twitter

Wednesday 30 September 2015

Effect of acupressure with valerian oil 2.5% on the quality and quantity of sleep in patients with acute coronary syndrome in a cardiac intensive care unit

Open Access
Original article

Effect of acupressure with valerian oil 2.5% on the quality and quantity of sleep in patients with acute coronary syndrome in a cardiac intensive care unit

Open Access funded by Center for Food and Biomolecules, National Taiwan University
Under a Creative Commons license

Abstract

The purpose of this three-group double-blind clinical trial study was to investigate the effect of acupressure (指壓 zhǐ yā) with valerian (纈草 xié cǎo) oil 2.5% on the quality and quantity of sleep in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) in a coronary intensive care unit (CCU). This study was conducted on 90 patients with ACS in Mazandaran Heart Center (Sari, Iran) during 2013. The patients were randomly assigned to one of three groups. Patients in the acupressure with valerian oil 2.5% group (i.e., valerian acupressure group) received bilateral acupoint (穴位 xué wèi) massage with two drops of valerian oil for 2 minutes for three nights; including every point this treatment lasted in total 18 minutes. Patients in the acupressure group received massage at the same points with the same technique but without valerian oil. Patients in the control group received massage at points that were 1–1.5 cm from the main points using the same technique and for the same length of time. The quality and quantity of the patients' sleep was measured by the St. Mary's Hospital Sleep Questionnaire (SMHSQ). After the intervention, there was a significant difference between sleep quality and sleep quantity in the patients in the valerian acupressure group and the acupressure group, compared to the control group (p < 0.05). Patients that received acupressure with valerian oil experienced improved sleep quality; however, this difference was not statistically significant in comparison to the acupressure only group. Acupressure at the ear spirit gate (神門 shén mén), hand Shenmen, glabella (印堂 yìn táng), Wind Pool (風池 fēng chí), and Gushing Spring (湧泉 yǒng quán) acupoints can have therapeutic effects and may improve the quality and quantity of sleep in patients with ACS. Using these techniques in combination with herbal medicines such valerian oil can have a greater impact on improving sleep and reducing waking during the night.

Graphical abstract

CCU = coronary intensive care unit.

Keywords

  • acupressure;
  • acute coronary syndrome;
  • cardiac intensive care unit;
  • sleep quality;
  • sleep quantity;
  • valerian oil

1. Introduction

Cardiovascular diseases are among the most common diseases in human societies and the number of these patients has increased in recent decades.1 In 2008, coronary artery disease caused one of every six deaths in America. On average, one American experiences cardiac events every 25 minutes, and one person dies every 1 minute.2 The emergence of cardiovascular diseases, especially coronary diseases, is widely increasing in China, India, Pakistan, the East Mediterranean region, and the Middle East; it is an important health and social problem.3, 4, 5 and 6 Every year, approximately 3.6 million people are hospitalized in hospitals under the Ministry of Health and Medical Education and Treatment of Iran. A remarkable number of these patients have heart disease, especially patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS), which includes acute myocardial infarction and unstable angina.7 Most sleep problems encountered by patients are because of their hospitalization.8 Many patients who are hospitalized in a coronary intensive care unit (CCU) experience reduced quality and quantity of sleep with regard to mental and environmental factors.9, 10, 11, 12 and 13 Even if environmental factors are controlled, patients with acute myocardial infarction have an altered sleep structure (i.e., sleep pattern) that can result from physiologic inflammatory changes or from the nature of the myocardial infarction itself.14
Approximately 56% of the patients are sleep-deprived at the end of the 1st day of hospitalization. Based on other studies, ACS patients have low sleep quality during the first 3 days of their hospitalization.15 and 16 Comfortable sleep is difficult for patients hospitalized in intensive care units because of constant monitoring, lighting on the unit, noise due to the staff caring for other patients, mechanical ventilation, frequent awakening by the nurses, the use of sedating and inotrope drugs, disease severity, and the staff awakening patients early in the morning in these units even though the patients need more sleep.9 Hospitalization can remarkably disturb the sleeping model.17
Sleep is a primary need of human beings. It is necessary for maintaining energy, appearance, and physical well-being. Sleep has an important role in cardiovascular function. Its deprivation intensifies anxiety, irritability, and anger, and increases the heart rhythm and myocardial oxygen demand in a frequent and dangerous cycle.18 and 19 Insomnia can be treated by drugs, herbal medicine, psychotherapy, and physiological treatments.20 The most common way to treat or cope with sleeping problems is by using drugs. Based on research studies,11 there is no significant difference in sleep quality and quality of the patients who use these drugs and patients who do not use them. The effectiveness of drugless therapies is slower than the effectiveness of sleep aids; however, drugless therapies are more permanent and do not have the side effects of drugs such as memory deficits, drug resistance, drug dependency, and drug addiction.
Insomnia can be treated by medication, herbal therapy, and psychological or physical therapy.20 Acupressure (指壓 zhǐ yā) can enhance comfort and sleep through massaging and stimulating certain points in the head, hands, and back.21 Individuals can use this treatment method by themselves or with the help of other family members.22
A traditional way of treating insomnia is by using valerian herb (纈草 xié cǎo) self grown in nature plant. It is one of many plants used to treat insomnia.23 The effect of valerian is similar to that of the benzodiazepines (e.g., its effect is comparable with that of 10 mg oxazepam24); however, the adverse effects of valerian are fewer. When the human body absorbs valerian, gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptor activity increases.25 The result of a review article concluded that valerian could improve sleep quality with minimal or no adverse effect.26
Based on available data, an article concerning the effectiveness of acupressure with valerian oil on the quality and quantity of sleep in patients with ACS has not been previously published. Because of the high prevalence of insomnia in intensive care units and because of the effect that acupressure has as a noninvasive and complementary method in treating sleep disorders, the present study aimed to examine the effect of acupressure with valerian oil on sleep quality and quantity in patients hospitalized in a CCU, and thus improve sleep quality, health, and life quality and satisfaction in patients with ACS.