Nutraceuticals such as Artemisia annua, valerian, rosemary, jujube, passionflower, lemon balm, ashwagandha, kava-kava, lavender, and chamomile improve sleep quality and duration in individuals with sleep disorders.

This review paper summarizes evidence that various nutraceuticals (herbal and dietary supplements) have remarkable benefits in treating sleep disorders. These remedies modulate neurotransmitter and hormonal pathways in sleep circuits and indirectly improve sleep by alleviating stress, inflammation, and oxidative stress. The paper notes that conventional sleep medications are habit-forming with withdrawal effects, making nutraceuticals a non-toxic, non-habit-forming alternative.

Last updated: Aug 26, 2026โ€ข0 RCTsโ€ข๐Ÿ“– Read as article โ†’

Evidence Score

Evidence Score32/100
Human RCTโ˜†โ˜†โ˜†โ˜†โ˜†
Meta-analysisโ˜†โ˜†โ˜†โ˜†โ˜†
Mechanismโ˜…โ˜…โ˜…โ˜…โ˜…
Safetyโ˜…โ˜…โ˜…โ˜…โ˜†
Confidencelow

Study Evidence

Study 1. Integrative sleep management: from molecular pathways to conventional and herbal treatments.

observational

Ebrahim YM, Sadek MA, Sabry MO, Lotfy RM, El-Dessouki AM, Abou-Hussein D, El-Shiekh RA, ElBishbishy RM ยท Naunyn-Schmiedeberg's archives of pharmacology (2025)

Participants: N/A
Duration: N/A
Intervention: Nutraceuticals including Artemisia annua, valerian, rosemary, jujube, passionflower, lemon balm, ashwagandha, kava-kava, lavender, and chamomile
Outcome: Sleep quality, sleep duration, alleviation of sleep disorder symptoms
Effect Size: N/A
Population: Individuals with sleep disorders (insomnia, sleep apnea, narcolepsy, parasomnias, circadian rhythm disorders, restless legs syndrome)

Result:

Mechanism Graph

Modulation of neurotransmitter and hormonal pathways within sleep circuits
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Alleviation of stress
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Reduction of inflammation and oxidative stress
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Enhanced sleep quality and duration

Limitations

  • โš The paper is a narrative review, not a meta-analysis or systematic review, so quantitative effect sizes are not provided
  • โš Specific dosages and standardized formulations for each nutraceutical are not reported in the abstract
  • โš Clinical study details (sample sizes, durations, control conditions) are not described in the abstract

Frequently Asked Questions

What nutraceuticals are mentioned for sleep disorders?โ–ผ

The paper lists Artemisia annua, valerian, rosemary, jujube, passionflower, lemon balm, ashwagandha, kava-kava, lavender, and chamomile as having remarkable benefits for sleep.

How do nutraceuticals improve sleep according to this review?โ–ผ

They work through multiple mechanisms: directly modulating neurotransmitter and hormonal pathways in sleep circuits, and indirectly by reducing stress, inflammation, and oxidative stress.

Are nutraceuticals safer than conventional sleep medications?โ–ผ

The paper states that conventional sleep drugs are habit-forming with withdrawal effects, while nutraceuticals are non-toxic and non-habit-forming, making them an outstanding choice.

What sleep disorders are covered in this review?โ–ผ

The primary categories include insomnia, sleep apnea, narcolepsy, parasomnias, circadian rhythm disorders, and restless legs syndrome.

Products

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References

  1. 1.Ebrahim YM, Sadek MA, Sabry MO, Lotfy RM, El-Dessouki AM, Abou-Hussein D, El-Shiekh RA, ElBishbishy RM. "Integrative sleep management: from molecular pathways to conventional and herbal treatments.." Naunyn-Schmiedeberg's archives of pharmacology, 2025. PMID: 40338321 DOI: 10.1007/s00210-025-04183-y
Disclaimer: This content is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Evidence scores reflect the quality and quantity of available research, not clinical recommendations. Always consult a healthcare professional before starting any supplement or intervention.