Ingredients per 2-gram soft chew:
American Skullcap extract (Scutellaria Lateriflora) - 200 mg
Proprietary Blend RELORA - 125 mg
Magnolia Officinalis (bark) extract
Phellodendron (bark) extract
Passionflower amurense (Passionflora incarnata) - 100 mg
Valerian Root extract (Valeriana officinalis) - 75 mg
Lemon Balm Phytosome (RELISSA) - 50 mg
Melissa officinalis (leaf) / Phospholipid complex from Sunflower)
L-Theanine - 50 mg
Pyridoxine (Vitamin B6) -10 mg
Pyridoxal 5' -Phosphate (Vitamin B6) - 2.5 mg
Inactive ingredients (soft chew matrix)
Arabic gum, buffered white distilled vinegar, chick pea flour, citric acid, coconut glycerin, coconut oil, guar gum, inulin, bacon flavor (vegan), roasted chicory root, rosemary extract, sunflower lecithin, sunflower oil, tapioca starch, water
Synergistic Support for Balanced Nervous System Response
Botanical Ingredients
RELORA® – Extracts from the barks of Magnolia officinalis and Phellodendron amurense
The barks of the trees Magnolia officinalis and Phellodendron amurense have a long history of usage in traditional medicine
systems for a wide variety of health conditions. When combined in the proprietary formulation called RELORA®, there is
significant evidence to suggest this synergistic combination has a positive effect on anxiety and mood. Extracts of Magnolia
officinalis bark and its active constituent, honokiol, have been found in animal models as having anxiety-reducing activity
comparable to traditional pharmaceutical but without the associated side effects, such as fatigue, nausea, and confusion.5,6
Berberine, an alkaloid constituent of Phellodendron extract, has demonstrated a significant anxiety-reducing effect in
rodent stress studies.7 And the combination of Magnolia and Phellodendron extracts appears to have a greater efficacy in
controlling stress and anxiety than when either herb is used alone.7 When compared to pharmaceutical agents used to treat
anxiety, honokiol and berberine appear to be as effective in their anti-anxiety activity yet not nearly as powerful in sedative-
like activity.8,9 These results have been demonstrated in numerous animal studies, suggesting that RELORA®, which has a
standardized content of both honokiol (from Magnolia bark) and berberine (from Phellodendron bark), is an effective natural
approach for controlling the detrimental effects of everyday stressors that can affect companion animals, without exhibiting
the tranquilizing side effects of pharmaceutical agents.7
Passionflower (Passiflora incarnata)
Passionflower is indigenous to the southeastern United States, Argentina, and Brazil. A substantial amount of historical
evidence shows the medicinal use of Passionflower by the native tribes of North America – it was used as a natural remedy for
general nervous agitation and multiple nervous complaints. Like Magnolia and Phellodendron, studies in humans and animals
show Passionflower as having anxiety-reducing properties comparable to pharmaceutical therapies but without the adverse
side effects.10,11 It is believed that Passionflower exhibits its natural calming effect by increasing the brain’s level of gamma
amino butyric acid or GABA. GABA is a well-known “inhibitory” neurotransmitter that – when there is an optimal level of
GABA in the nervous system – promotes relaxation and reduces nervous system tension.12
Scutellaria lateriflora, also called American Skullcap, is a perennial herb of the mint family that is native to North America,
although it is also found in Asia and Europe. Skullcap was used by Native Americans for generations to treat nervous system
disorders. The pioneering holistic veterinary herbalist, England’s Juliette de Bairacli Levy, recommended in 1985 that Skullcap
be used for the treatment of all veterinary patients with nervous complaints.1 Likewise, human studies have shown Skullcap’s
efficacy in providing relief to individuals with anxiety, as well as seizures.2 It is Skullcap’s above-ground parts, principally its
leaves and flowers, that are used medicinally. Two important flavonoids are naturally present in Scutellaria – baicalin and
wogonin. These two potent constituents are thought to be GABAergic, meaning they bind to the benzodiazepine sites of the
brain’s -aminobutyric (GABA) receptors, thereby exerting a sedating and anxiety-reducing effect.3 It is also thought that
Scutellaria’s effects on one of the brain’s serotonin receptors – 5-HT7 – is partially responsible for this botanical’s well-known
and widely reported sedative-like and relaxing effects.4
Skullcap (Scutellaria lateriflora)
Valerian Root (Valeriana officinalis)
Historical evidence shows Valerian root’s medicinal use in Europe dates back to the Middle Ages, as well as similar evidence
showing its use by Native American tribes. Although the plant’s root was used to treat a variety of disorders, the focus of
Valerian root’s historical use has been for nervous disorders.12 Valerian root extracts were recognized as being effective
remedies for insomnia and for alleviating stress.13 Although the mechanisms of action by which Valerian root extract promotes
restful sleep and reduces stress are not completely understood, several of its constituents appear to be involved; for example,
it is thought that the constituents valepotriate and valeric acid and also the plant’s volatile oils up-regulate the production
of GABA. Several of the natural constituents of Valerian root are believed to exert their beneficial activity in the amygdaloid
portion of the brain, where they down-regulate the release of stress hormones, while other of the plant’s natural substances
are believed to up-regulate the brain’s production of GABA, thus manifesting in various ways the plant’s calming and sedative-
like properties.14Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis L.) – RELISSA® from Indena S.p.A
Lemon Balm has traditionally been used as a natural remedy for digestive disorders and as a sedative for individuals who have
nervous disturbances of their sleep.2 Studies have shown the beneficial effects of Lemon Balm extracts on individuals who
have cognitive dysfunction by improving their mood and memory.15 Current evidence also suggests that Lemon Balm might
be effective in improving anxiety-like and depressive-like symptoms.16 Lemon Balm contains phenolic acid derivatives, such as
rosmarinic acid and the related lithospermic and chlorogenic acids.
