Herbal Treatment of Anxiety

Scott D. Mendelson is a practicing psychiatrist in Roseburg, Oregon. He earned a Ph.D. in biopsychology at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Canada. He then worked for three years as a postdoctoral fellow at The Rockefeller University in the Laboratory of Neuroendocrinology under Bruce McEwen, Ph.D. During his doctoral work and as a postdoctoral fellow, he published 24 papers on the subjects of serotonergic and hormonal regulation of sexual behavior and the effects of stress on serotonin receptor subtypes in the brain. He then attended medical school at the University of Illinois, and after graduating in 1996, he did his residency in psychiatry at the University of Virginia. In 2007, Elsevier published his first book, Metabolic Syndrome and Psychiatric Illness: Interactions, Pathophysiology, Assessment and Treatment. In 2009, M. Evans published his second book, Beyond Alzheimer’s: How to Avoid the Modern Epidemic of Dementia.

• ContentsChapter 1. What is anxiety?ReferencesChapter 2. Non-pharmacological treatments of AnxietyReferencesChapter 3. The Neurobiology of Anxiety3.1 Brain Circuitry of anxiety3.2 Neurochemistry3.2.1 Gamma amino butyric acid3.2.2 Glutamate3.2.3 Monoamines3.2.4 Acetylcholine3.2.5 Endocannabinoids3.2.6 Endorphins3.2.7 Histamine3.2.8 Glycine3.3 Stress3.4 Inflammation3.5 Metabolic Syndrome3.6 SummaryReferencesChapter 4. Medications commonly used to treat anxiety4.1 Benzodiazepines4.2 Buspirone4.3 Antidepressants4.4 Gabapentin4.5 Pregabalin4.6 Hydroxyzine4.7 propranolol4.8 clonidine4.9 neurosteroids4.10 Mechanisms of anxiolytic drug actionChapter 5. Anxiolytic Phytochemicals5.1 Flavonoids5.2 Terpenes5.3 alkaloids5.4 Phytochemicals that relieve anxiety5.4.1 Amentoflavone5.4.2 Apigenin5.4.3 Baicalein5.4.4 β-caryophyllene5.4.5 Bisabolol5.4.6 Caffeic acid5.4.7 3-Carene5.4.8 Carvacrol5.4.9 Chrysin5.4.10 7,8,Dihydroxyflavone 5.4.11 Ellagic acid5.4.12 Epigallocatechin gallate5.4.13 Eugenol5.4.14 Ferulic acid5.4.15 Hispidulin5.4.16 Hyperoside5.4.17 Icariin5.4.18 Isopulegol5.4.19 Kaempferol5.4.20 Limonene5.4.21 Linalool5.4.22 Luteolin5.4.23 Menthol5.4.24 Mangiferin5.4.25 Myricetin5.4.26 Naringin5.4.27 Nerolidol5.4.28 Nobiletin5.4.29 Pinene5.4.30 Resveratrol5.4.31 Quercetin5.4.32 Rosmarinic acid5.4.33 Ursolic acid5.4.34 WogoninChapter 6. Herbal treatment of anxiety6.1.1 Acorus calamus6.1.1 Anxiolytic effects 6.1.1.2 Mechanism of action6.1.1.3 Dosage6.1.1.4 Toxicity6.1.1.5 Safety in pregnancy6.1.1.6 Drug interaction6.1.2 Avena sativa6.1.2.1 Anxiolytic effects 6.1.2.2 