Herbal Teas for Managing Sleep Paralysis and Other Sleep Disorders: A Comprehensive Review

Background: Awareness of sleep paralysis holds a paramount position in our society. As studies suggest, herbal teas are widely accepted for the relief of stress, anxiety, and other symptoms of sleep paralysis and disorders. Objective: This review aims to understand the neurophysiology of sleep paralysis, frequency, and community perception, highlighting the active constituents of herbal teas effective for treatment. Methodology: Our systematic literature review analyzed thoroughly 57 articles on sleep disorders, awareness in the general public, and the impact of herbal tea on sleep paralysis, concentrating on empirical research, reviews, and meta-analyses published from 2010 to 2024, emphasizing and limiting the review research on its pathophysiology, epidemiology, treatment, and risk factors. Results: Sleep disorders or somnipathy, are believed to interfere with people's everyday activities and their mental health. Insomnia, narcolepsy, and sleep apnea are all prevalent sleep disorders. Sleep paralysis is a condition in which an individual is unable to perform any voluntary movement, often accompanied by hallucinations and finally ending the state by an abrupt and violent breakout or external stimuli. Sleep paralysis affects 8% of the general population, occurring more frequently in females typically beginning in childhood or early adolescence. An irregular sleep cycle, mental stress, or lack of sleep might trigger the illness due to disturbances in REM sleep. The available treatments for sleep palsy have not been well-researched. Nevertheless, due to its continuing popularity, the use of herbal teas has become a generally accepted therapy for the reduction of the symptoms associated with sleep paralysis and disorders. It is observed that people take consolation and relief in the fact that this ailment is common and often not life-threatening. Conclusion: There is a significant gap in the knowledge and awareness among the general public towards sleep paralysis and other sleep disorders. Comprehensive surveys can drive the attention of the public towards the seriousness of sleep disorders and can eventually help in the understanding of this disease. The role of herbal teas in facilitating the reduction of sleep disorders, as reviewed in this article can suggest improved clinical results and health conditions.