ARE you having trouble getting enough shut eye? Well relief may be at hand.
Researchers from NICM Health Research Institute at Western Sydney University are looking for volunteers to participate in a new clinical trial examining the effectiveness of a herbal formula to treat chronic insomnia.
Participants must be over 18 and have experienced difficulty sleeping at least three times a week and for at least three months.
Insomnia is defined as difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep. It affects one-third of Australians and can have severe consequences on physical health, mental health and daily performance. Causes include stress, anxiety and depression, and some medications. Digital gadgets and long working hours have also been blamed.
It estimated the financial cost of poor sleep is $26.2 billion a year.
Lead researcher Yoann Birling hopes the trial will offer a safe, effective alternative to patients who do not experience relief using current treatments.
"Chronic insomnia - which occurs when a person experiences disrupted sleep at least three nights per week and lasts at least three months - is a multi-dimensional condition with long-term impacts including cardiovascular problems, depression and anxiety," Mr Birling said.
"Current treatments include hypnotic drugs, which can have side effects and lead to possible dependency, or psychotherapy, which can be difficult to access and demands a long-term commitment including behaviour change."
The double-blind, randomised-controlled trial will assess 90 participants, who will take either the herbal capsule or a placebo, in key areas including insomnia severity, sleep parameters, fatigue levels, psychological status, quality of life, and adverse events before treatment, mid-treatment, post-treatment, and at a one-month follow up.
The traditional Chinese herbal formula includes spine date seed, Danshen root and Chinese magnoliavine fruit, and has been widely use in hospitals in China for more than 30 years.
Mr Birling says some early clinical trials in China have so far delivered promising results, however more research is needed to obtain conclusive results.
"Our study will look for evidence of the safety and effectiveness of this formula and determine whether its benefit continues after an initial five-week treatment regime."
If you have experienced trouble sleeping you may be eligible to join the study, more information here.
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