Mechanism of action6.1.2.3 Dosage6.1.2.4 Toxicity6.1.2.5 Safety in pregnancy6.1.2.6 Drug interaction6.1.3 Bacopa monnieri6.1.3.1 Anxiolytic effects 6.1.3.2 Mechanism of action6.1.3.3 Dosage6.1.3.4 Toxicity6.1.3.5 Safety in pregnancy6.1.3.6 Drug interaction6.1.4 Camellia sinensis6.1.4.1 Anxiolytic effects 6.1.4.2 Mechanism of action6.1.4.3 Dosage6.1.4.4 Toxicity6.1.4.5 Safety in pregnancy6.1.4.6 Drug interaction6.1.5 Cannabis sativa6.1.5.1 Anxiolytic effects 6.1.5.2 Mechanism of action6.1.5.3 Dosage6.1.5.4 Toxicity6.1.5.5 Safety in pregnancy6.1.5.6 Drug interaction6.1.6 Centella asiatica6.1.6.1 Anxiolytic effects 6.1.6.2 Mechanism of action6.1.6.3 Dosage6.1.6.4 Toxicity6.1.6.5 Safety in pregnancy6.1.6.6 Drug interaction6.1.7 Cinnamomum spp6.1.7.1 Anxiolytic effects 6.1.7.2 Mechanism of action6.1.7.3 Dosage6.1.7.4 Toxicity6.1.7.5 Safety in pregnancy6.1.7.6 Drug interaction6.1.8 Citrus aurantium6.1.8.1 Anxiolytic effects 6.1.8.2 Mechanism of action6.1.8.3 Dosage6.1.8.4 Toxicity6.1.8.5 Safety in pregnancy6.1.8.6 Drug interaction6.1.9 Convolvulus pluricaulis6.1.9.1 Anxiolytic effects 6.1.9.2 Mechanism of action6.1.9.3 Dosage6.1.9.4 Toxicity6.1.9.5 Safety in pregnancy6.1.9.6 Drug interaction6.1.10 Crocus sativa6.1.10.1 Anxiolytic effects 6.1.10.2 Mechanism of action6.1.10.3 Dosage6.1.10.4 Toxicity6.1.10.5 Safety in pregnancy6.1.10.6 Drug interaction6.1.11 Curcuma longa6.1.11.1 Anxiolytic effects 6.1.11.2 Mechanism of action6.1.11.3 Dosage6.1.11.4 Toxicity6.1.11.5 Safety in pregnancy6.1.11.6 Drug interaction6.1.12 Echinacea angustifolia6.1.12.1 Anxiolytic effects 6.1.12.2 Mechanism of action6.1.12.3 Dosage6.1.12.4 Toxicity6.1.12.5 Safety in pregnancy6.1.12.6 Drug interaction6.1.13 Echium amoenum6.1.13.1 Anxiolytic effects 6.1.13.2 Mechanism of action6.1.13.3 Dosage6.1.13.4 Toxicity6.1.13.5 Safety in pregnancy6.1.13.6 Drug interaction6.1.14 Eleutherococcus senticosus6.1.14.1 Anxiolytic effects 6.1.14.2 Mechanism of action6.1.14.3 Dosage6.1.14.4 Toxicity6.1.14.5 Safety in pregnancy6.1.14.6 Drug interaction6.1.15 Eschscholzia californica6.1.15.1 Anxiolytic effects 6.1.15.2 Mechanism of action6.1.15.3 Dosage6.1.15.4 Toxicity6.1.15.5 Safety in pregnancy6.1.15.6 Drug interaction6.1.16 Euphytose6.1.16.1 Anxiolytic effects 6.1.16.2 Mechanism of action6.1.16.3 Dosage6.1.16.4 Toxicity6.1.16.5 Safety in pregnancy6.1.16.6 Drug interaction6.1.17 Evolvulus alsinoides6.1.17.1 Anxiolytic effects 6.1.17.2 Mechanism of action6.1.17.3 Dosage6.1.17.4 Toxicity6.1.17.5 Safety in pregnancy6.1.17.6 Drug interaction6.1.18 Foeniculum vulgare6.1.18.1 Anxiolytic