National Sleep Awareness Week® Is March 7–13
Keywords: sleep disorders, insomnia, sleep deprivation
Chronic, long-term sleep disorders affect millions of Americans each year. These disorders and the sleep deprivation they cause can interfere with work, driving, social activities, and overall quality of life, and can have serious health implications.
In 2002 and 2007, the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) asked Americans about use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). Among respondents with insomnia, 4.5 percent (which translates to a total of 1.6 million U.S. adults) used some form of CAM to treat their condition—primarily biological/herbal therapies or mind-body/relaxation therapies. Most found these therapies helpful.
NCCAM supports studies on sleep disorders. Some people with sleep problems may try CAM therapies, including dietary supplements. If you are considering using CAM therapies, talk to your health care providers to ensure safe and coordinated care.
Fact Sheets
Clinical Trials
Clinical trials are research studies with people. The following NCCAM studies are enrolling participants.
- Melatonin Supplements for Improving Sleep in Individuals With Hypertension
- Sleep-directed Hypnosis as a Complement to Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) in Treating Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
View all NCCAM-sponsored sleep-related trials
Selected Publications by NCCAM grantees
NCCAM has funded many basic and clinical studies related to sleep disorders. These articles are examples of the breadth of research the Center supports. To find more articles by NCCAM grantees, search PubMed.
- Acupuncture for Treatment of Insomnia: a Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials
- Chronic Primary Insomnia: Efficacy of Homeopathic Simillimum
- Electroacupuncture Treatment of Chronic Insomniacs
- New Findings on Sleep Disorders and CAM
- Tai Chi Chih Improves Sleep Quality in Older Adults
More Resources
- Sleep Disorders (Food and Drug Administration)
- Sleep Disorders (MedlinePlus)
- Sleep Disorders Information (National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute)
- Sleep and Aging (NIH Senior Health)
- Insomnia (Women's Health.gov)
National Sleep Awareness Week® is a registered trademark of the National Sleep Foundation.