Volume 7, Issue 2 (5-2025)
pbp 2025, 7(2): 70-75 |
Back to browse issues page
Download citation:
BibTeX | RIS | EndNote | Medlars | ProCite | Reference Manager | RefWorks
Send citation to:
BibTeX | RIS | EndNote | Medlars | ProCite | Reference Manager | RefWorks
Send citation to:
Hamzeh F, Razmjoue D. Herbal Therapy for Sleep Improvement: A Review of Herbal Insomnia Mechanisms. pbp 2025; 7 (2) :70-75
URL: http://pbp.medilam.ac.ir/article-1-267-en.html
URL: http://pbp.medilam.ac.ir/article-1-267-en.html
1- Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Urmia, Iran
2- Medicinal Plants Research Center, Yasuj University of Medical Sciences, Yasuj, Iran & Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran ,d.razmjoue@gmail.com
2- Medicinal Plants Research Center, Yasuj University of Medical Sciences, Yasuj, Iran & Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran ,
Abstract: (828 Views)
Objective: Insomnia or sleep disorders refer to conditions involving insufficient sleep, difficulty falling asleep, or sudden awakenings. These issues can be unpleasant for some individuals and may affect their daily performance. While there are various causes of insomnia, scientific research continues to investigate the body's need for sleep and its underlying causes. This study aims to evaluate the effects of herbal remedies on sleep improvement and insomnia treatment. The mechanisms influencing insomnia and the ways in which Iranian medicinal plants affect sleep quality are analyzed and discussed.
Methodology: In this review, key terms such as herbal remedies, traditional medicine, native Iran, insomnia, and sleep treatment were utilized. Relevant articles were sourced from well-established academic databases such as PubMed, Google Scholar, Scopus, and Web of Science. Additionally, specialized resources, including reference books, encyclopedias, and online materials, were used to gather information. All articles and sources were thoroughly examined to identify the medicinal plants used in traditional Iranian medicine for improving sleep.
Results: Traditional Iranian medicine offers various herbal solutions for sleep improvement and insomnia, including medicinal plants such as saffron, thyme, lavender, guava, sage, rosemary, eucalyptus leaves, mint, ginger, lemon balm, cinnamon, chamomile, passionflower, jujube, hops, violets, borage, bitter orange, milk thistle, wild lettuce, green tea, and wormwood. These plants are among the most commonly used herbs in Iranian traditional medicine for addressing sleep disorders.
Conclusion: The results of this review highlight that herbal remedies are recognized as a safe and natural treatment for insomnia and improving sleep quality. These plants primarily act through the regulation of the central nervous system, reduction of anxiety and stress, and the enhancement of melatonin production.
Methodology: In this review, key terms such as herbal remedies, traditional medicine, native Iran, insomnia, and sleep treatment were utilized. Relevant articles were sourced from well-established academic databases such as PubMed, Google Scholar, Scopus, and Web of Science. Additionally, specialized resources, including reference books, encyclopedias, and online materials, were used to gather information. All articles and sources were thoroughly examined to identify the medicinal plants used in traditional Iranian medicine for improving sleep.
Results: Traditional Iranian medicine offers various herbal solutions for sleep improvement and insomnia, including medicinal plants such as saffron, thyme, lavender, guava, sage, rosemary, eucalyptus leaves, mint, ginger, lemon balm, cinnamon, chamomile, passionflower, jujube, hops, violets, borage, bitter orange, milk thistle, wild lettuce, green tea, and wormwood. These plants are among the most commonly used herbs in Iranian traditional medicine for addressing sleep disorders.
Conclusion: The results of this review highlight that herbal remedies are recognized as a safe and natural treatment for insomnia and improving sleep quality. These plants primarily act through the regulation of the central nervous system, reduction of anxiety and stress, and the enhancement of melatonin production.
