Our names are: Siffat Haider and Nish Samantray.
We're known for being: Co-founders of targeted supplement line, Arrae. Siffat is also the CEO.
I'm talking about: Arrae Calm Alchemy Capsules.
You can find it at: arrae.com since February 2020.
What inspired us to launch it was:
SH: Arrae was born due to my own health issues. I wanted to bring an efficacious, yet beautiful brand to busy women like myself who didn't want to settle for anything less than the best for their health. We launched both Calm and Bloat at the same time, because digestion and anxiety are two of the most common problems amongst women, and because they’re inextricably linked.
How it works is:
SH: Calm is a non-drowsy blend of four natural ingredients which are known to activate the parasympathetic nervous system. The parasympathetic nervous system is what is responsible for feelings of peacefulness and, well, calm. It gently relaxes your body, so it’s a great product to take during the day if you’re feeling jittery, or, at night, when you want a restful sleep.
What makes it special is:
SH: Our Calm Capsules contain four ingredients that ease anxiety. Passionflower increases the level of GABA in the brain. GABA is our primary inhibitory neurotransmitter and is responsible for reducing neuronal excitability in the nervous system. L-theanine, magnesium and inositol, the other three ingredients in our capsules, are some of the more well-known nutrients that researchers have found effective in decreasing anxiety. L-theanine promotes relaxation by elevating the neurotransmitters: GABA, serotonin and dopamine. Inositol plays a role in the function of neurotransmitters in the brain and throughout the body. Its beneficial effects on anxiety and OCD (or Obsessive Compulsive Disorder) may be due to its influence on serotonin uptake inhibitors. And, finally, magnesium can help decrease anxiety by assisting in regulating neurotransmitters and the HPA axis.
One thing you can’t miss is:
SH: Anxiety and digestion are deeply connected. Think of them like a viral loop. When we’re anxious, our bodies go into fight or flight mode, making it difficult to digest food, and thus leading to bloating and indigestion. Vice versa, when we’re dealing with digestive discomfort, it can lead to a lot of anxiety. This is why we wanted to launch with Bloat and Calm.
Our favorite secret detail is:
NS: Even though several people comically butcher our brand name, “Arrae,” there’s actually a lot that went into the name! Siff and I always wanted to build a brand bigger than a single product and we wanted it to be a representation of both of our backgrounds. I come from a tech background and Siff comes from a creative background. In computer science, an “Array” is a data structure that can store many elements (paying homage to the fact that we want to build a wide variety of products and services). You will also notice that all of our product names are written in [“squares brackets and apostrophes”], which is derived from code. It’s such a small detail, but, for us, it’s really special.
Addressing our mental health is so essential in this challenging time because:
NS: The pandemic and lockdowns have forced us to spend a lot of time with our own thoughts, so anything we’ve been trying to avoid is going to come up. Dealing with our personal and societal problems is a lot, so we have to remember to be gentle and compassionate with ourselves. Looking after our mental health is different for each of us and might mean taking the right medication or integrating self-care practices like meditation, journaling or seeing a therapist. Either way, we all need to realize that mental health is as important as physical health, and talking about it needs to be de-stigmatized. We need to fill up our own cups in order to show up as our best selves for the people around us.
One (other) tool that has helped each of us stay calm over the course of the last year is:
SH: For years, I’ve been really particular about my morning routine as it helps me ground myself. It’s long, but the skeleton of it is journaling, meditation, movement and our Calm Capsules.
NS: I have found going on long walks without listening to music or podcasts has been really helpful to find clarity in my thoughts. Just letting the mind wander and talking to myself has been very meditative.