Restless sleep

Caffeine is considered by pharmacologists to be a mild stimulant of the central nervous system. It has been shown to promote feelings of well being and increased abiUty to perform certain mental tasks efficiently. There are people who are oversensitive to the effects of caffeine overindulgence by these individuals, eg, intake of more than 600 mg caffeine/d, can bring unwanted effects such as anxiety, restlessness, sleeping difficulties, headache, or palpitations of the heart (54). 

Valerian Valeriana officinalis Restlessness, sleep disorders Rare if used as directed. May interact with the barbiturates (eg, phenobarbital), the benzodiazepines (eg, diazepam) and the opiates, (eg, morphine). 

Lacrimation Restless sleep Increased severity of earlier symptoms... 

Sedatives and hypnotics as a group, and BZDs in particular, are frequently implicated in drug-related hospital admissions in the elderly ( 333, 334). This group is at particular risk for abrupt drug discontinuation when hospitalized, with resulting withdrawal symptoms that may be unrecognized as such and attributed to other health problems (313, 335, 336 and 337). BZD hypnotics should not be routinely prescribed in the hospital unless the patient has a demonstrated sleep disorder ( 338). Even then, reassurance that restless sleep is normal in such a situation may obviate the need for a hypnotic ( 330). 

Suan Zao Ren is sweet and sour, and primarily enters the Liver meridian. It can tonify the Liver-blood and improve sleep, and is used to treat restless sleep and dream-disturbed sleep when the heat disturbs the soul. 

If the Heart-Qi is too weak to support the Heart-shen, patients may suffer from anxiety, restlessness, restless sleep and waking up frequently during the night, and may have a weak and restless pulse. 

The Liver houses the Hun (soul), which is active in sleep. If the Liver-blood is deficient, restless sleep and dream-disturbed sleep often exist. 

Suan Zao Ren is sweet, sour and neutral, and enters the Liver, Gall Bladder and Heart meridians. Since sweet and sour may generate the Yin and stabilize the body fluids, it is also able to nourish the Liver blood. It is a perfect herb to calm the mind and improve sleep. It is often selected in the formula to treat anxiety, sweating, restless sleep and dream-disturbed sleep due to Liver-blood deficiency. 

This formula is devised to treat cramp of the muscles and tendons, tingling of the limbs, restless sleep, an uneasy feeling of the body and brittle nails. The cause of this disorder is Liver-blood that is too weak to nourish the tendons and muscles. 

Furthermore, Suan Zao Ren and Bai Shao Yao can calm the mind and improve sleep, and are also effective in treating restless sleep and an uneasy feeling of the body during sleep due to Liver-blood deficiency. 

When the blood is unable to house the Heart-shen, palpitations, anxiety, restless sleep, poor memory, inability to concentrate and insomnia may exist. 

Gou Teng is sweet and slightly cold, and enters the Liver meridian. It can clear the Liver-heat, calm the Liver and is particularly suitable for use in conditions where excess heat injures the Liver-Yin. The main symptoms are fever, convulsions, irritability and restless sleep. 

Fu Ling can also tonify the Heart-Qi and is therefore used for calming the mind. It is particularly useful for children with mild Heart-Qi and Spleen-Qi deficiency who suffer from restless sleep due to food accumulation. 

Fu Shen is sweet and neutral, and enters the Heart and Spleen meridians. It has the function of tonifying the Spleen-Qi and Heart-Qi and can calm the mind. It treats palpitations, forgetfulness, restless sleep and early waking. Its function is gentle but sufficient for a mild or moderate case. 

Wu Wei Zi is sour and warm, and enters the Heart meridian. It can stabilize the Qi and Yin of the Heart and therefore calm the mind. Because it can strongly enhance the ability of the herbs that tonify the Qi and Yin of the Heart, it is often used as a helping assistant in the formula to treat anxiety, palpitations, restlessness and sweating. However, as this function can cause restless sleep or difficulty falling asleep in some patients, it is better to use it several hours before sleep. 

Unconditioned workers may complain of fatigue, some muscular weakness, and burning, itching or crawling skin there may be complaints of headache and some nausea Unconditioned workers may complain of fatigue of short duration and a few may suffer restless sleep... 

Grade 1 Restless, sleep disturbed, irritable/agitated, tremor, impaired handvrriting, 5-cps lA aves on EEG... 

Leathwood et al. conducted a double-blind crossover smdy with 128 volunteers and concluded that, compared with placebo, valerian significantly improved subjective sleep quality in habitually poor or irregular sleepers. However, placebo effects were marked in some studies, and in some cases beneficial effects of valerian were not seen until after 2-A weeks of therapy. The adverse effects of valerian include gastrointestinal upset, allergies, restless sleep, headache and mydriasis. Valerian overdoses have the major effect of central nervous system depression. ... 

The side-effects of levothyroxine increase with the dose and resemble those of hyperthyroidism (tachycardia, cardiac arrhythmias, trembling, nervousness, restlessness, sleeping disorders, diarrhea, heat intolerance, hair and weight loss). Allergies may rarely occur and are due to other substances in the formulation rather than the natural hormone. 

Traditional Medicine. Used in amenorrhea, dysmenorrhea, hysteria, restless sleep, and as analeptic and nervine, among others. 

Regulatory Status. GRAS with both hops and lupulin hsted ( 182.20). The strobiles are the subject of a German therapeutic monograph, with use approved for mood disturbance (unrest, anxiety) and sleep disturbances. The proposed ESCOP monograph indicated usage for nervous tension, excitability, restlessness, sleep disturbances, and lack of appetite (escop 2). 

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