Protocol development in integrative medicine is not typically a simple process. Individuals require individualized care, and what works for one patient may not work for another.
To establish these protocols, we first developed a Rating Scale that could be used to discern the rigor of evidence supporting a specific nutrient’s therapeutic effect.
The following protocols were developed using only A through C-quality evidence.
A
Systematic review or meta-analysis of human trials
B
RDBPC human trials
2+ studies and/or 1 study with 50 + subjects
C
RDBPC human trials
1 study
Melatonin
2.5 to 3 mg, total per day, minimum three weeks1,2
- Increase in sleep quality was observed without adverse effects1,2
- During the withdrawal period of melatonin, carryover of the effect on sleep latency time was observed on the following night1
- Improvement in sleep onset latency, sleep-wake patterns, and delayed sleep phase syndrome3
- The lowest dosing of exogenous melatonin is recommended in order to mimic the natural physiological circadian rhythm of melatonin4
320 mg, total per day of magnesium citrate, minimum 7 weeks5
- Improvement of PSQI score, which includes improvements in sleep quality, sleep onset latency, sleep duration, sleep disturbance, daytime dysfunction, and hypnotic drug scores5
- In addition to improving PSQI score, magnesium reduced early morning awakenings6
Valerian (Valeriana officinalis)
1060 mg, total per day, minimum 4 weeks7
- Improvement in sleep quality and overall effectiveness observed in clinical insomnia7,9
- Reduction in sleep latency was observed in a concentrated extract of a 5.3:1 ratio8
Disclaimer
The Fullscript Integrative Medical Advisory team has developed or collected these protocols from practitioners and supplier partners to help health care practitioners make decisions when building treatment plans. By adding this protocol to your Fullscript template library, you understand and accept that the recommendations in the protocol are for initial guidance and may not be appropriate for every patient.
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9
Systematic review or meta-analysis of human trials
a
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