Something about herbs

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UIC Examines Sleep Disorder Self-Treatment With Herbs

 

In the June 2 issue of " Sleep Medicine Reviews, " researchers at the

UIC College of Pharmacy and College of Nursing discuss the propensity

of people with sleep disorders to self-treat using herbs. UIC

researchers also review the most commonly used herbal stimulants and

sedatives, and recommend a course of action to the medical and

research communities.

Difficulties with sleep and wakefulness are found in up to 38 percent

of the world population. Thirty-eight percent of U.S. adults in 1998

reported that daytime sleepiness interferes with their daily

activities at least a few days a month. Ten to 15 percent of these

respondents reported using over-the-counter medications or a dietary

supplement to help them stay awake during the day.

 

 

" Health-care providers have largely ignored this phenomenon in the

past, but it is now becoming necessary for providers to educate

themselves and their patients in the wise and unwise use of these

agents, " said Charlotte Gyllenhaal, UIC College of Pharmacy research

assistant professor and lead author of the article titled " Efficiency

and Safety of Herbal Stimulants and Sedatives in Sleep Disorders. "

 

 

The researchers reviewed caffeine and caffeine-containing herbs,

ephedrine-containing herbs, yohimbe and ginseng for their ability to

combat fatigue, as well as valerian, German chamomile, kava,

lavender, hops, lemon balm and passion flower for their ability to

improve sleep.

 

 

They note that caffeine is widely used to control sleepiness, but

more research is needed on its use in sleep disorders. They express

safety concerns about ephedra and ephedrine, used in stimulants and

weight loss products, and yohimbe, used in stimulant and body-

building preparations. They note that there is some inconclusive

experimental evidence for the use of Asian and Siberian ginseng to

treat fatigue.

 

 

Experimental evidence also supports the efficacy of the herbal

sedatives valerian and kava, which have received the most research

attention. Both herbs in small studies decreased sleep onset time and

promoted deeper sleep. The researchers note that German chamomile,

lavender, hops, lemon balm and passion flower are reputed to be mild

sedatives but need much more experimental examination.

 

 

The UIC team calls on researchers and medical professionals to

address the use of herbs to treat sleep disorders by: ·

Systematically gathering data about the use of herbals by people with

sleep disorders · Exploring herb-drug interactions, especially in

relation to elderly patients who take many prescription medications

and frequently complain of sleep problems · Continuing basic

research

into the identity of active compounds and their stability in a

variety of preparations · Conducting large-sample, double-blind,

placebo-controlled trials of herbal sedatives · Examining the

prevalence of adulteration and contamination in herbs, especially

those imported from areas where there is little manufacturing

regulation · Exploring the activity of herbal sedatives in sleep

initiation verses sleep maintenance · Asking patients

nonjudgmental

questions about their use of herbal preparations to aid sleep and

wakefulness and incorporating their answers into their medication

history

 

 

The Program for Collaborative Research in the Pharmaceutical Sciences

in the UIC College of Pharmacy, established in 1982, brings together

a multidisciplinary group of faculty to pursue research and

development projects in areas including the isolation and biological

evaluation of agents from plants to treat and prevent a variety of

diseases; synthesis and biosynthesis of natural products; drug plant

exploration in the tropics; and the computerization of the world's

literature on the chemistry and biology of natural medicinal

products.

 

 

The Center for Narcolepsy Research in the UIC College of Nursing,

established in 1986, brings together a multi-disciplinary group of

researchers to increase knowledge about excessive sleepiness

disorders, including narcolepsy and sleep apnea syndrome. The center

also studies the biobehavioral impact of excessive daytime sleepiness

on persons and their families. It operates the only Pupillometry

Laboratory in the Chicago region that studies the relationship

between pupil behavior and other biobehavioral aspects of sleepiness.

 

 

With 25,000 students, the University of Illinois at Chicago is the

largest and most diverse university in the Chicago area. UIC is home

to the largest medical school in the United States and is one of only

88 national Research I universities. Located just west of Chicago's

Loop, UIC is a vital part of the educational, technological and

cultural fabric of the area.

[Guest guest]

and your point?

