Sweet dreams from herbal pillows? small study tests natural sleep aid
NCT ID NCT06247696
First seen Jun 25, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This study tested whether pillows filled with herbs can improve sleep and quality of life. Thirty healthy adults used the pillows for two weeks while wearing a sleep monitor and filling out questionnaires. The goal was to see if a simple, natural approach could help people sleep better without medication.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- herbal pillows
- What this could lead to
- If it works, this could offer a simple, drug-free way to improve sleep and quality of life.
- What could go wrong
- This is a very small, completed study with only 30 healthy people. Results may not apply to everyone, and the effect may be due to placebo.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
-
Not a phased trial
Phase numbers describe drug development. The registry uses this when they do not apply, as it does for trials of devices, procedures or behaviour changes, and for observational studies.
- Participants
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30 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
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Feb 2024
- Finished
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Jul 2025
- Lead sponsor
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Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
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18 years and older
- Sex
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Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
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Accepted
You do not need to have the condition being studied to take part.
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: * You must be at least 18 years of age. * You must be willing to adhere to a sleep hygiene protocol (e.g., 10pm-midnight-6-8am) for 2 weeks without interruption in the comfort of your home. * You must be willing to wear a watch that monitors your sleep and light as well as a sleep mask for two consecutive weeks. * During the testing period, you must be willing to refrain from alcohol and anything that can affect mood and sleep. * You must allow for the placement of an herbal pillow next to your head while sleeping for one week during testing. * You must be willing to fill out short sleep logs during the 2 weeks of testing. * You must also be willing to come to the study location on 3 occasions over a 2 week period. Exclusion Criteria: * Males or females with any condition that prevents adequate inhalation of botanical pillows \[e.g., Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), use of a Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP), deviated septum, etc\]. * Males or females on mood altering substances prescription (e.g., anti-depressants, anxiolytics, Ritalin, Adderall, anti-convulsants; opioids, etc), non-prescription/over-the-counter (OTC) drugs/herbal/natural products \[(e.g., tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)-containing compounds, melatonin, St. John's Wort, lavender capsules, essential oils, perfume-containing products, etc\]. * Any environmental, physical condition or pathology that can significantly impact on sleep and prevent an approximate 10pm-midnight-6-8am sleep rhythm (e.g., shift work, studying/exams, rotations, insomnia, new parents, nocturia, restless leg syndrome, chronic pain, etc). * Any medications that can influence sleep \[(e.g., use of beta blockers; anti-histamines; dexamethasone; angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEI); nicotine products, alpha blockers\] * Chemical sensitivities * Allergies * Pregnancy.
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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Duquesne University
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 15282, United States
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