Context: Sleep disorder is one of the most common problems in post-menopausal women.
Aims: This study aimed to assess the effects of lemon balm on sleep quality of postmenopausal women.
Setting and design: This study is a double-blinded randomized clinical trial in that conducted on 110 eligible postmenopausal women referred to health clinics in Arak that were selected using convenience sampling.
Material and methods: Block random allocation was used to assign subjects to lemon balm and control groups. Intervention and control group received Lemon balm capsule containing 250mg Lemon balm extract and 250 mg starch twice a day for 1 month. After the intervention, "Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index" was completed by subjects again.
Statistical Analysis Used: The btained data were analysis was performed using software SPSS (version 20) with Chi-square, paired and independent t-test.
Results: The mean score of sleep quality before and after treatment was 13.1 ± 48.60 and 8.1 ± 58.97 in intervention group, respectively. Moreover, the sleep quality score in control group was 12.98 ± 2.50 and 11.72 ± 2.45 before at beginning and end of study. There was a significant difference in mean score of sleep disorder intervention group between before and after the intervention (p<0.001), while this difference was not significant in control group(p=0.155). Also, there was significant difference in mean score of sleep quality between two groups after the intervention (p=0.012).
Conclusion: According to results, the extracts lemon balm is effective treatment for improving the sleep quality in post-menopausal women as well as in reducing symptoms of sleep disorders.
