Lemon Verbena Shown to Help Anxiety and Sleep Quality

by | Mar 22, 2022 | 2022, Botanicals, Brain Health, Sleep, Stress

Written by Jessica Patella, ND. Data from the study supports lemon verbena leaf extract for improvement in markers of stress and quality of sleep. 

lemon verbena leavesAnxiety disorders are the most common mental illness in the United States, affecting about 18% of the population each year 1.  There are also an estimated 50-70 million US adults who have difficulty sleeping 2.  Anxiety can lead to insomnia along with depression and cardiovascular disease 3,4.  While there are many drugs to treat both disorders, due to cost and side effects, there is interest in an herbal approach 3.  Recent research has found that lemon verbena can promote sleep and alleviate anxiety in mice 5.  Therefore, researchers wanted to conduct the first clinical study in humans with lemon verbena 3.

A total of 40 participants (average age 38.7 +/- 11.5 years) were included in the study.  All participants had to have at least a moderate level of stress (perceived stress scale (PSS) greater than 15) and poor sleep quality (Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI) greater than 5).  Participants were then divided into a placebo group (n=20) and the Lemon verbena group (n=20).  Participants in the Lemon verbena group supplemented with lemon verbena extract (L. citriodora 400 mg, 28% polyphenols) once per day, 1-2 hours before sleeping.  The supplementation lasted 2 months, followed by a one-month washout period.  Participants also wore a FitBit Sleep Tracker wristband for an additional measure of sleep quality 3.

The results after 2 months of supplementation and a 1-month washout period were as follows:

  • After 2 months, a significant improvement in the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) was detected compared to baseline in the supplement group ( decreased by 10.7%, p<0.05), and the improvement continued into the washout period compared to baseline (decreased by 20.5%, p<0.05)
  • The stress hormone cortisol decreased by 15.7% in the supplement group after 2 months of supplementation (p<0.01).
  • Perceived sleep quality index decreased by 12.2% (p<0.05) after 2 months in the supplement group compared to baseline and continued to a decrease of 25.9% after the washout period (a decrease indicates an improvement in sleep quality).
  • The supplement group also observed a reduction in the number of times awakened during the night, as well as an increase in the amount of deep sleep and an increase in REM sleep compared to baseline (p<0.05)
  • There were no significant changes in the placebo group.

In conclusion, this data supports lemon verbena leaf extract for improvement in markers of stress and quality of sleep.  One study limitation is that consumer activity tracking devices, such as Fitbit, may have limited accuracy in measuring sleep. Future research in a larger population is warranted, along with a look at possible mechanisms of actions 3.

Source: Martínez-Rodríguez, Alejandro, María Martínez-Olcina, Juan Mora, Pau Navarro, Nuria Caturla, and Jonathan Jones. “Anxiolytic Effect and Improved Sleep Quality in Individuals Taking Lippia citriodora Extract.” Nutrients 14, no. 1 (2022): 218.

© 2022 by the authors. Li‐ censee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and con‐ ditions of the Creative Commons At‐ tribution (CC BY) license (https://cre‐ ativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).

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Posted March 22, 2022.

Jessica Patella, ND, is a naturopathic physician specializing in nutrition and homeopathic medicine and offers a holistic approach to health. She earned her ND from Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine in Tempe, AZ, and is a member of the North Carolina Association of Naturopathic Physicians. Visit her website at www.awarenesswellness.com

References:

  1. America ADAo. Understanding anxiety, facts and statistics. Accessed 2/28/22, 2022. https://adaa.org/understanding-anxiety/facts-statistics
  2. Association AS. Sleep and Sleep Disorder Statistics. Accessed 2/28/22, 2022. https://www.sleepfoundation.org/how-sleep-works/sleep-facts-statistics
  3. Martínez-Rodríguez A, Martínez-Olcina M, Mora J, Navarro P, Caturla N, Jones J. Anxiolytic Effect and Improved Sleep Quality in Individuals Taking Lippia citriodora Extract. Nutrients. Jan 4 2022;14(1)doi:10.3390/nu14010218
  4. Regier DA, Rae DS, Narrow WE, Kaelber CT, Schatzberg AF. Prevalence of anxiety disorders and their comorbidity with mood and addictive disorders. Br J Psychiatry Suppl. 1998;(34):24-8.
  5. Razavi BM, Zargarani N, Hosseinzadeh H. Anti-anxiety and hypnotic effects of ethanolic and aqueous extracts of Lippia citriodora leaves and verbascoside in mice. Avicenna J Phytomed. Jul-Aug 2017;7(4):353-365.