Hyperactivity, concentration difficulties and impulsiveness improve during seven weeks’ treatment with valerian root and lemon balm extracts in primary school children
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Open Access
Abstract
Background
Valerian
root and lemon balm extracts have previously shown efficacy and
excellent tolerability in children < 12 years suffering from
restlessness and insomnia. We now examined whether treatment with a
fixed combination of both may also improve concentration, hyperactivity
and impulsiveness.
Methods
169
primary school children suffering from hyperactivity and concentration
difficulties but not meeting ADHS criteria were treated in an
observational study by 27 office based pediatricians with a recommended
daily dose of 640 mg valerian root extract WS® 1014 and 320 mg lemon balm extract WS® 1303 (Sandrin®), and evaluated by pediatricians and parents using standardized questionnaires at baseline, weeks 2 and 7.
Results
The
fraction of children having strong/very strong symptoms of poor ability
to focus decreased from 75% to 14%, hyperactivity from 61% to 13%, and
impulsiveness from 59% to 22%. Parent rated social behavior, sleep and
symptom burden showed highly significant improvements. Only in two
children mild transient adverse drug reactions were observed.
Conclusion
In primary school children with restlessness, concentration difficulties and impulsiveness treatment with WS® 1014 and WS® 1303 (Sandrin®) provides a viable option in addition to counseling and education.
Keywords
- Concentration deficit;
- Hyperactivity;
- Primary school children;
- Valerian-lemon balm-extract;
- Valeriana;
- Melissa
Introduction
Attention deficits, hyperactivity and impulsiveness in children cause problems in families, school and other social relations (Storebø et al., 2011). In Germany, up to 700,000 children are affected by ADS/ADHS (Saß et al., 2003)
and even more suffer from single symptoms or symptom combinations of
milder or fluctuating intensity not fulfilling the criteria for ADHS
diagnosis according to DSM-IV or ICD-10. Consequently, prescription
drugs are not indicated, but parents suffer so much from this burden
that they ask for medical help (Gebhardt et al., 2008). Moreover, subthreshold juvenile ADHS is a risk factor for addiction disorders and impaired social interactions in adults (Shankman et al., 2009).
Herbal medicines are frequently administered to children because they are excellently tolerated and well accepted by parents (Kraft, 2008 and Larzelere et al., 2010). Valerian (Valeriana officinalis L.) has been shown to improve sleep disturbances in adults ( Fernández-San-Martín et al., 2010 and HMPC, 2007) and in children ( Francis and Dempster, 2002)
when used as a monotherapy or in combination with other herbal
remedies. It has also been suggested as medication for treatment of
respiratory and cardiovascular disease ( Circosta et al., 2007): Lemon balm (Melissa officinalis L.) promotes relaxation and helps to get to sleep, and in addition improves attention in young adults ( Kennedy et al., 2002).
A combination of valerian and lemon balm extracts improved sleep
disturbances to a similar extent as did benzodiazepines but without
having their sedative side effects ( Cerny and Schmid, 1999 and Dreßing et al., 1996).
An observational study in 900 children reported good results in the
treatment of restlessness and sleep disturbances for this combination ( Müller and Klement, 2006).
We
therefore investigated the effects of a highly dosed preparation
containing valerian and lemon balm on a wide range of symptoms and
everyday life situation of children with hyperactivity, attention and
concentration deficits but not fulfilling criteria for ADHS diagnosis in
a routine office-based pediatric setting.
