Herbs as Treatment Treating Depression

Herbs as Treatment

Treating Depression and Anxiety with Herbs

Millions of Americans are prescribed prescription drugs every day to help relieve symptoms of depression or anxiety. What are usually not discussed with the patience is how prescription drugs work, whether or not they provide lasting relief safely, and alternative options.

FDA reports, warnings, and independent reports have continuously confirmed that prescription drugs cause severe side effects, may be addictive, and may not be any more effective than placebo in relieving many types of depression or anxiety.

Natural Alternative Medicines

Herbal medicine comes from an herb that is a plant or plant part used for its therapeutic properties. Herbal medicine products have been used medicinally for thousands of years to promote good health, to relieve symptoms and even cure some health ailments. Herbs for depression and anxiety can be a useful alternative to prescription medications per the studies.

Successful Clinical Studies using Herbs

Helmut Woelk, medical director, for the Remotiv/Imipramine Study Group conducted a randomized, double blind, group trial. The study represented 40 outpatient clinics and 324 participants with depression.

Objective of the study: To compare the effectiveness and tolerability of Hypericum perforatum (St. John's wort extract) with imipramine (an anti-depressant tricyclic drug) in patients with mild to moderate depression.

Main outcome of the study: That the St. John's wort extract was therapeutically equivalent to the antidepressant tricyclic drug in treating mild to moderate depression, and the patients also tolerated the St. John's wort extract better (Woelk, 2000).

St. Johns wort -- SJW is one of the most widely used natural anti-depressants available.

Clinical research indicates that St. Johns wort helps to relieve symptoms of anxiety and depression over a period of 2-6 weeks. When tested head-to-head with two popular prescription medications, St. Johns wort with hyperforin extract was shown to be just as effective (Borne, 2003).

Another clinical study was done on the effectiveness of Kava extract for treating anxiety. This study analysis was aimed at assessing the evidence for or against the effectiveness of Kava extract as a symptomatic treatment for anxiety. Double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trials of oral Kava extract for the treatment of anxiety were analyzed. Superiority of Kava extract over placebo was suggested by all seven reviewed trials. The meta-analysis of three trials suggests a significant difference in the reduction of the total score on the Hamilton Rating Scale for anxiety in favor of Kava extract. So, according to the study, Kava extract is an herbal treatment option for anxiety that is worthy of consideration (Pittler & Ernst, 2000).

Kava -- is truly one of the strongest anti-anxiety herbs in the world. Kava also has one of the best safety profiles of any anti-anxiety / anti-depression herb (Borne, 2003).