Herbal Medicine for Anxiety, Depression and Insomnia

Abstract

The prevalence and comorbidity of psychiatric disorders such as depression, anxiety and insomnia are very common. These well-known forms of psychiatric disorders have been affecting many people from all around the world. Herb alone, as well as herbal formula, is commonly prescribed for the therapies of mental illnesses. Since various adverse events of western medication exist, the number of people who use herbs to benefit their health is increasing. Over the past decades, the exploration in the area of herbal psychopharmacology has received much attention. Literatures showed a variety of herbal mechanisms of action used for the therapy of depression, anxiety and insomnia, involving re-uptake of monoamines, affecting neuroreceptor binding and channel transporter activity, modulating neuronal communication or hypothalamic-pituitary adrenal axis (HPA) etc. Nonetheless, a systematic review on herbal pharmacology in depression, anxiety and insomnia is still lacking. This review has been performed to further identify modes of action of different herbal medicine, and thus provides useful information for the application of herbal medicine.

GABA‐modulating phytomedicines for anxiety: A systematic review of preclinical and clinical evidence

“…Despite the increased use of phytomedicines, with up to 80% of the world's population using some form of herbal medicine (World Health Organization, ), most still lack rigorous investigations of clinical efficacy. This is a common observation from previous reviews of CNS mechanisms of phytomedicines for affective disorders (including GAD) (Ernst, ; Lakhan & Vieira, ; Liu et al, ; Sarris, ). In particular, there are a paucity of clinical investigations for phytomedicine use in the treatment of GAD, especially given the epidemiological prevalence of this particular disorder (Australian Bureau of Statistics, ; Wittchen et al, ).…”

Complementary and Alternative Medicine in Clinical Practice Guideline for Insomnia

“…These factors are thought to make the Second, most of the evidences in the CPGs, except for three 33,44,45) , were studies conducted in western countries. Current evidences that assess effectiveness of CAM on sleep disorders [13][14][15][16][17] were not considered in CPGs included in this review. For evaluating CAM, it is necessary to search and include studies conducted in East Asia.…”

“…As analyzed above, assessments of the efficacy of CAM therapy in CPG are very limited, and there's little evidence of economics evaluation and safety. However, high quality clinical evidences like systematic review and RCT on CAM therapy including herbal medicine, acupuncture, moxibustion, and meditation have been accumulated recently [13][14][15][16][17]48) . We think that these clinical evidences should be considered when new CPG will be developed or previous CPGs will be updated to follow the growing interest in CAM and the current level of evi- …”

“…Catching up with this growing interest in CAM, studies on CAM therapy of insomnia have been actively conducted [13][14][15][16][17][18][19] . Based on these evidences, some systematic reviews and meta-analyses about acupuncture [13][14][15] , natural products including herbs and herbal remedies based on TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine) 16,17) , valerian 18) , L-tryptophan and kava 19) to treat insomnia were published.…”

“…Based on these evidences, some systematic reviews and meta-analyses about acupuncture [13][14][15] , natural products including herbs and herbal remedies based on TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine) 16,17) , valerian 18) , L-tryptophan and kava 19) to treat insomnia were published. Moreover these evidences about CAM therapy on insomnia have been mentioned in some CPGs (Clinical Practice Guidelines), which is one of the most effective and powerful method to apply EBM (Evidence-Based Medicine) in clinical practice, and they allowed patients and doctors to consider broader treatment options on insomnia.…”