Hyperactivity, concentration difficulties and impulsiveness improve during seven weeks' treatment with valerian root and lemon balm extracts in primary school children.
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.


CONCLUSIONS
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.
Dombühler Strasse 8, D-90449 Nürnberg, Germany.
Jürgen
J
Gromball
Spenglersruh 1b, D-36381 Schlüchtern, Germany.
Frank
F
Beschorner
Gartenstraße 10, D-54470 Bernkastel-Kues, Germany.
Christian
C
Wantzen
Dr. Willmar Schwabe GmbH & Co. KG, Willmar-Schwabe-Str. 4, D-76227 Karlsruhe, Germany. Electronic address: ute.paulsen@schwabe.de.
Ute
U
Paulsen
Dr. Willmar Schwabe GmbH & Co. KG, Willmar-Schwabe-Str. 4, D-76227 Karlsruhe, Germany.
Martin
M
Burkart
D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D031334:Melissa / Q000737:chemistry*; D010290:Parents; D058007:Physicians, Primary Care; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000737:chemistry; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011595:Psychomotor Agitation / Q000188:drug therapy; D007319:Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014632:Valerian / Q000737:chemistry*
D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives; D010936:Plant Extracts
Concentration deficit; Hyperactivity; Melissa; Primary school children; Valerian-lemon balm-extract; Valeriana