17 Rosmarinic acid and the triterpenoids oleanolic acid and
ursolic acid apparently down-regulate the activity of a specific enzyme – GABA transaminase – which would otherwise break
down GABA, thus helping to maintain an optimal level of GABA in the brain. For example, in animal studies, the rosmarinic
acid found in Lemon Balm has been shown to inhibit the activity of GABA transaminase. This beneficial mechanism of action
contributes to Lemon Balm’s anxiety-reducing benefits.18 Whole Lemon Balm extracts contain not only rosmarinic acid
but also additional natural constituents that are believed to offer synergistic effects in helping to maintain an optimal level of
GABA in the animal’s brain and nervous system.19
ThorneVet’s Peaceful Pet uses Indena S.p.A.’s phytosome complex – RELISSA® – to ensure optimal bioavailability of
rosmarinic acid, as well as hydroxycinnamic acid, in standardized quantities to best achieve Lemon Balm’s peak therapeutic
effect. Indena S.p.A., headquartered in Milan, Italy, is the world’s leading company dedicated to the identification,
development, and production of high-quality active constituents derived from plants.
Discover the tranquility of ThorneVet’s Peaceful Pet , where nature’s calming botanicals harmonize with science-backed
L-theanine and Vitamin B6 to help your pet achieve balance amidst the stress of life’s daily demands.
L-Theanine
L-theanine, an amino acid first discovered in green tea, has been shown to beneficially affect brain functions by relieving
stress disorders, improving mood, and maintaining normal sleep patterns.20 In animal studies, L-theanine has been shown
to have both anxiety-reducing and depressive-reducing effects.21 These beneficial effects are associated with an increase in
the expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in the hippocampus area of the brain. BDNF is a protein that
promotes the survival of nerve cells (neurons) by exerting a beneficial role in the growth, maturation, and maintenance of
these nerve cells.22 Animal neurochemistry studies also suggest that L-theanine increases the levels of the beneficial brain
neurotransmitters serotonin, dopamine, and GABA, in addition to up-regulating the activity of various glutamate receptors
(AMPA, kainate, and NMDA), thus increasing glutamate’s natural propensity to support positive emotions and mood.23
Vitamin B6
Vitamin B6, as pyridoxine, is one of the water-soluble vitamins of the B vitamin complex. Vitamin B6 plays an important role
in the body’s production of the brain’s neurotransmitters, including dopamine, serotonin, and GABA.
24 Thus, a deficiency of a disruption of balanced neurotransmitter synthesis can lead to a variety of behavioral disturbances in a companion animal.
ThorneVet’s Peaceful Pet also includes vitamin B6 in its most bioactive form – pyridoxal 5’-phosphate – which provides additional solid support for achieving
balanced neurotransmitter production in the brain.
vitamin B6 can cause a down-regulation of the production of dopamine, serotonin, and GABA, resulting in the loss of the
beneficial activities of these chemical messengers, which includes helping nerve cells communicate with each other, regulating
appetite, moderating the sleep-wake cycle, and promoting positive mood.25 Thus, a disruption of balanced neurotransmitter
synthesis can lead to a variety of behavioral disturbances in a companion animal. ThorneVet’s Peaceful Pet also includes
vitamin B6 in its most bioactive form – pyridoxal 5’-phosphate – which provides additional solid support for achieving
balanced neurotransmitter production in the brain.
