Valerian root extract 100mg / Lemon balm 50mg tablets

Background: Over-the-counter (OTC) products such as herbal medical products (HMPs) or dietary supplements are a valued part of preventative and supportive self-care for depressive symptoms, but there is a wide array of products available, with differing levels of clinical evidence. It is unclear what the optimal directions for future research in this field are. Aim: We aimed to explore the size and nature of the evidence base available for OTC products for depression in adults aged 18-60. Methods: We carried out a scoping review following Joanna Briggs Institute guidance. We searched MEDLINE, Embase, PsycINFO, AMED, and CENTRAL from inception to December 2022, and 10% of the results were screened by two authors and the remainder by one author. We included randomised controlled trials of products commonly available OTC in multiple countries in participants with symptoms or a diagnosis of depression. Results were narratively summarised by the product and volume of evidence available. Results: Out of 23,933 records found, we screened 1,367 full texts and included 209 trials. The largest volume of evidence was for omega-3s, St John's Wort, saffron, probiotics, and vitamin D. Among a range of herbal medical products with promising evidence, those most commonly used and thus warranting further research were lavender, lemon balm, chamomile, and Echium. For 41 products, we found only single trials. Few products presented safety issues, whether used alone or adjunctively with antidepressants. Conclusion: Products with limited but promising evidence included folic acid, lavender, zinc, tryptophan, Rhodiola, and lemon balm, and future research should focus on these products. There is a need for further evaluation of herbal medical products as adjuncts to antidepressants and for exploring their potential benefits when used adjunctively with psychological therapies to support a more integrative approach. Safety reporting in these trials needs to be further improved. Systematic Review Registration: https://osf.io/rkm57/.

Abstract licence: CC BY

In this randomised, placebo-controlled trial, adults with impaired sleep (Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index ≥ 5) were randomly assigned using a minimization algorithm to receive a formulation containing L-theanine plus lemon balm, valerian, and saffron extracts, or placebo, during 6 weeks. Objective sleep quality parameters were measured using an actigraphy device. We enrolled and randomised 64 individuals, 31 from the active group and 27 from the placebo group completed the 6 week follow-up. Mean sleep efficiency remained unmodified in the active group, and increased by 3% in the placebo group, the between-group difference in the change was not statistically significant (p = 0.49). Total sleep time also improved more with placebo (13.0 vs. 1.33 min, p = 0.66). Time wake after sleep onset (WASO) decreased more in the active group (4.6% vs. 2.4%), but the difference was not significant (p = 0.33). Mean PSQI decreased by 3.11 points (32.3%) in the active group, and by 3.86 points (39.5%) in the placebo group (p = 0.41). SF-36 increased more with placebo (+ 18.3 in active, + 32.1 in placebo, p = 0.68). Salivary cortisol remained unchanged in both groups. No serious adverse events were reported. Among adults with impaired sleep, a nutraceutical combination did not improve objective or subjective sleep parameters more than a placebo infusion.

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Depression, anxiety, stress, and other mental disorders, which are on the rise worldwide, are indications that pharmacological therapy can have serious adverse effects, which is why many patients prefer to use herbal products to treat these symptoms. Here, we reviewed plants and products derived from them that are commonly used for the above indications, focusing on clinical data and safety profiles. While lavender, hops, maypop, lemon balm, and valerian have consistently been shown in clinical trials to relieve mild forms of neurological disorders, particularly depression, anxiety, and stress, currently available data do not fully support the use of peppermint for anxiety disorders and depression. Recent studies support the use of saffron for depression; however, its toxicological profile raises safety concerns. St. John's wort is effective in alleviating mild to moderate depression; however, careful use is necessary particularly due to possible interactions with other drugs. In conclusion, more studies are needed to validate the mechanism of action so that these plants can be used successfully and safely to alleviate or eliminate various mental disorders.

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Sleep is an essential component of physical and emotional well-being, and lack, or disruption, of sleep due to insomnia is a highly prevalent problem. The interest in complementary and alternative medicines for treating or preventing insomnia has increased recently. Centuries-old herbal treatments, popular for their safety and effectiveness, include valerian, passionflower, lemon balm, lavender, and Californian poppy. These herbal medicines have been shown to reduce sleep latency and increase subjective and objective measures of sleep quality. Research into their molecular components revealed that their sedative and sleep-promoting properties rely on interactions with various neurotransmitter systems in the brain. Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) is an inhibitory neurotransmitter that plays a major role in controlling different vigilance states. GABA receptors are the targets of many pharmacological treatments for insomnia, such as benzodiazepines. Here, we perform a systematic analysis of studies assessing the mechanisms of action of various herbal medicines on different subtypes of GABA receptors in the context of sleep control. Currently available evidence suggests that herbal extracts may exert some of their hypnotic and anxiolytic activity through interacting with GABA receptors and modulating GABAergic signaling in the brain, but their mechanism of action in the treatment of insomnia is not completely understood.

