Adjustment Sleep Disorder

Efficacy of Alternative and Other Treatments According to GRADE* Ranking:

Valerian (Valerian Tea, Valeriana Officinalis) [1, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39]:

Please note, this management does NOT treat the condition itself. It may mildly help with some of the symptoms, and even then has insufficient evidence to back up this claim at present.

Recommendation: No recommendation (Although animal studies have shown that Valerian can have some benefit in treating sleep disorders, clinical trials have yielded conflicting results. More research is needed. )

Grade of Evidence: moderate quality of evidence

St John's Wort (Goatweed, tipton weed, Hypericum Perforatum) [1, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32]:

Please note, this management does NOT treat the condition itself. It may mildly help with some of the symptoms, and even then has insufficient evidence to back up this claim at present.

Recommendation: No recommendation (Available evidence does not support claims that St Johns Wort can help to treat sleep disorders.)

Grade of Evidence: low quality of evidence

Mugwort (Artemisa Vulgaris) [1, 19, 20, 21]:

Please note, this management does NOT treat the condition itself. It has been proposed only as a weak supportive symptomatic support, and even then, has been discounted due life-threatening side effects

Recommendation: No recommendation (There is insufficient evidence to support claims that mugwart helps to treat symptoms of sleep disorders. More research is needed.)

Grade of Evidence: very low quality of evidence

Kava (Piper Methysticum) [1, 15, 16, 17, 18]:

WARNING: In rare cases, kava may lead to liver failure and other life threatening problems. The FDA warns that those who have had liver problems, or are on medicacations which may affect the liver, patients should check with their doctors before taking Kava. Other side effects include headache, upset stomach, drowsiness, weight loss, bloody urine, and muscle weakness.

Recommendation: weakly in favor (Early studies indicate that Kava may be helpful in reducint the symptoms of sleep disorder. However, subsequent studies have yielded contradictory results. More research is needed.)

Grade of Evidence: low quality of evidence

Glyconutrients [1, 13, 14]:

Please note, this management does NOT treat the condition itself. It may mildly help with some of the symptoms, and even then has insufficient evidence to back up this claim at present.

Recommendation: no recommendation  (Available evidence does not support claims that glyconutrients help to treat sleep disorders. More studies are needed.)

Grade of Evidence: low quality of evidence

Germanium (Germanium Sesquioxide, Vitamin O) [1, 10, 11, 12]:

WARNING: Germanium may cause permanent Kidney failure. Even organic supplements, though less toxic than inorganic supplements, have caused kidney and liver damage. NOT TO BE USED.

Recommendation: strongly against (Evidence shows that Germanium is not effective in treating sleep disorders in any way, and is also toxic, causing severe kidney and liver damage.)

Grade of Evidence: moderate quality of evidence

Flower Remedies [1, 8, 9]:

Please note, this management does NOT treat the condition itself. It may mildly help with some of the symptoms, and even then has insufficient evidence to back up this claim at present.

Recommendation: no recommendation  (There is insufficient evidence to support claims that flower remedies help to treat sleep disorders)

Grade of Evidence: very low quality of evidence

Eleutherococcus Senticosus [1, 4, 5, 6, 7]:

Please note, this management does NOT treat the condition itself. It may mildly help with some of the symptoms, and even then has insufficient evidence to back up this claim at present.

Recommendation: no recommendation  (Evidence has shown that Eleurhero has no effect in the treatment or prevention of hypersomnia)

Grade of Evidence: moderate quality of evidence

Chamomile (Matricaria Chamomilla) [1, 2, 3]:

Please note, this management does NOT treat the condition itself. It is proposed only as a weak supportive symptomatic support, and even then, has insufficient evidence to back up this claim at present.

Recommendation: weakly against (Available evidence does not support claims that Chamomile helps treat sleep disorders. In addition, allergic reactions and side effects like cramps, itching, rashes and difficulty breathing can be relatively common)

Grade of Evidence: low quality of evidence

Black Cohosh (cimicifuga Racemosa):

Please note, this management does NOT treat the condition itself. It is proposed only as a weak supportive symptomatic support, and even then, has insufficient evidence to back up this claim at present.

