Insomnia

    Written by:
    Marina Shkayeva

    Fact-checked

    by:

    Morgan Pfiffner
    Last Updated: October 13, 2024

    Insomnia is a common sleep condition which involves trouble falling asleep, staying asleep, or both. The resulting insufficient or poor-quality sleep can lead to worsened quality of life and functional impairments.

    38 references on this page
    17,972 participants in 21 trials and 10 meta-analyses

    Overview

    Examine Database: Insomnia

    Melatonin
    Valerian
    Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
    Lavender
    Magnesium
    Ashwagandha
    Cannabis
    Binaural Beats
    Lemon Balm
    Light Therapy
    Passionflower
    Sleep Hygiene Training
    The interventions below have no primary outcomes
    Ginkgo Biloba
    Kava
    Probiotics
    Progressive Muscle Relaxation
    Traditional Chinese Medicine

    Research FeedRead all studies

    Frequently asked questions

    Examine Database References

    1. Insomnia Signs and Symptoms - Taavoni S, Ekbatani N, Kashaniyan M, Haghani HEffect of valerian on sleep quality in postmenopausal women: a randomized placebo-controlled clinical trialMenopause.(2011 Sep)
    2. Sleep Quality - Bent S, Padula A, Moore D, Patterson M, Mehling WValerian for sleep: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Am J Med.(2006-Dec)
    3. Sleep Quality - Fernández-San-Martín MI, Masa-Font R, Palacios-Soler L, Sancho-Gómez P, Calbó-Caldentey C, Flores-Mateo GEffectiveness of Valerian on insomnia: a meta-analysis of randomized placebo-controlled trialsSleep Med.(2010 Jun)
    4. Sleep Quality - Leathwood PD, Chauffard FAqueous extract of valerian reduces latency to fall asleep in manPlanta Med.(1985 Apr)
    5. Insomnia Signs and Symptoms - Lemoine P, Nir T, Laudon M, Zisapel NProlonged-release melatonin improves sleep quality and morning alertness in insomnia patients aged 55 years and older and has no withdrawal effectsJ Sleep Res.(2007 Dec)
    6. Insomnia Signs and Symptoms - Luthringer R, Muzet M, Zisapel N, Staner LThe effect of prolonged-release melatonin on sleep measures and psychomotor performance in elderly patients with insomniaInt Clin Psychopharmacol.(2009 Sep)
    7. Insomnia Signs and Symptoms - van Geijlswijk IM, Mol RH, Egberts TC, Smits MGEvaluation of sleep, puberty and mental health in children with long-term melatonin treatment for chronic idiopathic childhood sleep onset insomniaPsychopharmacology (Berl).(2011 Jul)
    8. Insomnia Signs and Symptoms - Motlaq TM, Rahimi B, Amini SEffect of melatonin on insomnia and daytime sleepiness, in patients with obstructive sleep apnea and insomnia (COMISA): A randomized double-blinded placebo-controlled trial.J Pharm Health Care Sci.(2024 May 30)
    9. Insomnia Signs and Symptoms - George T Lewith, Anthony Dean Godfrey, Philip PrescottA single-blinded, randomized pilot study evaluating the aroma of Lavandula augustifolia as a treatment for mild insomniaJ Altern Complement Med.(2005 Aug)
    10. Sleep Quality - Inn-Sook Lee, Gyung-Joo Lee[Effects of lavender aromatherapy on insomnia and depression in women college students]Taehan Kanho Hakhoe Chi.(2006 Feb)
    11. Sleep Quality - Li-Wei Chien, Su Li Cheng, and Chi Feng LiuThe Effect of Lavender Aromatherapy on Autonomic Nervous System in Midlife Women with InsomniaEvidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine.()
    12. Insomnia Signs and Symptoms - Jasmine Mah, Tyler PitreOral magnesium supplementation for insomnia in older adults: a Systematic Review & Meta-AnalysisBMC Complement Med Ther.(2021 Apr 17)
    13. Insomnia Signs and Symptoms - Behnood Abbasi, Masud Kimiagar, Khosro Sadeghniiat, Minoo M Shirazi, Mehdi Hedayati, Bahram RashidkhaniThe effect of magnesium supplementation on primary insomnia in elderly: A double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trialJ Res Med Sci.(2012 Dec)
    14. Insomnia Signs and Symptoms - Hornyak M, Voderholzer U, Hohagen F, Berger M, Riemann DMagnesium therapy for periodic leg movements-related insomnia and restless legs syndrome: an open pilot study.Sleep.(1998-Aug-01)
