Herbal Medicines in the Treatment of Depression and Anxiety

Herbal medicines include a range of pharmacologically active compounds: in some cases it is not well understood which ingredients are important for a therapeutic effect. The supporters of herbal medicine believe that isolated ingredients in the majority of cases have weaker clinical effects than whole plant extract, a claim that would obviously require proof in each case. Although a multitude of pharmaceutical agents are available for the treatment of mental disorders, physicians find that many patients cannot tolerate the side effects, do not respond adequately, or eventually lose their response. In comparison, many ther­apeutic herbs have far fewer side effects. They can provide an alternative treatment or be used to enhance the effect of prescription medications. This review will indicate the quality of the evi­dence supporting the clinical effects of a number of com­monly used types of herbal medicines for depression and anxiety.