-theanine acts primarily on the mind — modulating alpha-wave brain activity and supporting GABA-pathway calm without sedation.
Most people don't sleep poorly for one reason. The body won't switch off. Or the mind won't switch off. Or both. We chose this pairing because, taken together, the two ingredients address both halves of the problem at clinically-relevant doses, in a single nightly ritual.
What we don't claim
Unwind is not a cure for insomnia, anxiety, or any other medical condition. It is a daily nutritional supplement designed to support your body's natural processes around sleep and stress. If you're struggling with chronic sleep issues, please speak to a doctor.
This product is a complementary medicine. It has not been evaluated by the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA) for safety, quality, or intended use.