Herbal Remedies For Managing Insomnia: Do They Work

 Approximately 1 in 3 Americans suffers from chronic sleep deprivation and another 10-15% of the population has chronic insomnia. Sleep disorders can profoundly affect a person’s whole life and have been linked to a range of diseases, including obesity, depression, anxiety, and inflammatory disorders. 

Over-the-counter herbal remedies are often used to treat insomnia, but surprisingly, very little research has been done to study their efficacy, according to an article in Alternative and Complementary Therapies, published by Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., publishers. The article is available free on the Alternative and Complementary Therapies website.

 

People need many hours of sound, restorative sleep every night to maintain an optimal state of physiological and psychological health, but many factors can disrupt sleep schedules and compromise the quality of sleep. In the article, “Sleep…Naturally: A Review of the Efficacy of Herbal Remedies for Managing Insomnia,” the authors conducted a search of the Internet and electronic databases to identify literature on herbal remedies that are commonly used to manage insomnia, including valerian, hops, kava-kava, chamomile, and St. John’s wort. They found that few scientific studies had been published that reported on the therapeutic potential and safety of these herbal remedies and the results were either inconclusive or contradictory.

Valerian (Valeriana officinalis) is recognized for its sedative and soothing medicinal properties and is frequently used to ease symptoms of insomnia. Although the main sedative

agent in valerian remains elusive, it has been suggested that valepotriates, valerenic acid, and their derivatives contribute to the sedative effect. It is possible that the pharmacologic effect

of valerian is mediated through modulation of GABAergic receptor function.

The kava-kava (Piper methysticum) shrub originates in the Pacific islands, where it is the sole ingredient of a ceremonial tribal drink. Kava-kava is thought to have anxiolytic

and sedative properties,29 but no studies identified have investigated insomnia only, but rather addressed anxiety related insomnia.

 

Credit:  Wikipedia

Chamomile (Matricaria recutita) is commonly used as infusions, tablets, or oils to promote relaxation and as a sleep aid. It is generally well-tolerated. Despite the common use

of chamomile to improve sleep, there appears to be limited evidence of the sedative effect of this popular herb34 as only a few studies were found during the literature search.

St. John’s wort (Hypericum perforatum) has been valued for its medicinal attributes for more than 2000 years. The traditional uses include wound healing, intestinal worms treatment, and protection against “evil spirits.” St. John’s wort remains a popular herbal remedy for mood disorders  and sleep disturbances, and is generally taken in the form of herbal infusions, tablets, or tinctures.

The authors concluded that, considering the benefits that a natural management strategy could offer patients with insomnia, additional research is required to assess the effectiveness and safety of herbal remedies as therapeutic agents.


Contacts and sources: 

Vicki Cohn
Mary Ann Liebert, Inc./Genetic Engineering News