Premium
Kava and Valerian in the treatment of stress‐induced insomnia
Author(s) -
Wheatley D.
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
phytotherapy research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.019
H-Index - 129
eISSN - 1099-1573
pISSN - 0951-418X
DOI - 10.1002/ptr.840
Subject(s) - valerian , kava , insomnia , medicine , sedative , phytotherapy , mood , anxiolytic , traditional medicine , anesthesia , psychiatry , anxiety , alternative medicine , pathology
Kava and valerian are herbal remedies, claimed to have anxiolytic and sedative properties respectively, without dependence potential or any appreciable side‐effects. In this pilot study, 24 patients suffering from stress‐induced insomnia were treated for 6 weeks with kava 120 mg daily. This was followed by 2 weeks off treatment and then, 5 having dropped out, 19 received valerian 600 mg daily for another 6 weeks. Stress was measured in three areas: social, personal and life‐events ; insomnia in three areas also: time to fall asleep, hours slept and waking mood . Total stress severity was significantly relieved by both compounds ( p < 0.01) with no significant differences between them; as was also insomnia ( p < 0.01). The proportion of patients with no side‐effects was 58% with each drug respectively and the ‘commonest’ effect was vivid dreams with valerian (16%), followed by dizziness with kava (12% ). These compounds may be useful in the treatment of stress and insomnia but further studies are required to determine their relative roles for such indications. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.