Sleep disorders and a review of the uses of valerian, chamomile, lavender and passionflower: Pharmacy students’ knowledge and views

Abstract

Insomnia is a common sleep disorder that affects the quality and length of sleep. Individuals who suffer from insomnia may encounter daytime fatigue, mood problems, impaired concentration, and increased risk of chronic diseases. This disorder can be acute or chronic. Acute insomnia is short-term and usually triggered by stress or life events, while chronic insomnia is long-term and often associated with other medical or psychological conditions. Insomnia can be treated with medications, lifestyle changes or herbal remedies. Four different herbs are thought of as potential treatment for insomnia: Valerian, Chamomile, Lavender, and Passionflower. This paper analyzes the potential effects of these remedies and their effectiveness in treating insomnia. It also collected data on what pharmacy students know about sleep disorders and their opinions about aspects that affect sleep. A total of 40 students completed the demographic survey questions with a 100% response rate. Of these, 36 answered the five knowledge-based questions (89.5% response rate) and about 35 (88%) completed the opinion questions. The five opinion statements had an average agreement rate of 81.2% among the survey respondents.