Nervous system Sedatives and hypnotics Indications for herbal sedatives and hypnotics: Moderate tension Anxiety syndromes (short-term or intermittent use) Insomnia Weaning off conventional sedative prescriptions. - Components of convalescent management, particularly to help with sleep. Contraindications for herbal sedatives and hypnotics: Depression

1. Herbal medicine
Nervous system
By
Dr. Mostafa Mahmoud Hegazy ( PH.D.)

2. Nervous system
Sedatives and hypnotics
Indications for herbal sedatives and hypnotics:
- Moderate tension
- Anxiety syndromes (short-term or intermittent use)
- Insomnia
- Weaning off conventional sedative prescriptions.
- Components of convalescent management, particularly to help with sleep.
Contraindications for herbal sedatives and hypnotics:
Depression

3. Valerian
Valeriana officinalis
‫الفاليريانا‬ ‫جذور‬
Constituents:
Iridoids (valepotriates): Valtrates and isovaltrates; volatile oils
Action and uses:
-Sedative
-Mild hypnotic
The primary indications for valerian root and preparations derived from it as follows:
1.Nervous agitation
2.Nervous sleep disorders
3.Nervous heart complaints
4.Functional stomach disorders
5.Irritable bowel syndrome
The effects of valerian can be enhanced by combining it with other medicinal plants such as
Balm (Melissa officinalis) for nervous agitation,
Hop (Humulus lupulus) for nervous sleep disorders,
Lily-of-the-valley (Convallaria majalis) for nervous heart complaints.

4. Hops
Humulus lupulus
‫حشيشة‬‫الدينار‬
constituents:
- Resinous bitter principle, Humulones and Lupulones.
- Volatile oil 0.35-1 %, the mainly monoterpenes and sesquiterpenes
(-cayophellene, humulene, farnesene,  -myrecene)
-Flavonoid : rutin, kaempferol, quercetin.
Action and uses:
- Sedative
- Hypnotic
- Topical bactericide.
The primary indications
-Restlessness - Anxiety - Sleep disturbances
Hops are used in combination with valerian root for nervous sleeping
' disorders and conditions of unrest.

5. Passionflower, Passiflora,
Passiflora incarnata
‫األالم‬ ‫زهرة‬ ‫او‬ ‫االشجان‬ ‫عشب‬
Constituents:
Alkaloids (Indole-type): Harman (major), harmaline,
harmalol, harmine and harmol.
Flavonoids (not less than 1.5%): Vitexin, isovitexin and their
C-glycosides, apigenin, luteolin glycosides, kaempferol,
quercetin and rutin.
Action and uses:
-Sedative - Hypnotic -antispasmodic –analgesic
Passionflower is used in combination with valerian root and
lemon balm
Contraindication:
Pregnancy (stimulate uterine contraction)

6. Melissa leaf (Balm, lemon-balm) (Melissa officinalis)
‫الليمون‬ ‫ريحان‬ ‫ـ‬ ‫النحل‬ ‫حشيشة‬–‫الترنجان‬
‫مليسة‬‫مخزنية‬
Constituents:
1- Volatile oil (Citral, Citronellal, geraniol, nerol and linalool).
2- Phenolic acids: Rosmarinic and caffeic
3- Acidic triterpenes: Ursolic and oleanolic acids
Action and uses:
- Relieves flatulence and spasm - Gentle sedative
- Gentle tranquillizer helping sleep - Headaches & migraine
- Nervous stomach disorders
- Functional heart conditions
- Antiviral (externally for symptomatic treatment of herpes labialis)
-Neuralgia as spirits externally
Combination preparations of extracts of lemon balm, valerian and hops is more effective as
sedative. Cream containing 1% of a lyophilised aqueous extract applied on the affected area two
to four times daily in Herpes libialis.

7. Depression
The basic treatment strategy consists of prescribing antidepressants in combination with
psychotherapy or sociotherapy.
Hypericum, St John's wort
(Hypericum perforatum)
‫جونز‬ ‫سانت‬ ‫نبتة‬ ‫أو‬ ‫المثقوب‬ ‫العرن‬‫يحيى‬ ‫سيدي‬ ‫نبتة‬ ‫أو‬
Constituents:
Naphthodianthrones (hypericin and pseudohypericin); flavonoids, v. oil.
Action and uses:-
- Antiviral (cold sores, herpes genitalis, chicken pox, CMV and viral hepatitis)
- Antidepressant (mild antidepressant activity);
- Anti anxiety
- Sleep disorders
- Psychological symptoms of menopause.
- Vulnerary, antiseptic wound healing.
- Oil of hypericum
Internally (dyspepsia)
Externally (wounds, bruises, myalgia , burns)..

8. Mechanism of action
Inhibition of monoamine oxidase (MAO)
Interactions:
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors SSRI and MAO inhibitors, leading to excess serotonin
availability in the CNS.

9. Kava, Kava-Kava
(Piper methysticum)
‫الكافا‬ ‫جذور‬‫كافا‬
Constituents:
- lactones known as kava pyrones (kawain, dihydrokawain, methysticin, dihydromethysticin, and
yangonin).
Action and uses:
-Antidepressant
- Antianxiety and hypnotic
- Anticonvulsant
- Local anesthetic
- Antiarrhythmic
- Myorelaxant
- spasmolytic
As the dose increases, they exert increasing CNS depression and relaxation of the skeletal
muscles. Full consciousness is retained, even at lethal doses.

10. Mechanism of action:
- Kava lactones are responsible for its activities
Interactions:
Interactions with centrally active substances such as barbiturates, and
other psychotropic agents must also be taken into account.
Contraindication:
Kava is contraindicated during pregnancy and lactation and in suicidal
patients with endogenous depression.
Dosage: 600 mg kava extract.

11. Psychophysical exhaustion (Nervous exhaustion)
Ginseng (Panax ginseng)
Constituents:
Saponins (Ginsenosides), Flavonoids
volatile oil, peptides, proteins, and polysaccharides.
Action and uses:
- General tonic (Adaptogenic) (increases performance and improves general health, used as a
tonic for treatment of exhaustion, overexertion, neurasthenia, hypotension, general and nervous
debility, especially in old age, and mild depression)
- CNS stimulant (improves age-related depression and lack of concentration)
- Enhances memory
- Protects neurons against ischemic damage
- Antineoplastic actions
- Immunomodulator
- Antioxidant activity.
- Improves carbohydrate tolerance in diabetics
- Hepatoprotective
- Aphrodisiac actions. Dosage: 1-9 g.

12. Mate, Paraguay tea, Jesuit's Brazil tea
(Ilex paraguariensis)
‫بهشية‬‫براغوانية‬
Constituents:
- Xanthine alkaloids: Caffeine, theoine, theophylline.
- Flavonoids : kaempferol, quercetin, and their glycosides
- Tannins: 4-16% - Terpenoids - Vitamins.
Action and uses:
- CNS-stimulant (psychogenic headache and fatigue, nervous depression)
- Diuretic
- Antirheumatic
- Mild analgesic properties.
Warnings:
Restricted intake by hypertension or a cardiac disorder patients

13. Cola, Cola seed, Guru nut,
Kola nut (Cola spp.)
Constituents:
Xanthine alkaloids: Caffeine, theobromine; Tannins (catechins)
Betaine, fats, protein, red pigment and sugars.
Action and uses:
- CNS stimulant (migraine, atony, exhaustion) - Antidepressant
- Diuretic - Antidiarrheal properties.
- Cardioactive and coronary dilatator - Smooth muscle relaxant
Warnings:
Restricted intake by hypertension or a cardiac disorder patients.