Chinese Herbal Medicine in the Treatment of Menopausal Insomnia: A Systematic Review and Metaanalysis

This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to systematically evaluate the effectiveness and safety of Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) in treating menopausal insomnia. A thorough literature search was conducted to identify randomised controlled trials (RCTs) on CHM for menopausal insomnia published before March 2024. Eligible RCTs were assessed for quality using the Cochrane risk-of-bias tool, and meta-analysis was performed using RevMan web. A total of seven studies were included and assessed for risk of bias. The findings suggest potential benefits of CHM over conventional medicine in treating menopausal insomnia, as reflected in improved Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index scores, serum oestradiol levels and serum folliclestimulating hormone levels, with fewer adverse events. Sensitivity analysis supported the robustness of these studies and funnel plots indicated low publication bias, ensuring the reliability of the meta-analysis. However, it is important to acknowledge the limitations of this study, including a small sample size and potential risk of bias. More rigorous RCTs with standardised research methodologies are necessary to better evaluate the efficacy of CHM in the future and further validate these findings.