Efficacy of pumpkin oil (a Persian medicine product) in the treatment of chronic insomnia: A randomized double-blind clinical trial

Context: According to Persian medicine text, there are some topical herbal remedies for insomnia such as pumpkin oil as a nasal drop. Aims: To evaluate the effect of pumpkin oil (a Persian medicine product) in patients with chronic insomnia. Methods: This study was conducted as a randomized double-blind clinical trial on pumpkin oil efficacy in 74 patients with chronic insomnia. The participants received two drops of intranasal pumpkin oil or placebo every night for two weeks. The effects of pumpkin oil and placebo on the pattern of sleep and sleep quality were assessed at baseline and at the end of two weeks of treatment by Insomnia Severity Index (ISI) and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) questionnaires. Results: The scores of the ISI questioner were statistically different between groups after two weeks of intervention and patients in the pumpkin oil group had fewer scores for ISI questioner (p<0.001). The reduction of the total score of the Pittsburgh questioner was 10.08 ± 3.21 in the pumpkin oil group and 0.28 ± 0.98 (p<0.001) in the control group. Conclusions: Pumpkin oil could have a significant positive effect on the quantity and the quality of sleep in patients with chronic insomnia.