Herbal remedies for anxiety - what works and what doesn't

Researchers from the Global Neuroscience Initiative Foundation, a non-profit organisation based in Los Angeles, have been reviewing research into nutritional supplements for treating anxiety. They pooled the results of 24 studies involving more than 200 participants. They found that extracts of passionflower and kava were effective as were L-lysine and L-arginine but that St John's Wort and magnesium supplements were not. There were no serious side effects from any of the herbal remedies.

St John's Wort and depression

St John's Wort has long been used in folk medicine to treat depression and sleep disorders. The plant produces a number of different substances that may have anti-depressant properties although it is thought that the whole extract is more effective than its individual constituents. A review of 29 different studies, covering 5,489 participants, whose depression was assesse using the same methodology found that it was superior to placebos and as effective as standard antidepressants with fewer side effects. However, the researchers stressed that people should still see their doctor in the first instance as St John's Wort can interfere with the effectiveness of other medication and not all preparations of St John's Wort are equally effective.

You can find out more about this research at

http://psychcentral.com/news/2008/10/08/st-johns-wort-can-help-with-depression/3089.html

St John's Wort for ADHD

St John's Wort is best known as a treatment for depression but is also one of the most popular complementary treatments for children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). A U.S. study of 54 children compared St John's Wort to a placebo in an 8-week trial. By the end of the trial the researchers found that more of the children (51.9% vs 44.4%) in the placebo group had shown an improvement and by a greater amount.

Journal of the American Medical Association 2008; 299:2633-2641