Chamomile's Impact on Sleep: A Comprehensive Review of Clinical Studies

Jenn Hoskins
7th August, 2024

Chamomile's Impact on Sleep: A Comprehensive Review of Clinical Studies

Image Source: Natural Science News, 2024

Key Findings

  • The study by Shiraz University of Medical Sciences reviewed the effects of chamomile on sleep quality and duration
  • Chamomile significantly improved sleep quality, reducing the number of awakenings and helping individuals stay asleep
  • The study found no significant improvements in sleep duration, sleep efficiency, or daytime functioning measures like fatigue severity
Sleep is a vital component of our overall well-being, influencing numerous physiological processes in the brain and body[2]. However, sleep disorders are prevalent and can significantly impact quality of life and health outcomes[3]. While various treatments exist, natural remedies like Matricaria chamomilla L., commonly known as chamomile, have gained attention for their potential benefits on sleep. A recent systematic review and meta-analysis conducted by Shiraz University of Medical Sciences aimed to investigate the effect of chamomile on sleep duration and quality[1]. The study reviewed clinical trials from databases such as PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library up until August 2023. These trials included both healthy and diseased adults. The quality of the studies was assessed using the Cochrane tool, and a random-effects meta-analysis was employed to pool weighted mean differences (WMD) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for outcomes assessed by at least three studies with relatively consistent participant profiles. The systematic review encompassed ten studies involving a total of 772 participants. The meta-analysis focused on the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) score and sleep length. The PSQI is a widely used questionnaire that assesses various aspects of sleep quality. A significant reduction in PSQI score (WMD: -1.88, 95% CI: -3.46, -0.31, I2: 88.4%, n=5) was found, indicating an improvement in sleep quality among those who consumed chamomile. However, the study did not find significant improvements in sleep duration, sleep efficiency, or daytime functioning measures such as fatigue severity. The findings align with earlier research indicating that sleep quality is influenced by multiple factors, including physiological and social-environmental contexts[2]. Chamomile appears to be effective in improving certain aspects of sleep quality, such as reducing the number of awakenings and helping individuals stay asleep. This is particularly relevant given the high prevalence of sleep disorders in various populations, including young adults and those with psychiatric conditions[3][4]. The methods employed in this review were robust, involving a comprehensive search of multiple databases and a rigorous quality assessment of the included studies. However, the study also highlighted several limitations. For instance, only one of the included studies tested the purity and potency of the chamomile products used, and most studies did not actively monitor for adverse events. Future research should address these gaps by using objective measures and ensuring the standardization of chamomile preparations. In conclusion, the systematic review and meta-analysis by Shiraz University of Medical Sciences found that chamomile can improve sleep quality, particularly by reducing the number of awakenings and helping individuals stay asleep. However, it did not significantly affect sleep duration, sleep efficiency, or daytime functioning. These findings suggest that while chamomile may be a useful natural remedy for enhancing certain aspects of sleep quality, further research is needed to fully understand its benefits and limitations.

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References

Main Study

1) Effects of chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla L.) on sleep: A systematic review and meta-analysis of clinical trials.

Published 4th August, 2024

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ctim.2024.103071

Related Studies

2) The translational neuroscience of sleep: A contextual framework.

https://doi.org/10.1126/science.abj8188

3) The prevalence of common sleep disorders in young adults: a descriptive population-based study.

https://doi.org/10.1093/sleep/zsaa072

4) Prevalence and correlates of sleep disorder symptoms in psychiatric disorders.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychres.2018.07.009


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