effects 6.1.18.2 Mechanism of action6.1.18.3 Dosage6.1.18.4 Toxicity6.1.18.5 Safety in pregnancy6.1.18.6 Drug interaction6.1.19 Galphimia glauca6.1.19.1 Anxiolytic effects 6.1.19.2 Mechanism of action6.1.19.3 Dosage6.1.19.4 Toxicity6.1.19.5 Safety in pregnancy6.1.19.6 Drug interaction6.1.20 Ganoderma lucidum6.1.20.1 Anxiolytic effects 6.1.20.2 Mechanism of action6.1.20.3 Dosage6.1.20.4 Toxicity6.1.20.5 Safety in pregnancy6.1.20.6 Drug interaction6.1.21 Ginkgo biloba 6.1.21.1 Anxiolytic effects 6.1.21.2 Mechanism of action6.1.21.3 Dosage6.1.21.4 Toxicity6.1.21.5 Safety in pregnancy6.1.21.6 Drug interaction6.1.22 Humulus lupulus6.1.22.1 Anxiolytic effects 6.1.22.2 Mechanism of action6.1.22.3 Dosage6.1.22.4 Toxicity6.1.22.5 Safety in pregnancy6.1.22.6 Drug interaction6.1.23 Hypericum perforatum 6.1.23.1 Anxiolytic effects 6.1.23.2 Mechanism of action6.1.23.3 Dosage6.1.23.4 Toxicity6.1.23.5v Safety in pregnancy6.1.23.6 Drug interaction6.1.24 Lavandula angustifolia6.1.24.1 Anxiolytic effects 6.1.24.2 Mechanism of action6.1.24.3 Dosage6.1.24.4 Toxicity6.1.24.5 Safety in pregnancy6.1.24.6 Drug interaction6.1.25 Leonurus cardiaca6.1.25.1 Anxiolytic effects 6.1.25.2 Mechanism of action6.1.25.3 Dosage6.1.25.4 Toxicity6.1.25.5 Safety in pregnancy6.1.25.6 Drug interaction6.1.26 Lepidium meyenii6.1.26.1 Anxiolytic effects 6.1.26.2 Mechanism of action6.1.26.3 Dosage6.1.26.4 Toxicity6.1.26.5 Safety in pregnancy6.1.26.6 Drug interaction6.1.27 Lilium brownii6.1.27.1 Anxiolytic effects 6.1.27.2 Mechanism of action6.1.27.3 Dosage6.1.27.4 Toxicity6.1.27.5 Safety in pregnancy6.1.27.6 Drug interaction6.1.28 Lippia citriodora6.1.28.1 Anxiolytic effects 6.1.28.2 Mechanism of action6.1.28.3 Dosage6.1.28.4 Toxicity6.1.28.5 Safety in pregnancy6.1.28.6 Drug interaction6.1.29 Magnolia officinalis6.1.29.1 Anxiolytic effects 6.1.29.2 Mechanism of action6.1.29.3 Dosage6.1.29.4 Toxicity6.1.29.5 Safety in pregnancy6.1.29.6 Drug interaction6.1.30 Matricaria recutita6.1.30.1 Anxiolytic effects 6.1.30.2 Mechanism of action6.1.30.3 Dosage6.1.30.4 Toxicity6.1.30.5 Safety in pregnancy6.1.30.6 Drug interaction6.1.31 Melissa officinalis6.1.31.1 Anxiolytic effects 6.1.31.2 Mechanism of action6.1.31.3 Dosage6.1.31.4 Toxicity6.1.31.5 Safety in pregnancy6.1.31.6 Drug interaction6.1.32 Mentha piperita6.1.32.1 Anxiolytic effects 6.1.32.2 Mechanism of action6.1.32.3 Dosage6.1.32.4 Toxicity6.1.32.5 Safety in pregnancy6.1.32.6 Drug interaction6.1.33 Nardostachys jatamansi6.1.33.1 Anxiolytic effects 6.1.33.2 Mechanism of action6.1.33.3 Dosage6.1.33.4 Toxicity6.1.33.5 Safety