Herbs Used in the Treatment of Mental Disorders

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St. John's Wort (hypericum perforatum):

Depression, Anxiety
St. John's Wort has been around for about 2000 years. The herb was named after John the Baptist because the bright yellow flowers of the plant are most abundant around the time of his June 24th birthday. St. John's Wort has been historically used for depression, anxiety, gastritis, and insomnia, and it is the leading treatment in Germany for depression. The FDA has yet to approve it for use in the United States and it is still regulated as a dietary supplement, however, this may change based on new clinical studies.

Many people find this herb to be very effective in treating mild to moderate depression. From what is known about St. John's Wort it is considered to be safe to take. However, long-term use has not been studied so caution should be used when taking the herb for any length of time.

Use of this product may increase sensitivity to sunlight. Other side effects are rare and usually very mild. Do not take St. John's Wort with other antidepressants as this can cause a life-threatening condition known as Serotonin Syndrome.

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Passion Flower:

Anxiety, Insomnia
Chrysin, the active ingredient in Passion Flower, appears to be a partial agonist of benzodiazepine receptors. It is not an aphrodisiac as the name implies, but works as a sedative at controlling anxiety and easing insomnia. Passion Flower is nonaddictive, but should not be used during pregnancy or lactation. It has not been found to interact negatively with other sedatives.

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Ginseng:

Depression, Adhd
Ginseng is believed to improve the balance of neurotransmitters in the brain and also to work as an adaptogen. It improves concentration and focus and eases depression and fatigue. Side effects can include headache, insomnia, anxiety, and heart palpitations.

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Licorice:

Depression
Licorice is a powerful antidepressant, and at least 8 licorice compounds are MAO inhibitors. Taking too much licorice can result in headache, lethargy, sodium and water retention, excessive loss of potassium, and high blood pressure.

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Ginkgo Biloba:

Depression, Adhd
This is currently a very popular herb that is believed to work by increasing blood flow to the brain and other parts of the body. Many people report a significant improvement in mood and attention while taking it.

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Valerian:

Anxiety, Insomnia
Valerian is a sedative obtained from a plant found in Europe and temperate regions in Asia. It can act as a minor tranquilizer for restlessness, anxiety and sleep disturbance. Dubbed "God's Valium" in the popular press, valerian also acts as a muscle relaxant. It inhibits an enzyme that breaks down the neurotransmitter GABA. By stimulating GABA, it dampens the brain's arousal system.

Significant side effects are not common. The PDR for Herbal Medicines (Fleming, 1998) cautions that gastrointestinal complaints can occur in rare instances and that contact allergies can occur in very rare cases. With long-term administration, restlessness, sleeplessness, mydriasis, headaches and cardiac dysfunction can occasionally appear.

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Kava-Kava:

Anxiety, Insomnia
Kava-kava, a green leafy member of the pepper family, may be a safe, efficacious, low-cost herbal alternative to conventional antianxiety medications, without the potential for physical addiction, major side effects or loss of alertness. Its name means "intoxicating pepper" in Latin. It is well known to the natives of the South Pacific Islands for its tranquilizing properties and its ability to increase sociability.

The herb can reduce anxiety and tension, and it can promote restful sleep. It is probably the most potent anxiolytic available without a prescription. It is nonaddictive, and people rarely seem to develop tolerance. It does not alter mental clarity, nor does it interfere with reaction times, alertness or other cognitive abilities. Its ability to promote relaxation without loss of mental sharpness makes it particularly useful for the daytime management of anxiety.

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Damiana:

Depression
People have reported an improvement in mood when taking this herb, and it appears to be very effective at improving impotence and some of the other sexual side effects of traditional antidepressant medication.

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Gotu Kola:

Depression, Adhd, Schizophrenia
Gotu Kola has been shown in several studies to improve memory, mental alertness, and increase attention span. It also contains two saponin glycosides, brahmoside and brahminoside, which are known to promote relaxation.

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