The Effect of Dracocephalum Extract on Sleep Quality in Post-Menopausal Women: A Randomized Placebo-Controlled Trial

Fatima Muhammad Ibrahim; Maryam Mohammad Ibrahim; Haniyeh Abbassinya; Faezeh Rostami Cheri; Samaneh Nazarpoy Shirehjini; Farnoosh Farahbod; Nasim Khademi

doi:10.18502/ijps.v17i4.10695

Fatima Muhammad Ibrahim Reproductive Health Department, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, International Campus (TUMS-IC), Tehran, Iran.
Maryam Mohammad Ibrahim Reproductive Health Department, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, International Campus (TUMS-IC), Tehran, Iran.
Haniyeh Abbassinya Department of Midwifery, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Tehran University of Medical Science, Tehran, Iran.
Faezeh Rostami Cheri Department of Nursing and Midwifery, Islamic Azad University of Arak, Arak, Iran.
Samaneh Nazarpoy Shirehjini Department of Clinical Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, Khomeyni Shahr Branch, Islamic Azad University, Isfahan, Iran.
Farnoosh Farahbod Obstetric & Gynecologist Specialist, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
Nasim Khademi Department of Midwifery, Nursing and Midwifery Sciences Development Research Center, Najafabad Branch, Islamic Azad University, Najafabad, Iran.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18502/ijps.v17i4.10695

Keywords: Dracocephalum; Herbal Medicine; Post-menopausal Period; Randomized Controlled Trial; Sleep Quality

Abstract

Objective: Sleep disturbance is one of the most prevalent problems in post-menopausal females. The current research intended to evaluate the effects of Dracocephalum on sleep disorder in post-menopausal females.

Method: The current study is a randomized, double-blind controlled trial, in which 110 post-menopausal women were randomly allocated to Dracocephalum or placebo groups. The intervention group took Dracocephalum capsules containing 250 mg Dracocephalum extract twice daily for one month. While, the placebo group took the same capsule containing 250 mg of starch twice daily for one month. Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index was completed by the participants of both groups before and after the treatment and the data obtained were analyzed with Chi-square, paired and independent t-test in SPSS (version 20).

Results: The mean score of sleep quality before and after the treatment was 12.69 ± 3.98 and 8.58 ± 1.97 in the treatment group, respectively. Also, the score of sleep quality in the placebo group was 13.48 ± 2.60 and 11.21 ± 2.74 at the beginning and end of the research, respectively. The symptoms of sleep disorder in the intervention group significantly improved after the treatment (P < 0.001), while this was not the case with the placebo group (P = 0.155). Besides, there was a significant difference between the two groups in the mean score of sleep quality after the treatment (P = 0.012).

Conclusion: Dracocephalum extracts are effective in reducing symptoms of sleep disorders in post-menopausal women.