in pregnancy6.1.33.6 Drug interaction6.1.34 Ocimum sanctum6.1.34.1 Anxiolytic effects 6.1.34.2 Mechanism of action6.1.34.3 Dosage6.1.34.4 Toxicity6.1.34.5 Safety in pregnancy6.1.34.6 Drug interaction6.1.35 Panax ginseng6.1.35.1 Anxiolytic effects 6.1.35.2 Mechanism of action6.1.35.3 Dosage6.1.35.4 Toxicity6.1.35.5 Safety in pregnancy6.1.35.6 Drug interaction6.1.36 Passifloraceae incarnata6.1.36.1 Anxiolytic effects 6.1.36.2 Mechanism of action6.1.36.3 Dosage6.1.36.4 Toxicity6.1.36.5 Safety in pregnancy6.1.36.6 Drug interaction6.1.37 Piper methysticum6.1.37.1 Anxiolytic effects 6.1.37.2 Mechanism of action6.1.37.3 Dosage6.1.37.4 Toxicity6.1.37.5 Safety in pregnancy6.1.37.6 Drug interaction6.1.38 Poria cocos6.1.38.1 Anxiolytic effects 6.1.38.2 Mechanism of action6.1.38.3 Dosage6.1.38.4 Toxicity6.1.38.5 Safety in pregnancy6.1.38.6 Drug interaction6.1.39 Psilocybe spp6.1.39.1 Anxiolytic effects 6.1.39.2 Mechanism of action6.1.39.3 Dosage6.1.39.4 Toxicity6.1.39.5 Safety in pregnancy6.1.39.6 Drug interaction6.1.40 Rhodiola rosea6.1.40.1 Anxiolytic effects 6.1.40.2 Mechanism of action6.1.40.3 Dosage6.1.40.4 Toxicity6.1.40.5 Safety in pregnancy6.1.40.6 Drug interaction6.1.41 Rosmarinus officinalis6.1.41.1 Anxiolytic effects 6.1.41.2 Mechanism of action6.1.41.3 Dosage6.1.41.4 Toxicity6.1.41.5 Safety in pregnancy6.1.41.6 Drug interaction6.1.42 Salvia officinalis6.1.42.1 Anxiolytic effects 6.1.42.2 Mechanism of action6.1.42.3 Dosage6.1.42.4 Toxicity6.1.42.5 Safety in pregnancy6.1.42.6 Drug interaction6.1.43 Schisandra chinensis6.1.43.1 Anxiolytic effects 6.1.43.2 Mechanism of action6.1.43.3 Dosage6.1.43.4 Toxicity6.1.43.5 Safety in pregnancy6.1.43.6 Drug interaction6.1.44 Scutellaria baicalensis6.1.44.1 Anxiolytic effects 6.1.44.2 Mechanism of action6.1.44.3 Dosage6.1.44.4 Toxicity6.1.44.5 Safety in pregnancy6.1.44.6 Drug interaction6.1.45 Silybum marianum 6.1.45.1 Anxiolytic effects 6.1.45.2 Mechanism of action6.1.45.3 Dosage6.1.45.4 Toxicity6.1.45.5 Safety in pregnancy6.1.45.6 Drug interaction6.1.46 Tinospora cordifolia6.1.46.1 Anxiolytic effects 6.1.46.2 Mechanism of action6.1.46.3 Dosage6.1.46.4 Toxicity6.1.46.5 Safety in pregnancy6.1.46.6 Drug interaction6.1.47 Trifolium pratense6.1.47.1 Anxiolytic effects 6.1.47.2 Mechanism of action6.1.47.3 Dosage6.1.47.4 Toxicity6.1.47.5 Safety in pregnancy6.1.47.6 Drug interaction6.1.48 Valeriana jatamansi6.1.48.1 Anxiolytic effects 6.1.48.2 Mechanism of action6.1.48.3 Dosage6.1.48.4 Toxicity6.1.48.5 Safety in pregnancy6.1.48.6 Drug interaction6.1.49 Valeriana officinalis6.1.49.1 Anxiolytic