Kava, Valerian Studied for Ability to Reduce Stress, Insomnia

Kava, Valerian Studied for Ability to Reduce Stress, Insomnia

LONDON--Published in the September issue of PhytotherapyResearch (15:549-51, 2001) (www3.interscience.wiley.com),a pilot study conducted by the Psychopharmacology Research Group demonstratedthat kava and valerian may relieve stress and alleviate insomnia. Researchersfollowed 24 patients suffering from stress-induced insomnia, treating them forsix weeks with 120 mg/d of kava. This was followed by a two-week washout period,during which five participants dropped out, and the remaining 19 subjectsreceived 600 mg/d of valerian for another six weeks.

Patients reported stress in three areas: social, personal and life-events,and evaluated insomnia in terms of how long it took them to fall asleep, howmany hours were slept and how their mood was during the day. Subjects reportedthat both constituents relieved total stress severity and insomnia, with nomajor differences reported between the two herbs. While 58 percent of subjectsreported no side effects, vivid dreams were reported as a side effect ofvalerian (16 percent of users) and dizziness was reported as a side effect ofkava (12 percent of users). Researchers concluded that the herbs may be usefulfor treating stress and insomnia, though they also noted that further researchis required.