Herbal Sleep

Herbal Sleep is a natural sedative formula containing herbs that calm the body, relieve anxiety and nervousness, and promote restful sleep. Herbal Sleep does not produce the typical “drugged” symptoms associated with pharmaceutical sedatives. Herbal Sleep is particularly beneficial for individuals who awake repeatedly during the night due to nervous tension or an overactive mind. Herbal Sleep has been found helpful for anxiety, chemical dependency, hyperactivity, insomnia and other sleep disorders, nervous/tension headaches, restlessness. Herbal Sleep may also help reduce high blood pressure resulting from anxiety and nervous excitability.

Hops is licensed in Germany as a standard medicinal tea for promoting sleep. Hops is also used in both Germany and the United States in sedative preparations for calming anxiety and unrest. Hops has been shown to induce a soothing, relaxing calm within 20 to 40 minutes. Although the sedative effect of hops is indisputable, the herb’s exact mechanism of action remains unclear. However, the sleep-inducing effect of hops has been found to be strongly dependent upon the quality of the extract used. Hops is commonly employed in conjunction with other herbal sedatives such as valerian root. For example, a randomized, double-blind, controlled clinical trial of patients with exogenous (having a cause outside the body) sleep disorders found that a hops-valerian preparation was equally effective as a benzodiazepine drug, and therefore, would be a sensible alternative to such drug therapy for the treatment of non-chronic and non-psychiatric sleep disorders. In addition to sleep problems such as insomnia, the German Commission E also approves the use of hops for mood disturbances such as anxiety, nervousness and restlessness. Furthermore, hops has been used to help wean patients off prescription sedatives.1-4

Hops is not recommended for use with prescription sleep-aids, CNS depressants or antipsychotic agents, as this may cause additive effects. Due to the herb’s potential estrogenic activity, hops is contraindicated during pregnancy and for those with estrogen-dependent tumors such as breast, cervical or uterine cancer.5,6

Passion flower has been used for centuries as a natural sedative for insomnia and nervousness. In 1920, researchers documented the herb’s effect on inducing normal sleep with light breathing and little to no mental depression and no confusion upon waking. More recent research confirms the anxiolytic (anti-anxiety) and central nervous system (CNS) sedative properties of passion flower, although the specific constituents responsible for these actions remain unclear. Today, passion flower is approved for use in Europe for relaxation, nervousness and insomnia. In addition, passion flower has demonstrated some benzodiazepine receptor agonist activity and thus, may be helpful in the treatment of benzodiazepine withdrawal symptoms.2,5-8

Excessive doses of passion flower may potentiate MAOI therapy. In addition, passion flower should be avoided during pregnancy and nursing, as animal studies show that isolated constituents produce uterine-stimulant activity. Furthermore, since passion flower has not been evaluated for use in young children, it is not recommended for children under two.5,6,8

Valerian is regarded as an effective sedative, antispasmodic (relaxes muscle spasms) and mild anodyne (pain-reliever). Valerian is indicated for use for insomnia, mild to moderate anxiety, nervousness, restlessness, emotional stress and nervous tension, hyperactivity, hysteria, migraine/tension headaches, premenstrual/menopausal agitation and tension, as well as nervous cardiopathy. The German Commission E also recommends valerian for restlessness and sleep disturbances resulting from nervous conditions.3,6,8,10-12

Double-blind, placebo-controlled studies have clinically proven that valerian is beneficial for a variety of sleep-disorder parameters. Research shows valerian significantly decreases sleep latency (the time required to fall asleep), reduces the frequency of night-time awakenings, decreases night-time motor activity and restlessness, and improves sleep quality, especially with elderly poor sleepers. One study of individuals with insomnia showed that 44% of those receiving valerian reported perfect sleep, while 89% reported improved sleep. In addition, a double-blind study found that valerian was as effective for reducing sleep latency as small doses of barbiturates or benzodiazepines.6,8,10-17

There are no side effects reported with valerian use—even 20 times the recommended dose is nontoxic; however, too large a dose may cause excitability. Unlike benzodiazepines such as Valium and Xanax, valerian does not appear to potentiate the effects of alcohol, nor does it affect coordination or driving ability or cause morning drowsiness. However, valerian should not be used in conjunction with prescription sleep-aids or anxiolytics. Although the German Commission E monograph lists no contraindications for valerian use during pregnancy and lactation, other sources recommend against its use until further research is done.5,6,8,10,11,18-20