A pharmaceutical preparation comprising a first generation antihistamine, more particularly an alkylamine, preferably chlorphenamine, in combination with a (preferably mild) herbal sedative, preferably valerian, St Johns wort, passiflora and/or green tea extract. This is preferably in combination with hops and/or gentian, and/or preferably in combination with 5-HTP, GaBa and/or phenibut. The foregoing ingredients appear to have a synergistic effect. The formulation is found particularly effective to treat insomnia, especially when combined with anxiety, and also have an anti-depressant effect and calm stress. It is found considerably less addictive than when using powerful pharmaceutical hypnotics, such as benzodiazepine drugs or other Z-class hypnotics, and provides a very useful substitute to allow a break in a course of such powerful hypnotics, while yet maintaining effective treatment of the insomnia/anxiety condition, preferably in an alternating dosage regime of one or several days of each in turn.
