Sleep improving effects of a single dose administration of a valerian/hops fluid extract. A double blind, randomized, placebo-controlled sleep-EEG study in a parallel design using…

Repetitive administration of valerian/hops combinations has been widely used for self-administered therapy of sleep disturbances due to their lack of side effects. Based on the electrohypnogram – derived from a validated computer assisted automatic analysis for depth of sleep – a new approach was started following a single dose administration of verum (n=20) or placebo (n=22) to poor sleepers. Two ml of the liquid extract or placebo were diluted in 50ml water (flavoured with honey) and administered 15 minutes before EEG recording during the medication night following a polysomnographic baseline night. The time s…