Effects of herbal medicine in the treatment of sleep disorders

Abstract

Sleep is a vital biological function essential for physical and mental health, memory storage, emotional regulation, and immune system performance. The increasing prevalence of sleep disorders among youth and older adults due to stress, excessive screen time, and chronic illnesses has created growing demand for herbal supplements as safe alternatives to pharmaceutical drugs. This study investigated sleep management medicinal plants in Sétif through two online surveys (80 participants from the general public) and interviews with herbal practitioners (35 herbal vendors). Results showed 14 sleep-promoting herbs, with black seed being the most commonly used (70% among the general public), followed by chamomile (57.5%) and anise (47.5%). Important observations noted that while lavender was among the most frequently used herbs, evaluations of its effectiveness were inconsistent among participants. Similarly, black seed, despite being a common herb, did not show noticeable effects for a significant proportion of users, potentially indicating individual response differences or variations in usage methods. Regarding herbal vendors, results showed mint was the most requested (94.29%), followed by anise (71.43%) then chamomile (50%). Data also indicated that herbs like valerian, St. John's wort, and lemon balm were among the most used by the general public and most requested from herbal vendors. These herbs are known for their effective calming and sleep-inducing properties, though they're not as widely known compared to other traditional herbs. These findings confirm the high rate of herbal medicine use in Algeria and highlight the importance of public education and integrating traditional knowledge with scientific research to improve sleep health, while considering individual differences in response to herbal treatments.