A Comparative Clinical Trial of Rose Petal (Gul Gulaab), Rose Hydrosol Diluted (Arq Gulaab), and Rose Hydrosol (Ruh Gulaab) in Insomnia.

摘要

Insomnia or lack of sleep is a sleeping disorder that is taking the form of an epidemic worldwide with competitive life replacing the traditional lifestyles. Therefore a lot is in turmoil including sleep. The National Sleep Foundation estimates 47 million American adults to be at risk of injury and physical and emotional difficulty because they do not get enough sleep. Presently no specific treatment is available for this ailment. The sleeping pills and other sedatives available in the market cause psychological and physical dependence besides they are also reported to cause some memory and conginitive disturbances. As such a study was conducted to evaluate the response of gul gulaab (powdered rose petals), arq gulaab (rose distillate diluted) and ruh gulaab (rose distillate) given through oral route in 36 cases.The present article deals with the response of these patients to the three different types of rose mediated medications. Introduction Insomnia refers to an inability to sleep or to remain asleep for an adequate length of time. Chronic insomnia is highly prevalent and affects approximately 30% of the general population. Insomnia impairs cognitive and physical functioning. It is associated with a wide range of impaired daytime functions covering emotional, social, and physical domains. Insomniacs are more prone to accidents; insomnia adversely affects work attendance, job performance, quality of life and health in general. Elderly female, comorbid medical and psychiatric conditions are its predisposing factors. It is estimated that 40% of all insomnia patients have a coexisting psychiatric condition 1, 2 . Among the psychiatric disorders, depression is the most common, and insomnia happens to be a diagnostic symptom for depressive and anxiety disorders 3 . Recent research suggests that insomnia and depression share common pathological processes that make individuals vulnerable to both conditions—specifically, abnormal regulation of CRF. On average women are 1.4 times more prone to the disease than men. Insomnia is of various types - transiet, acute and chronic. Transient insomnia lasts for a couple of days to weeks. It is usually due to changes in sleep environment, sleep timings or stress etc. It can lead to sleep deprivation and impaired psychomotor performance. Acute insomnia is the inability to sleep properly from three weeks to six months. Whereas; chronic insomnia may even last for years. It can be both primary and secondary to other disorders. The symptoms depend upon the primary disorder, but usually the patient present with sleepiness, muscular fatigue, hallucinations, diplopia and increased mental alertness 4-8, 9 .The present drugs available over the counter provide short time relief with immense side effects. Alternate therapy in this regard is better accepted because of its sustained relief and no adverse effects.Unani system of medicine is a part of alternate medicine. It was proposed by Galen 2000 years BC. According to Unani physicians Rose (Rosa damascena) has sedative and tranquilizing effect besides its other properties. Its various forms available in the market are Gul (powdered rose petals), Arq (rose hydrosol diluted) and Ruh (rose hydrosol). Rose is attributed with stimulant and immune system boasting properties. It is also known for its brain tonic, cardiotonic, stomachic, exhilarant, laxative, thirst quenching, antipyretic, contraceptive, and sensory organ stimulant properties. It is used in the treatment of palpitations, nausea, unconsciousness, syncope, headache, diseases of heart and brain, bleeding gums, and insomnia 12-15, 16-17 .The present study was undertaken to ascertain the efficacy of Ruh Gulaab as compared to its other forms like Arq and Gul. History Treatment or prevention with essential oils is known as aromatherapy. “Aromatherapy” was coined by a French chemist Rene – Maurice Gattefosse, in 1920. He devoted his life studying essential oils after an accident where he burnt his hand