Role of Evidence based Management of Ayurveda Medicines in Insomnia: A Critical Review

Abstract

Abstract A person with insomnia has trouble falling asleep or gets insufficient, poor-quality sleep. They might experience frequent nighttime awakenings with difficulty going back asleep and early morning wakefulness. It is common in older adults, females, students, and people with medical illness. The aim is to analyze and review the published clinical studies conducted on insomnia to assess the effectiveness of Ayurvedic remedies for the management of insomnia. For this review, the literature has been searched using databases such as Medline, PubMed, NLM, Ayush Research Portal, and many others. All randomized controlled trials involving individuals with insomnia, utilizing Ayurvedic herbs either alone or in combination and Panchakarma procedures (processes of detoxifying and purifying the body) with an exposure period of ≥7 days, and with the primary outcome being the improvement in sleep quality, were included. This review includes 16 clinical trials, among them Mansyadi Kwath (decoction made up of Jatamamsi (Nardostachys jatamansi DC), Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera Linn.) and Parsik Yvani (Hyoscyamus niger Linn.), Aswagandha (W. somnifera Linn.), Jatamansi (N. jatamansi DC), Tagar (Valeriana wallichii DC.), Brahmi (Bacopa monnieri Linn.), Gud Pippali Churna (powder of jaggery and root of Piper longum Linn.), Jatipatri Ksheerpaka (milk decoction of Myristica fragrans Houtt.), Insomrid tablet (tablet made up of 5 drugs named Jatamamsi, Ashwagandha, Parsik Yvani (H. niger Linn.), Tagar (Valeriana wallichii DC.), and Sarpagandha (Rauwolfia serpentina Benth.) and Shirodhara (~slowly and steadily dripping medicated liquids on the forehead) are found effective in the treatments of insomnia according to these studies. This research serves as secondary data for further studies and the medication are described here have the ability to manage insomnia with very minimal or no side effects. These drugs are also cost-effective and nonaddictive.