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Valerian And Melatonin
May Help You Sleep
A study published in the July 1st issue of the
journal SLEEP finds that large segments of the U.S. population
use valerian or melatonin to treat their insomnia.
The study, authored by Donald L. Bliwise, PhD, of Emory University
in Atlanta, Georgia, focused on the data collected from 31,044 individuals
from the 2002 Alternative Health/Complementary and Alternative Medicine
Supplement to the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS).
Dr. Bliwise discovered that, of the survey sample, 5.9 percent
used valerian and 5.2 percent used melatonin. Relatively greater
use occurred in individuals under the age of 60. The decision
to use such substances was made in consultation with a health
care provider less than half of the time.
"Within the United States, usage of alternative and complementary
medicine is rising dramatically," said Bliwise. "Within
the limitations on the NHIS methodology, the usage of valerian
and the usage of melatonin appear to be relatively high. Specific
data on valerian usage and on melatonin usage in general populations,
however, are relatively scarce."
Behavioral therapies and medications have been shown to be effective
therapies for insomnia. Behavioral therapies use non-pharmacologic
methods to improve sleep, and are effective and long-lasting.
Sleep medications are effective and safe treatments for insomnia
when used properly and judiciously by a patient who is under the
supervision of a sleep medicine or primary care physician. A physician
should always be consulted before any medications are taken.
Insomnia is a classification of sleep disorders in which a person
has trouble falling asleep, staying asleep, or waking up too early.
These disorders may also be defined by an overall poor quality
of sleep.
Insomnia is the most commonly reported sleep disorder. About
30 percent of adults have symptoms of insomnia. Less than 10 percent
of adults are likely to have chronic insomnia. Insomnia is more
common among elderly people and women.
While a brief case of insomnia can arise due to temporary stress,
excitement or other emotion, more than 20 million Americans report
having a chronic form of insomnia that keeps them from sleeping
well nearly every night.
As a result, insomnia can lead to severe daytime fatigue, poor
performance at school and work, physical symptoms such as headaches
and, in some cases, depression.
Those who think they might have insomnia, or another sleep disorder,
are urged to discuss their problem with their primary care physician,
who will issue a referral to a sleep specialist.
The original evaluation entitled, "Insomnia Associated with
Valerian and Melatonin Usage in the 2002 National Health Interview
Survey" was published in the April 15th, 2005, issue of the
Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine.
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