Calms Forte Review
This is our review of Hyland’s Calms Forte, which is a natural sleep aid on the market, that many of you have asked us to research.
What is Calms Forte used for?
People take Calms Forte to help relieve symptoms of:
- Sleeplessness
- Stress
- Restless Sleep
Hyland’s claim their sleep aid can help in these areas by using a combination of non-habit forming and natural homeopathic ingredients.
In this review, we look closer at Calms Forte to see how effective it really is. This includes the active ingredients, the side effects, where it is sold and other general questions we’ve been asked about it.
Calms Forte Sleep Aid Ingredients
What are the active ingredients in Calms Forte?
Active Ingredients in Calms Forte: Passiflora (Passion Flower) 1X triple strength HPUS, Avena Sativa (Oat) 1X double strength HPUS, Humulus Lupulus (Hops) 1X double strength HPUS, Chamomilla (Chamomile) 2X HPUS, Calcarea Phosphorica (Calcium Phosphate) 3X HPUS, Ferrum Phosphorica (Iron Phosphate) 3X HPUS, Kali Phosphoricum (Potassium Phosphate) 3X HPUS, Natrum Phosphoricum (Sodium Phosphate) 3X HPUS, Magnesia Phosphoricum (Magnesium Phosphate) 3X HPUS.
*HPUS shows the active ingredients are in the Homeopathic Pharmacopoeia of the United States.
The first problem that we see here is that there are no dosages listed for this sleep aid. You don’t know how much of each ingredient you’re getting in Calms Forte which make it difficult to know how effective this product from Hyland’s really is.
The second problem is that these are homeopathic remedies. Many authoritative bodies such as National Health Service (NHS) England, National Health and Medical Research Council in Australia and various other medical bodies actively dismiss homeopathy. The FDA have also claimed that there’s no scientific evidence to support homeopathy as an effective treatment. This also our view.
If you disagree with this train of thought, you are entitled to your opinion, and feel free to read on about our thoughts on Calms Forte at your own discretion. There is some benefit to the ingredients in this product, but we feel the traditional dilution that homeopathy performs may have compromised the overall potency of this sleep aid.
Nevertheless, we have done our research and looked closely at each ingredient to see what you can expect from supplementing this sleep aid. This is what you need to know:
Avena Sativa
Avena Sativa (Oat Straw) isn’t a great start to Hyland’s Calms Forte. This is mainly because there is not much clinical evidence out there to show it to be an effective sleep aid.
There is some thought that it can help improve your sleep quality via some of the vitamin B content in this herb which can help soothe your nervous system to help restlessness. However, if you’re already getting a balanced diet – it’s unlikely that this will make much difference at all.
It’s not a strong ingredient to start this sleep aid supplement off.
Calcarea Phosphorica
The next ingredient in Calms Forte is Calcarea Phosphorica. This is essentially a homeopathic version of Calcium Phosphate – a diluted version.
It has the benefit of supporting your nerves, cells, muscles and bones. But again, this is something that you’ll already be getting enough of if you have a regular healthy diet.
And the fact that’s it a homeopath version pushes that potency even further back. Again, it’s not a strong choice in Hyland’s Calms Forte.
Chamomilia
This is another diluted homeopathic version of the herb in Calms Forte: Chamomile.
Chamomile has been seen in various studies to help sleep and reduce anxiety. You see it commonly in sleep-promoting and calming tea. It works via a bioflavonoid in the herb known as Apigenin. Apigenin has been seen to help reduce anxiety and in some cases promote sedation.
It’s good to see in here, and even though diluted, may help to achieve some benefit as a sleep aid.
Ferrum Phosphoricum
Also known as Ferrosoferric phosphate – which is essentially a compound of Iron and Phosphorus in Hyland’s Calms Forte sleep aid.
It is thought to reduce the symptoms of fever. Not much other information has been found to support this.
Even if this is the case, it won’t have a direct effect on improving your sleep – unless of course you are suffering from a fever.
Humulus Lupulus
Humulus Lupulus, which is essentially a form of hops in Calms Forte.
Hops are commonly used in drinks like beer, and can help reduce anxiety to a mild degree.
There isn’t much research that shows it effectively reducing insomnia when studied in isolation – only when combined with other more researched nutrients – which suggests it may not be that effective.
Kali Phosphoricum
Again, there is no authorative research on Kali Phosphoricum to say that it actually works.
There’s only information from homeopaths or from Hyland’s themselves which claim Kali Phos can help release tension in the nervous system, stress and headaches.