    15. Insomnia Signs and Symptoms - Feng S, Dai B, Li H, Fu H, Zhou YEfficacy of cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia in the perinatal period: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.Sleep Biol Rhythms.(2024 Apr)
    16. Insomnia Signs and Symptoms - Malarkey ME, Fu AJ, Mannan N, Shaw OM, Haight TJ, Cota MR, Jahed NC, Werner JK, Brody DLInternet-Guided Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia Among Patients With Traumatic Brain Injury: A Randomized Clinical Trial.JAMA Netw Open.(2024 Jul 1)
    17. Insomnia Signs and Symptoms - Mei Z, Cai C, Luo S, Zhang Y, Lam C, Luo SThe efficacy of cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia in adolescents: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.Front Public Health.(2024)
    18. Insomnia Signs and Symptoms - Di Pierro F, Sisti D, Rocchi M, Belli A, Bertuccioli A, Cazzaniga M, Palazzi CM, Tanda ML, Zerbinati NEffects of Melissa officinalis Phytosome on Sleep Quality: Results of a Prospective, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, and Cross-Over Study.Nutrients.(2024 Dec 4)
    19. Insomnia Signs and Symptoms - Wang Y, Zhao X, Ren J, Xue S, Liu Y, Zhang L, Fan M, Su C, Cheng JXThe effect of light therapy on insomnia: A systematic review and meta-analysis.Sleep Breath.(2024 Dec 29)
    20. Insomnia Signs and Symptoms - Ruan JY, Liu Q, Chung KF, Ho KY, Yeung WFEffects of sleep hygiene education for insomnia: A systematic review and meta-analysis.Sleep Med Rev.(2025 Aug)
    21. Sleep Quality - Kae Ling Cheah, Mohd Noor Norhayati, Lili Husniati Yaacob, Razlina Abdul RahmanEffect of Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) extract on sleep: A systematic review and meta-analysisPLoS One.(2021 Sep 24)
    22. Sleep Quality - Langade D, Kanchi S, Salve J, Debnath K, Ambegaokar DEfficacy and Safety of Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) Root Extract in Insomnia and Anxiety: A Double-blind, Randomized, Placebo-controlled StudyCureus.(2019 Sep 28)
    23. Sleep Quality - Hemmeter U, Annen B, Bischof R, Brüderlin U, Hatzinger M, Rose U, Holsboer-Trachsler EPolysomnographic effects of adjuvant ginkgo biloba therapy in patients with major depression medicated with trimipraminePharmacopsychiatry.(2001 Mar)
    24. Sleep Quality - D E Shumov, I A Yakovenko, N N Alipov, Z V Bakaeva, E B Yakunina, A N Minyuk, A V Vinokurov, V B Dorokhov[The effect of music containing binaural beats on daytime fall-asleep dynamics]Zh Nevrol Psikhiatr Im S S Korsakova.(2020)
    25. Sleep Quality - David J Rog, Turo J Nurmikko, Tim Friede, Carolyn A YoungRandomized, controlled trial of cannabis-based medicine in central pain in multiple sclerosisNeurology.(2005 Sep 27)
    26. Sleep Quality - Mark A Ware, Tongtong Wang, Stan Shapiro, Ann Robinson, Thierry Ducruet, Thao Huynh, Ann Gamsa, Gary J Bennett, Jean-Paul ColletSmoked cannabis for chronic neuropathic pain: a randomized controlled trialCMAJ.(2010 Oct 5)
    27. Sleep Quality - .(2024-05-30)
    28. Sleep Quality - Kwon CY, Lee B, Lee JYEffectiveness and safety of East Asian herbal medicine for menopausal insomnia: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Front Pharmacol.(2024 Aug 8)
    29. Sleep Quality - Sucu C, Çitil ETThe effect of progressive muscle relaxation exercises on postmenopausal sleep quality and fatigue: a single-blind randomized controlled study.Menopause.(2024 Aug 1)
    30. Anxiety Symptoms - Zhang W, Yan Y, Wu Y, Yang H, Zhu P, Yan F, Zhao R, Tian P, Wang T, Fan Q, Su ZMedicinal herbs for the treatment of anxiety: A systematic review and network meta-analysis.Pharmacol Res.(2022-May)
    31. Anxiety Symptoms - Lee J, Jung HY, Lee SI, Choi JH, Kim SGEffects of Passiflora incarnata Linnaeus on polysomnographic sleep parameters in subjects with insomnia disorder: a double-blind randomized placebo-controlled study.Int Clin Psychopharmacol.(2020-Jan)
    Insomnia: Symptoms, causes, treatments, and your questions answered.