Can Herbs Help Anxiety, Depression and Stress?

Depression, anxiety, stress, and other mental disorders are on the rise worldwide. Patients are often concerned that drug therapy can have serious adverse effects, which is why many prefer to use herbal products to treat these symptoms. A new scientific article reviews plants and products derived from them that are commonly used for these conditions. This article focuses on clinical data and safety profiles.

Information provided is detailed and at times technical.

From the report:

“Studies suggest that lavender, hops, maypop, lemon balm, and valerian have consistently been shown in clinical trials to relieve mild forms of neurological disorders, particularly depression, anxiety, and stress.”

And, although often used, current data do not fully support the use of peppermint for anxiety disorders and depression.

Recent research indicates saffron is useful for depression; however, its toxicological profile raises safety concerns. St. John’s wort is effective in alleviating mild to moderate depression; however, careful use is necessary particularly due to possible interactions with other drugs.

Please see the article for the full discussion. This is an open-access article, meaning it can be freely shared with attribution.