Keywords: Herbal remedies, insomnia, traditional medicine, sleep treatment, anxiety, melatonin, central nervous system
Type of Study: Research |
Subject:
Bioactive Compounds
Received: 2024/09/12 | Accepted: 2024/11/25 | Published: 2025/02/28
Received: 2024/09/12 | Accepted: 2024/11/25 | Published: 2025/02/28
References
1. Roth T. Insomnia: definition, prevalence, etiology, and consequences. J Clin Sleep Med. 2007;3(5 Suppl): 7-S10.
2. Morin CM, Drake CL, Harvey AG, Krystal AD, Manber R, Riemann D, Spiegelhalder K. Insomnia disorder. Nat Rev Dis Primers. 2015;1(1):1-18. doi: 10.1038/nrdp.2015.26.
3. Levenson JC, Kay DB, Buysse DJ. The pathophysiology of insomnia. Chest. 2015;147(4):1179-1192. doi: 10.1378/chest.14-1617.
4. Winkelman JW. Insomnia disorder. N Engl J Med. 2015;373(15):1437-1444. doi: 10.1056/NEJMcp1412740.
5. Patel, D., Steinberg, J., & Patel, P. (2018). Insomnia in the elderly: a review. Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine, 14(6): 1017-1024. doi: 10.5664/jcsm.7172.
6. Patel D, Steinberg J, Patel P. Insomnia in the elderly: a review. J Clin Sleep Med. 2018;14(6):1017-1024. doi: 10.5664/jcsm.7172.
7. Morin CM, Buysse DJ. Management of insomnia. N Engl J Med. 2024;391(3):247-258. doi: 10.1056/NEJMcp2305655.
8. Wheatley D. Medicinal plants for insomnia: a review of their pharmacology, efficacy and tolerability. J Psychopharmacol. 2005;19(4):414-421. doi: 10.1177/0269881105053309.
9. Borrás S, Martínez-Solís I, Ríos JL. Medicinal plants for insomnia related to anxiety: an updated review. Planta Med. 2021;87(10):738-753. doi: 10.1055/a-1510-9826.
10. Akram M, Daniyal M, Munir N, Mohiuddin E, Sultana S. Medicinal plants combating against insomnia: a green anti-insomnia approach. J Nerv Ment Dis. 2019;207(11):927-935. doi: 10.1097/NMD.0000000000001052.
11. Feizi F, Namazi N, Rahimi R, Ayati MH. Medicinal plants for management of insomnia: A systematic review of animal and human studies. Galen Med J. 2019;8: 1085. doi: 10.31661/gmj.v8i0.1085.
12. Caro DC, Rivera DE, Ocampo Y, Franco LA, Salas RD. Pharmacological evaluation of Mentha spicata L. and Plantago major L., medicinal plants used to treat anxiety and insomnia in Colombian Caribbean coast. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2018; 5921514. doi: 10.1155/2018/5921514
13. Avicenna. The Canon of Medicine. 2nd ed. Beirut: Dar Ihya al-Turath al-Arabi; 1999.
14. Aghili Khorasani MH. Makhzan al-Adwiyah. Tehran: Tehran University of Medical Sciences; 2009.
15. Zargari A. Medicinal Plants. Vol 1-5. Tehran: Tehran University Press; 1990.
16. Ghahraman A. Ethnobotany and Flora of Iran. Tehran: Research Institute of Forests and Rangelands; 2003.
17. Ebn-e-Bitar DZ. Al-Jame' li-Mufradat al-Adwiyah wa al-Aghdhiyah. Beirut: Dar al-Kutub al-Ilmiyya; 2002.
18. Rhazes (Al-Razi). Al-Hawi fi al-Tibb. Hyderabad: Osmania Oriental Publications Bureau; 1961.
19. Chopra RN, Nayar SL, Chopra IC. Glossary of Indian Medicinal Plants. New Delhi: Council of Scientific & Industrial Research; 1956.
20. Mozaffarian V. A Dictionary of Iranian Plant Names. Tehran: Farhang Moaser; 1996.
21. Najmabadi M. History of Medicine in Iran after Islam. Tehran: Tehran University Press; 2008.
22. Amin G. Popular Medicinal Plants of Iran. Tehran: Tehran University of Medical Sciences; 2005
23. Idoiaga-Mondragon, N., Gaztañaga, M., Yarritu, I., & Pascual-Sagastizabal, E. Academic Anxiety in Spanish Higher Education: A Systematic Review. Behavioral Sci. 2025; 15(2): 192. https://doi.org/10.3390/bs15020192
24. Mao JJ, Xie SX, Keefe JR, Soellerm I, Li QS, Amsterdam J. D. Long-term chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla L.) treatment for generalized anxiety disorder: A randomized clinical trial. Phytomedicine. 2016; 23(14), 1735-1742. doi: 10.1016/j.phymed.2016.10.012.