 

luke

 

 

, " James Ramholz "

<OMJournal@m...> wrote:

> UIC Examines Sleep Disorder Self-Treatment With Herbs

>

> In the June 2 issue of " Sleep Medicine Reviews, " researchers at the

> UIC College of Pharmacy and College of Nursing discuss the

propensity

> of people with sleep disorders to self-treat using herbs. UIC

> researchers also review the most commonly used herbal stimulants and

> sedatives, and recommend a course of action to the medical and

> research communities.

> Difficulties with sleep and wakefulness are found in up to 38

percent

> of the world population. Thirty-eight percent of U.S. adults in 1998

> reported that daytime sleepiness interferes with their daily

> activities at least a few days a month. Ten to 15 percent of these

> respondents reported using over-the-counter medications or a dietary

> supplement to help them stay awake during the day.

>

>

> " Health-care providers have largely ignored this phenomenon in the

> past, but it is now becoming necessary for providers to educate

> themselves and their patients in the wise and unwise use of these

> agents, " said Charlotte Gyllenhaal, UIC College of Pharmacy research

> assistant professor and lead author of the article

titled " Efficiency

> and Safety of Herbal Stimulants and Sedatives in Sleep Disorders. "

>

>

> The researchers reviewed caffeine and caffeine-containing herbs,

> ephedrine-containing herbs, yohimbe and ginseng for their ability to

> combat fatigue, as well as valerian, German chamomile, kava,

> lavender, hops, lemon balm and passion flower for their ability to

> improve sleep.

>

>

> They note that caffeine is widely used to control sleepiness, but

> more research is needed on its use in sleep disorders. They express

> safety concerns about ephedra and ephedrine, used in stimulants and

> weight loss products, and yohimbe, used in stimulant and body-

> building preparations. They note that there is some inconclusive

> experimental evidence for the use of Asian and Siberian ginseng to

> treat fatigue.

>

>

> Experimental evidence also supports the efficacy of the herbal

> sedatives valerian and kava, which have received the most research

> attention. Both herbs in small studies decreased sleep onset time

and

> promoted deeper sleep. The researchers note that German chamomile,

> lavender, hops, lemon balm and passion flower are reputed to be mild

> sedatives but need much more experimental examination.

>

>

> The UIC team calls on researchers and medical professionals to

> address the use of herbs to treat sleep disorders by: ·

> Systematically gathering data about the use of herbals by people

with

> sleep disorders · Exploring herb-drug interactions, especially in

> relation to elderly patients who take many prescription medications

> and frequently complain of sleep problems · Continuing basic

> research

> into the identity of active compounds and their stability in a

> variety of preparations · Conducting large-sample, double-blind,

> placebo-controlled trials of herbal sedatives · Examining the

> prevalence of adulteration and contamination in herbs, especially

> those imported from areas where there is little manufacturing

> regulation · Exploring the activity of herbal sedatives in sleep

> initiation verses sleep maintenance · Asking patients

> nonjudgmental

> questions about their use of herbal preparations to aid sleep and

> wakefulness and incorporating their answers into their medication

> history

>

>

> The Program for Collaborative Research in the Pharmaceutical

Sciences

> in the UIC College of Pharmacy, established in 1982, brings together

> a multidisciplinary group of faculty to pursue research and

> development projects in areas including the isolation and biological

> evaluation of agents from plants to treat and prevent a variety of

> diseases; synthesis and biosynthesis of natural products; drug plant

> exploration in the tropics; and the computerization of the world's

> literature on the chemistry and biology of natural medicinal

> products.

>

>

> The Center for Narcolepsy Research in the UIC College of Nursing,

> established in 1986, brings together a multi-disciplinary group of

> researchers to increase knowledge about excessive sleepiness

> disorders, including narcolepsy and sleep apnea syndrome. The center

> also studies the biobehavioral impact of excessive daytime

sleepiness

> on persons and their families. It operates the only Pupillometry

> Laboratory in the Chicago region that studies the relationship

> between pupil behavior and other biobehavioral aspects of

sleepiness.

>

>

> With 25,000 students, the University of Illinois at Chicago is the

> largest and most diverse university in the Chicago area. UIC is home

> to the largest medical school in the United States and is one of

only

> 88 national Research I universities. Located just west of Chicago's

> Loop, UIC is a vital part of the educational, technological and

> cultural fabric of the area.