5-HTP or 5-Hydroxytryptophan, an amino acid that is the link between tryptophan and the brain chemical serotonin. The 5-HTP used in Brain Pharma Happy Dreams is used to reduce cravings for food and promote feelings of well being.

Astragalus Root Extract is commonly used to help fight immune deficiencies, infections, and allergies. The Chinese use the dried sliced or extracted powdered root for these reasons and to help boost vitality. Astragalus is generally combined with other herbs to ginseng tea. While Astragalus root extract is believed to help prevent diseases, it doesn’t cure them. Astragalus itself is a large genus of about 2,000 species of herbs and small shrubs. It belongs to the legume family Fabaceae, and subfamily Faboideae. It is also known as milk-vetch, locoweed, and goat's-thorn. It consists of astragalosides and other immunostimulant polysaccharides, beta-sitosterol, flavonoids, and trace minerals, especially selenium.

GABA or gamma-aminobutyric acid happens to be an inhibitory neurotransmitter in the brain that is crucial for our well being since it helps induce relaxation and sleep. As such, it performs the role of a balancer for the brain by balancing excitation of the brain with inhibition. There is more to GABA than its balancing effects. GABA has a major impact on muscle building and fat prevention due to its effect on HGH levels. GABA stimulates the anterior pituitary thereby increasing Human Growth Hormone (HGH) levels. HGH has anabolic and lipotropic properties and GABA thus indirectly causes these two positive effects in the body. However, people taking GABA supplementation may experience certain side effects that may range from tingling sensations around the face and neck area to mild change in breathing patterns or heart rate. Thankfully, these side effects are not harmful and subside quickly.

Grape seed is the seeds of the ordinary grapes. They are used primarily because they have polyphenols recognized as anti oxidants. Research confirms numerous health benefits of grape seed extracts; they limit lipid oxidation, thus controlling high blood pressure and high cholesterol levels. Grape seeds contain phenolics, which are useful in treatment of heart disease because they inhibit platelet aggregation and reduce inflammation, however, the results are preliminary and more research is being done to confirm these facts. A polyphenol contained in grape seeds is resveratrol which may inhibit cancer cell growth and proliferation, and it may also be active against HIV by inhibiting expression and replication of the genome of the virus.

Inositol - The precise role of Inositol is unknown. Animals deficient in inositol grow poorly and show hair loss. iI occurs naturally in fruits and cereals.

L-Theanine is very commonly found in tea and is an amino acid, biochemically related to glutamine. The psychoactive properties of theanine are derived from the ability to cross the blood brain barrier. It has been proven that theanine can reduce stress, promote relaxation and improve alertness and mood when imbibed together with caffeine, a natural combination found in any tea, especially green tea. Gamma-aminobutyric acid levels are increased, when theanine is ingested or imbibed, as are serotonin and dopamine levels. It is believed that l-theanine is aiding the immune system by strengthening the capacity of delta T cells. Laboratory tests have proven that blood pressure reduction and lowering of 5-hydroxyindoles in the brain are promoted by theanine.

Melatonin, a naturally produced chemical messenger made by the pinealocytes, the cells in the pineal gland, which is located in the brain. Melatonin is involved in the circadian cycle, where it is believed that it chemically lowers the body temperature and causes drowsiness. The pineal gland produces melatonin only when it is dark, i.e. during the night. It is furthermore believed that melatonin interacts with leptin, whereby the leptin levels are lowered. Actually it was found that the interaction with insulin stimulated the leptin levels, which seems to be responsible for appetite suppression during sleep. Further investigation provided evidence that melatonin displays strong antioxidant properties. N-Acetyl-5-Methoxytryptamine, or melatonin, has been studied extensively for treatment of many diseases, including treatment of drug abuse, cancer, seasonal affective disorder and depression.

Red Wine Extract is derived from ripe grapes. It commonly known for the benefits it provides the heart. It lowers the low density lipoprotein cholesterol and increases the high density lipoprotein cholesterol. It also has anti-clotting or antithrombotic action which decreases the level of fibrinogen, a protein that promotes blood clot formation. Its alcohol and polyphenol contents help stop the progression of atherosclerosis by promoting the formation of NO that relaxes the blood vessels. It also prevents hypertension because it has lowers the blood pressure and has relaxing effects. Studies also showed that red wine extract contains resveratrol, a polyphenol, which protects the nerves and may help prevent Alzheimer’s disease. It also help prevent kidney stones.

Resveratrol is a polyphenolic compound that is found in peanuts, the skin of red grapes, red wine, purple grape juice and some varieties of berry. It is classified as polyphenol because of its chemical structure. When taken orally, resveratrol is well absorbed by humans but its low bioavailability makes it rapidly metabolized and then eliminated so that it does not remain in the body for very long. Most of the testing that has been done on resveratrol has not been done on humans so relatively little is known about its effects on the human body. It is claimed that one of the plants resveratrol comes from is called polygonnum cuspidatum and it is used in traditional Asian medicines that treat heart and liver conditions. It has been shown to protect against diabetes-induced damage to blood vessels and also inhibits the growth of tumors and angiogenesis.

Vitamin B6, also known as Pyridoxine, Vitamin B6 is an essential vitamin to aid in the formation of healthy red blood cells and supports more vital bodily functions than any other vitamin. A water-soluble vitamin, Vitamin B6 is needed to release energy from the food we eat. Vitamin B6 cannot be stored in the body, so it must be obtained daily from either food or supplements. Vitamin B6’s role as a coenzyme involved in the metabolism of carbohydrates, fats, and proteins is what makes it important for dieters. Vitamin B6 is also responsible for the manufacture of hormones, red blood cells, neurotransmitters, enzymes, and prostaglandins. Vitamin B6 is required for the production of seratonin, a brain neurotransmitter that controls mood, appetite, sleep patterns, and sensitivity to pain. For weight loss, dieters should include vitamin B6 to increase their metabolism while rounding out a healthy diet.