25. Ghazizadeh J, Sadigh‐Eteghad S, Marx W, Fakhari A, Hamedeyazdan S, Torbati M, Mirghafourvand M. The effects of lemon balm (Melissa officinalis L.) on depression and anxiety in clinical trials: A systematic review and meta‐analysis. Phytotherapy Res. 2021; 35(12): 6690-6705. doi: 10.1002/ptr.7252.
26. Pitsikas N, Boultadakis A, Georgiadou G, Tarantilis PA, Sakellaridis N. Effects of the active constituents of Crocus sativus L., crocins, in an animal model of anxiety. Phytomed. 2008; 15(12), 1135-1139. doi: 10.1016/j.phymed.2008.06.005.
27. Bakhriansyah M, Sulaiman SN, Fauzia R. The effect of Camellia sinensis tea on a decreased risk of anxiety for medical students at Universitas Lambung Mangkurat Indonesia. Clinical Epidemiology and Global Health. 2022; 17: 101114.
28. Komaki A, Rasouli B, Shahidi S. Anxiolytic effect of Borago officinalis (Boraginaceae) extract in male rats. Avicenna J Neuro Psycho Physiol. 2015; 2(1), 34-38.
29. Mannucci, C., Calapai, F., Cardia, L., Inferrera, G., D’Arena, G., Di Pietro, M., ... & Calapai, G. (2018). Clinical Pharmacology of Citrus aurantium and Citrus sinensis for the Treatment of Anxiety. Evidence‐Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2018(1), 3624094.
30. Kyrou I, Christou A, Panagiotakos D, Stefanaki C, Skenderi K, Katsana K, Tsigos C. Effects of a hops (Humulus lupulus L.) dry extract supplement on self-reported depression, anxiety and stress levels in apparently healthy young adults: a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind, crossover pilot study. Hormones. 2017; 16(2), 171-180. doi: 10.14310/horm.2002.1738.
31. Komaki A, Hoseini F, Shahidi S, Baharlouei N. Study of the effect of extract of Thymus vulgaris on anxiety in male rats. J Traditional Complementary Med. 2016; 6(3): 257-261. doi: 10.1016/j.jtcme.2015.01.001
32. Kennedy DO, Pace S, Haskell C, Okello EJ, Milne A, Scholey A. B. Effects of cholinesterase inhibiting sage (Salvia officinalis) on mood, anxiety and performance on a psychological stressor battery. Neuropsychopharmacol. 2006;31(4): 845-852. doi: 10.1038/sj.npp.1300907.
33. Yadav M, Jindal DK, Parle M, Kumar A, Dhingra S. Targeting oxidative stress, acetylcholinesterase, proinflammatory cytokine, dopamine and GABA by eucalyptus oil (Eucalyptus globulus) to alleviate ketamine-induced psychosis in rats. Inflammopharmacol. 2019; 27: 301-311. doi: 10.1007/s10787-018-0455-3.
34. Yusha'u Y, Hanafi AA, Adam UM. Antidepressant-Like Effects of Cinnamomum verum on Open-Space Forced Swim-Induced Depression in Mice. Nigerian J Physiological Sci. 2023; 38(2): 223-227. doi: 10.54548/njps.v38i2.11.
35. Peng WH, Hsieh MT, Lee YS, Lin YC, Liao J. Anxiolytic effect of seed of Ziziphus jujuba in mouse models of anxiety. J Ethnopharmaco. 2000; 72(3): 435-441. doi: 10.1016/s0378-8741(00)00255-5.
36. Mannucci C, Navarra M, Calapai F, Squeri R, Gangemi S, Calapai G. Clinical pharmacology of Citrus bergamia: A systematic review. Phytotherapy Res. 2017; 31(1), 27-39. doi: 10.1002/ptr.5734.
Send email to the article author
| Rights and permissions | |
 |
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License. |