Sleep Quality Improves During Treatment With Bryophyllum pinnatum

Abstract

Hypothesis. Cancer patients frequently suffer from poor sleep quality. Bryophyllum pinnatum is a herbal medication used in anthroposophic medicine, which has been shown to be associated with improvements in sleep quality during pregnancy with only few and minor or moderate side-effects reported. In this study, the sleep quality of cancer patients during treatment with B pinnatum was investigated. Study Design. In this prospective, observational study, cancer patients suffering from sleep problems were treated with B pinnatum (350 mg tablets, corresponding to 50% of leaf pressed juice [Weleda AG, Arlesheim, Switzerland], dosage at physician’s consideration, but most frequently 2 tablets with evening meal and 2 before going to bed). Methods. Sleep quality (Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index [PSQI]), daily sleepiness (Epworth Sleeping Scale [ESS]), and fatigue (Fatigue Severity Scale [FSS]) were assessed at the beginning of the treatment and after 3 weeks. Possible adverse drug reactions perceived by the patients during the treatment were recorded. From the 28 recruited patients, 20 completed both questionnaires and were considered in the present analysis. Data are expressed as mean ± standard deviation. Results. Patients were 61 ± 10.4 years old and the majority were female (17 out of 20). During treatment with B pinnatum, the PSQI decreased from 12.2 ± 3.62 to 9.1 ± 3.61 (P < .01), and ESS changed from 8.4 ± 3.18 to 7.1 ± 3.98 (P < .05). There was no change in FSS. The treatment was well tolerated by the majority of patients, with only 6 patients reporting discomfort that might have been caused by B pinnatum (fatigue n = 3, dry throat n = 1, agitation n = 1, difficult digestion n = 1). No serious adverse drug reactions were detected. Conclusion. B pinnatum may be a suitable treatment for sleep problems of cancer patients. Controlled, randomized clinical trials of the use of B pinnatum in sleep disorders are urgently needed.

The psychoactive effects of Bryophyllum pinnatum (Lam.) Oken leaves in young zebrafish

“…In humans, BP significantly improves the subjective quality of sleep and decreases the number of wake-ups and tiredness during the day [ 63 ]. Interestingly, in the present study, LABP decreased anxiety-like behavior the day after exposure during the sleep cycle in ZF larvae, which may be due to the improvement in sleep quality, an effect observed in cancer patients treated with BP [ 64 ]. Further studies should explore the mechanisms underlying the connection between LABP, anxiety, and sleep quality.…”

A Bufadienolide-Enriched Fraction of Bryophyllum pinnatum Inhibits Human Myometrial Contractility In Vitro

“…Therefore, our data suggest that FEF and BEF contain compounds that contribute to the inhibitory effect of BJP ( Fig. 6 ), the starting material for the 50% B. pinnatum tablets that have been used in several prospective clinical studies 6 , 8 , 11 , 12 . These B. pinnatum press juice tablets are taken orally, and the intestinal metabolisation of compounds thus needs to be considered.…”

“…A recent assessment of the internal treatment recommendations in the main Swiss obstetrics centres revealed that B. pinnatum preparations are suggested for the treatment of preterm contractions, as well as anxiety, restlessness, and sleep disorders 7 . Several clinical studies documented a very good tolerability of B. pinnatum preparations when used for these indications 3 , 4 , 6 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 . Moreover, pharmacovigilance data for the Bryophyllum preparation used in Switzerland ( B. pinnatum 50% tablets) and for a comparable preparation in use in Germany and France ( B. pinnatum 50% powder) corroborate the very good tolerability (Weleda AG, pharmacovigilance data).…”

Die Anwendung von <b><i>Bryophyllum pinnatum</i></b>-Präparaten in der Geburtshilfe und Gynäkologie - eine multizentrische prospektive Beobachtungsstudie

“…Die Ergebnisse dieser Erhebung bekräftigen damit die Resultate der vorangehenden Beobachtungsstudien mit Schwangeren bzw. mit Krebspatienten, bei denen die Behandlung mit B. pinnatum ebenfalls eine Verbesserung der Schlafqualität unter anderem durch eine Abnahme der Anzahl an Aufwachphasen gezeigt hat [15,16]. Die sedative Wirkung von B. pinnatum muss vor allem in Bezug auf den Wirkungsmechanismus weiter untersucht werden.…”

“…Gestützt auf Erfahrungen und die EvaMed-Daten wurde anschließend die sedative Wirkung von B. pinnatum genauer untersucht. In 2 kürzlich durchgeführten prospektiven Beobachtungsstudien zeigte B. pinnatum tatsächlich eine Verbesserung der Schlafqualität [15,16]. …”