Almost 90 million adult Americans snore, with 37 million of them snoring on a regular basis, reports the National Sleep Foundation, or NSA. Snoring most often affects overweight males, but males and females are both susceptible to snoring disorders. If you snore -- or sleep with someone who snores -- you may suffer from adverse health affects, indicates the NSA. Herbal treatments should be discussed with your doctor, as some may interact negatively with medications or may not be appropriate for your particular condition.
Causes
Throat muscles relax as you sleep and your tongue naturally moves to the back of your throat. The result is a vibration that is heard when you inhale and exhale. Typically, the vibration is louder when you inhale. Some common reasons you may be snoring are age, nasal polyps, being overweight, using alcohol or muscle relaxants, sleep position, nose and throat abnormalities, or nasal congestion.
Treatment
Andrew J.N. Prichard of the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital in the United Kingdom conducted a study, published in 2004 in the journal "Phytotherapy Research," using a herbal mixture on 140 test subjects. The patients were given either the herbal mixture in a gargle or a spray for the mouth, or given a placebo. Over a 14-day period, subjects used their mixtures, and their partners were asked to record their snoring activity. Eighty-two percent of the patients using the herbal mixture as a spray reported a decrease in snoring activity. Seventy-one percent of those who used the gargle herbal mixture also reported decreased snoring activity. The herbal mixture was composed of corn mint, peppermint, lemon, lemon balm, clove oil, pine oil, fennel, sage, thyme, common thyme, citronella, eucalyptus, lavender, mastic and Scotch pine.
Function
The 2004 study results suggest that the herbal mixture appeared to reduce the irritation caused by snoring to the test subjects' bed partners. These oils have anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial and antiviral properties, and also appear to reduce stress and emotional excitability.
Warnings
Other medical issues may be associated with your snoring problem. One medical issue, sleep apnea, happens when you stop breathing for a certain amount of time during your sleep. If you or your partner do not get a good night's rest, you are also at risk for daytime dysfunction that can impair your ability to operate motor vehicles, indicates MayoClinic.com.
Warning
You may experience side effects from using certain herbs. Peppermint, for example, is known to cause skin irritation and allergic reactions. It may also interact with other medications you take and interfere with their effectiveness. Fennel also causes allergic reactions for some people, and is known to promote menstruation.
Eucalyptus is known to have convulsive properties, and may increase the risk of seizure. The Personal Health Zone, an informational site on herbal safety, reports that if ingested, eucalyptus can be toxic: it may cause allergic reactions, drowsiness, nausea and unconsciousness. It is not recommended for children.