The main article we did find was a full randomized, triple blind, placebo-controlled cross-over clinical trial, which found absolutely no difference between Kali Phos and a placebo.
You can read that full study here.
Magnesia Phosphorica
This is essentially more homeopathic versions of things, in this case Magnesium Phosphate. This is not a bad choice in Calms Forte if the dosage is good.
Magnesium can help with sleep to a considerable degree depending on the dosage. It can help to relax excitable impulses across your muscles while you sleep, which can stop twitches.
The end result of this being that you move less in your sleep, and become less restless, leading to a better overall slumber.
Natrum Phosphoricum
Again, this is another ingredient in Calms Forte that doesn’t have much clinical backing to support it.
This is an ingredient which has claims to help promote indigestion. It’s not so much a sleep aid as it is a support to help your body absorb more of the nutrients in this supplement.
Aside from that, it’s unlikely that it’s going to help you much here.
Passiflora
Again, it’s a homeopathy version – but Passiflora if given the right dosage may be able to help you. Passiflora comes from Passionflower – which is an ingredient which has much more research for helping sleep.
Passionflower contains apigenin which as we’ve mentioned can help sedation and reduce anxiety by promoting GABA in your body.
It’s a good addition to Hyland’s Calms Forte – IF – it’s well dosed. The dilution that homeopathy bases itself on doesn’t lend itself well to making potent and effective products.
As you can see, there are some issues with the homeopathy aspects of Calms Forte. The dilution affects potency, and although it’s going after some of the right ingredients – the forms they come in seem to let it down.
Calms Forte Side Effects | Is it Safe?
To our knowledge there are no reported side effects with Calms Forte. However, we understand that every user may have a different experience and we strongly suggest consulting with a doctor or healthcare professional before using it.
Below are some questions we’ve been asked regarding the safety and side effects of Calms Forte.
Can Calms Forte Cause Diarrhea?
We have not heard any complaints of Calms Forte causing diarrhea but the question is asked a lot. There’s nothing in the forumla of Hyland’s Calms Forte that suggests it may cause diarrhea.
Calms Forte interactions with drugs:
There are no records of this sleep aid interacting with any drugs or prescribed medication, but we always suggest speaking to your doctor before using it.
Calms Forte overdose:
In case of accidental overdose on Hyland’s Calms Forte, contact a Poison Control Center immediately. In case of emergency, the manufacturer may be reached on business hours by calling 800/624-9659.
Calms Forte Weight Gain:
There is no ingredients in Hyland’s Calms Forte Sleep Aid which suggest that it may cause weight gain. To be on the safe side make sure that you get proper daily exercise and intake a good, nutritious diet to help keep off unwanted weight.
Where to Buy Calms Forte?
Below are the following locations which have been known to sell Calms Forte:
- Target
- Walmart
- GNC
- CVS
It typically retails for around $3.79.
Hyland’s Calms Forte Sleep Aid FAQ
Q: Is Calms Forte for dogs?
A: No. You should not give this product to your dog. It is only fit for human consumption.
Q: Does Calms Forte help anxiety?
A: To some degree. It contains diluted versions of Chamomile and Passionflower, which both contain Apigenin which can help with anxiety.
Q: Can I use Calms Forte for ADHD?
A: You should always treat a diagnosed medical condition with directions from your doctor or a healthcare professional, not with an over-the-counter homeopathy supplement.
Q: How many Calms Forte can I take?
A: For Adults: Swallow 1-2 tablets of Calms Forte with water as needed, three times daily, before meals for a relaxant effect. For insomnia: 1 to 3 tablets ½ to 1 hour before going to bed.
Q: Is Calms Forte a drug?
A: To a medical board – no. To a homeopath – yes.
Calms Forte Product Summary
In our opinion, this is not the best sleep aid on the market. There are several reasons which have led us to this conclusion.
The first issue is that we don’t know the full dosages of the ingredients used – only the potency. This can cause a lot of confusion as to how effective it actually is.
The next issue is that it’s made up of diluted ingredients. This style of dosing may not be the most effective for you to see the results you’re looking for. This is a very cheap supplement – but that doesn’t mean it is effective.
There are plenty of other options out there.
Hyland's Calms Forte Review | Is it really that good?
In our review of Hyland's Calms Forte, we find that being an entirely homeopathic sleep aid may not be the best idea. The ingredients are diluted which negates the overall potency, and reduces the overall effects. It's cheap at $3.79 and easy to get - but not the best for effective results.
Product Brand: Hyland's
Product Currency: USD
Product Price: 3.79
Product In-Stock: 1
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