Plant-based medicines for anxiety disorders, part 2: a review of clinical studies with supporting preclinical evidence.
CNS drugs April 1, 2013 Jerome Sarris, Erica Mcintyre, David A Camfield 154 citations
A narrative review of plant-based medicines with both preclinical and clinical evidence for anxiety identified 21 herbs tested in human trials. Chronic use of Piper methysticum, Matricaria recutita, Ginkgo biloba, Scutellaria lateriflora, Silybum marianum, Passiflora incarnata, Withania somniferum, Galphimia glauca, Centella asiatica, Rhodiola rosea, Echinacea spp., Melissa officinalis, and Echium amoenum showed support for treating various anxiety disorders. Acute anxiolytic activity was found for Centella asiatica, Salvia spp., Melissa officinalis, Passiflora incarnata, and Citrus aurantium. Bacopa monnieri showed anxiolytic effects in people with cognitive decline. Current evidence does not support Hypericum perforatum or Valeriana spp. for any anxiety disorder. Conclusions are tempered by methodological issues like small sample sizes and non-replication.