Recommendation: weakly in favor (Available evidence supports claims that Black Cohosh helps to treat symptoms of hyperhidrosis, but more studies are needed)

Grade of Evidence: low quality of evidence

Biofeedback:

Recommendation: no recommendation (there is insufficient evidence to show that Biofeedback helps treat insomnia)

Grade of Evidence: very low quality of evidence

* www.gradeworkinggroup.org

Summary References

Treatments:

1. Ades T, Alteri R, Gansler T, Yeargin P, "Complete Guide to Complimentary & Alternative Cancer Therapies", American Cancer Society, Atlanta USA, 2009

2. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/natural/patient-chamomile.html

3. http://www.abchomeopathy.com/r.php/Cham

4. Halstead B, Hood L (1984). Eleutherococcus senticosis–Siberian Ginseng, OHAI. p.7.

5. Chen JK, Chen TT. Chinese Medical Herbology and Pharmacology, Art of Medicine Press, City of Industry, CA 2004

6. David Winston. Native American, Chinese, and Ayurvedic Materia Medica, HTSBM, pp. 1-1

7. http://www.cancer.org/Treatment/TreatmentsandSideEffects/ComplementaryandAlternativeMedicine/HerbsVitaminsandMinerals/eleuthero

8. http://www.cancer.org/Treatment/TreatmentsandSideEffects/ComplementaryandAlternativeMedicine/HerbsVitaminsandMinerals/flower-remedies

9. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12635462

10. Baselt, R. (2008). Disposition of Toxic Drugs and Chemicals in Man (8 ed.). Foster City, CA: Biomedical Publications. pp. 693–694.

11. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9237323

12. http://www.cancer.org/Treatment/TreatmentsandSideEffects/ComplementaryandAlternativeMedicine/HerbsVitaminsandMinerals/germanium

13. http://abcnews.go.com/2020/story?id=3228488

14. http://www.cancer.org/Treatment/TreatmentsandSideEffects/ComplementaryandAlternativeMedicine/HerbsVitaminsandMinerals/glyconutrients

15. http://www.publish.csiro.au/?act=view_file&file_id=SP05005.pdf

16. http://www.cancer.org/Treatment/TreatmentsandSideEffects/ComplementaryandAlternativeMedicine/HerbsVitaminsandMinerals/kava

17. http://www.kavazen.com/pages/library.htm#KavaZen and Kava Safety

18. http://nccam.nih.gov/health/kava/index.htm

19. Anliker MD, Borelli S, Wüthrich B. Occupational protein contact dermatitis from spices in a butcher: a new presentation of the mugwort-spice syndrome. Contact Dermatitis. 2002;46:72-74.

20. http://www.cancer.org/Treatment/TreatmentsandSideEffects/ComplementaryandAlternativeMedicine/HerbsVitaminsandMinerals/mugwort

21. Fetrow CW, Avila JR. Professional's Handbook of Complementary & Alternative Medicines. Philadelphia, PA: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 2004.

22. http://www.cancer.org/Treatment/TreatmentsandSideEffects/ComplementaryandAlternativeMedicine/HerbsVitaminsandMinerals/st-johns-wort

23. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/natural/patient-stjohnswort.html

24. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18843608

25. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11939866

26. http://nccam.nih.gov/health/stjohnswort/ataglance.htm

27. http://nccam.nih.gov/health/stjohnswort/sjw-and-depression.htm

28. http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/depression/how-is-depression-detected-and-treated.shtml

29. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11939872

30. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12132963

31. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16423519

32. http://jama.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/full/299/22/2633

33. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/natural/patient-valerian.html

34. http://nccam.nih.gov/health/valerian/index.htm

35. http://www.cancer.org/Treatment/TreatmentsandSideEffects/ComplementaryandAlternativeMedicine/HerbsVitaminsandMinerals/valerian

36. http://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Valerian.asp

37. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12725454

38. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9757514

39. Taibi DM et al. 'A systematic review of valerian as a sleep aid: safe but not effective.' Sleep Med Rev. 2007;11:209-30.

















 

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