Sleep apnea disturbs the sleep of millions of Americans, include 10 percent of people over age 65, the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute reports. Sleep apnea can leave you excessively tired during the day and can also worsen some health conditions due to lack of oxygen and stress on the heart. Conventional treatment for sleep apnea consists of wearing a mask that forces air into your lungs at regular intervals. Herbal treatments of sleep apnea have not been well studied, according to MayoClinic.com. Do not take herbs to treat sleep apnea without your doctor's approval.
Causes
Sleep apnea occurs when your airway becomes temporarily blocked while you sleep, often because of a collapsed airway. This type of sleep apnea is also called obstructive sleep apnea, or OSA. Obesity often causes OSA. A less common type of sleep apnea is caused by the brain "forgetting" to take a breath. In both types, a lack of oxygen triggers a gasp and deep breath. Sleep apnea disturbs sleep, even though the person may not remember waking up many times in the night. Episodes of sleep apnea can occur hundreds of time during the night. Each episode can last from a few seconds to a minute or so, the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute states.
Types Herbal Treatments
Herbal practitioners may recommend toning the uvula and throat plus keeping the throat hydrated to treat sleep apnea. Homeopathic practitioners may recommend herbs used for nasal obstruction, such as sambucus, as well as herbs that help people who have difficulty falling asleep. None of these treatments have proven benefit in treating OSA or central sleep apnea.
Studies
A case report of a patient whose sleep apnea improved when taking a Japanese herbal treatment called San'o-shashin-to, which consists of three herbs , scutellariae radix, coptidis rhizoma and rhei rhizome was published in the April 1999 issue of "Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences." Researchers from the Toyama Medical and Pharmaceutical University reported that sleep apnea episodes decreased from 11.1 to 4.1 events per hour. Researchers surmised that the formula had an effect on upper airway resistance.
Risks
Sleep apnea can cause serious health problems, including an increased risk of heart attack, irregular heartbeat or drops in blood pressure during episodes. Chronic OSA can double or triple your risk of having high blood pressure, MayoClinic.com warns. If you use a machine and mask to keep your airway open at night and to improve oxygen flow to your lungs, do not stop using your equipment to try herbal medications. If you want to try herbs, use them as an adjunct to conventional treatment and take them only with your doctor's permission.
References
- University of Maryland Medical Center; Sleep Apnea; Steven Ehrlich; March 2010
- "Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences;" Treatment of Obstructive Sleep Apnea syndrome with a Kampo-Formula, San'o-shashin-to: a Case Report; A. Hisanaga, et al.; April 1999
- Mary's Herbs; Sleep Apnea; Mary L. Reed , N.D.
- MayoClinic.com; Sleep Apnea; June 2009
- National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute: What is Sleep Apnea?