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Background: There is renewed interest in the use of ancient herbal remedies for their potential health benefits, particularly in the psychological domain. One herb that is receiving growing attention is lemon balm (Melissa officinalis L.) which has received considerable interest for its influence on the brain. Lemon balm boasts an array of phytochemicals, including rosmarinic acid, citral, oleanolic acid, and ursolic acid, which are believed to underpin these effects on psychological well-being. Pharmacological evidence from animal and cellular work reveals that lemon balm and its components may modulate several brain signalling pathways, including GABAergic, cholinergic, and serotonergic systems. Results/Conclusions: Although further robust randomised controlled trials using lemon balm are required, existing research indicates that lemon balm holds promise as a calming agent exhibiting both anxiolytic and anti-depressant properties and can elicit cognitive and sleep-quality enhancement.

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BACKGROUND: Insomnia is highly prevalent and poses significant personal and socio-economic challenges. While the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) recommendations define possible medical approaches, over-the-counter products are commonly used to self-manage insomnia symptoms. This scoping review aims to determine the size and scope of the evidence-base regarding the effectiveness and safety of over-the-counter products for insomnia symptoms in adults. METHODS: The electronic databases of CENTRAL, MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsycINFO, and AMED were searched from inception to December 19th, 2022, for all randomised controlled trials evaluating over-the-counter products compared to placebo, in adults aged 18-65 with insomnia symptoms. Results were synthesised descriptively. RESULTS: 51 randomised controlled trials were included, evaluating herbal products (n = 34), dietary supplements (n = 15), herbal-dietary combinations (n = 4), and over-the-counter medicines (n = 2). Sample sizes ranged between 10 and 405 participants. Eleven studies were conducted in participants with co-morbidities. Interventions were most frequently given as monotherapy and compared against placebo. Most studies (n = 41) demonstrated interventions' positive effects on insomnia symptoms. Among the most studied products, valerian and melatonin have substantial evidence to demonstrate their effectiveness and safety. Promising products demonstrating benefits compared with prescription medication alone included: valerian; lemon balm and fennel; and valerian, hops, and passionflower. Intervention-related side effects were mostly mild and transient. No serious adverse events were reported across all studies. CONCLUSIONS: Over-the-counter products show promising, but inconclusive findings in alleviating insomnia symptoms in adults. Future research should focus on investigating products currently used in real life, consider economic evaluations, and be evaluated in populations with co-morbidities and ethnic minorities, to better guide clinical advice.

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Lemon balm (Melissa officinalis) and valerian (Valeriana officinalis) have been consumed by humans since Antiquity, usually as herbal tea and brewing, for their sedative and relaxing capacities. These properties are associated with empirical observations of the effects of these plants on the body. But since the advent of phytotherapy as alternative medicine, it appeared on the market alcoholic extracts or essential oils, for which the same indications are claimed. It is therefore necessary to clarify or define the mechanisms of action of their various constituents to explain their effectiveness. We review here the current knowledge about the pharmacological properties – particularly the molecular targets – of the bioactive compounds of lemon balm and valerian. In this way, the activities of lemon balm and valerian, empirically observed throughout the body, can be explained and objectified at the molecular and cellular levels thanks to the mode of action of their molecular contents (terpenoids and phenolic derivatives). Our interest is to scientifically explain the pharmacological effects of these two plants in traditional medicine.

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Although while getting a restful night's sleep is essential for your mental and physical health, insomnia is very prevalent. More people are turning to complementary and alternative therapies to treat or prevent sleeplessness. For hundreds of years, herbal treatments like valerian, passionflower, lemon balm, lavender, and California poppy have been utilized successfully. After using these herbal medicines, sleep latency was reduced and subjective and objective measures of sleep quality improved. Their sedative and sleep-inducing effects are caused by interactions with several neurotransmitter systems in the brain, according to molecular research. The plant species can be divided into 76 different genera and 32 different families, with the Asteraceae (24.2%) and Lamiaceae (21.1%) being the most prevalent subgroups. Leaves (29%) and flowers (27%), respectively, are used to make the majority of infusions (70%) and decoctions (25%). Just the most well-known taxa—out of the 106 known—are treated here (A. arvensis L., C. nepeta L., C. monogyna Jacq., H. lupulus L., L. nobilis L., L. angustifolia Mill., M. sylvestris L., M. chamomilla L., M. officinalis L., O. basilicum L., P. rhoeas L., P. somniferum L., R. officinalis L., T. platyphyllus Scop., and V. officinalis L.). Further study is required to confirm the therapeutic potential of these substitutes and define the mechanism of action of bioactive compounds because only seven of the fifteen species chosen have been investigated for pharmacological activity as hypnotic-sedatives.

Abstract licence: CC BY-NC-ND