effects 6.1.49.2 Mechanism of action6.1.49.3 Dosage6.1.49.4 Toxicity6.1.49.5 Safety in pregnancy6.1.49.6 Drug interaction6.1.50 Vitex agnus-castus6.1.50.1 Anxiolytic effects 6.1.50.2 Mechanism of action6.1.50.3 Dosage6.1.50.4 Toxicity6.1.50.5 Safety in pregnancy6.1.50.6 Drug interaction6.1.51 Withania somnifera6.1.51.1 Anxiolytic effects 6.1.51.2 Mechanism of action6.1.51.3 Dosage6.1.51.4 Toxicity6.1.51.5 Safety in pregnancy6.1.51.6 Drug interaction6.1.52 Ziziphus jujuba6.1.52.1 Anxiolytic effects 6.1.52.2 Mechanism of action6.1.52.3 Dosage6.1.52.4 Toxicity6.1.52.5 Safety in pregnancy6.1.52.6 Drug interaction6.2 Anxiolytic herbs recommended by experts that remain untested6.2.1 Borago officinalis6.2.2 Lactuca virosa6.2.3 Mimosa pudica6.2.4 Nepeta cataria6.2.5 Piscidia erythrina6.2.6 Taraxacum officinale6.2.7 Tilia spp.ReferencesChapter 7. Chinese herbal treatment of anxiety7.1 Traditional Chinese treatments of anxiety7.2 Herbal treatment in Traditional Chinese Medicine7.2.1 Bai zi yang xin tang with Shu gan ning shen san7.2.2 Ban xia hou pu7.2.3 Bao shen7.2.4 Geng ni an chun7.2.5 Gui pi tang7.2.6 Jiu wei zhen xin7.2.7 Kami-shoyo-san and Hange-koboku-to7.2.8 Rikkunshinto7.2.9 Shen qi wu wei zi7.2.10 Shen song yang xin7.2.11 Suan Zao Ren Tang in Combination with Zhi Zi Chi Tang7.2.12 Wen dan tang7.2.13 Xiao Yao San7.2.14 Xin wei tang 7.2.15 Yang xin tang7.2.16 Yi gan san 7.2.17 Yi qi yang xin7.2.18 Yukgunja and Banhabakchulchunma decoctions 7.3 Traditional but untested anxiolytic Chinese herbal formulas7.4 The mainstays of Chinese herbal treatments7.4.1 Acorus gramineus7.4.2 Albizzia julibrissin7.4.3 Angelicae gigantis7.4.4 Bupleurum chinense7.4.5 Cnidium officinale7.4.6 Coptis chinensis7.4.7 Curcumae wenyujin7.4.8 Cynomorium songaricum7.4.9 Ganoderma lucidum7.4.10 Glycyrrhiza uralensis7.4.11 Paeonia lactiflora7.4.12 Panax ginseng7.4.13 Pinellia ternate7.4.14 Polygala Tenuifolia7.4.15 Polygonum multiflorum7.4.16 Poria cocus7.4.17 Rehmannia glutinosa7.4.18 Schisandra chinensis7.4.19 Ziziphus jujubaChapter 8. Ayurvedic Herbal Treatment of Anxiety8.1 Herbal treatment of Anxiety in Ayurvedic Medicine8.1.1 Ashwagandha Churna8.1.2 Ashwagandha and mandookaparni8.1.3 Asparagus racemosus and Glycyrrhiza glabra8.1.4 Brahmi gritha8.1.5 Geriforte8.1.6 Guduchyadi Medhya Rasayana8.1.7 Kushmandadi Ghrita8.1.8 Medhyarasayana Ghrita and Vachadi Ghrita Nasya8.1.9 Mentat8.1.10 OCTA8.1.11 Sarasvata choorna8.1.12 Sarpagandha Ghana Vati8.1.13 Shankhapushpi Panak and shirodhara with Mamsyadi Kwatha8.1.14 Shankhapushpyadi Ghana Vati8.1.15 Vacha Brahmi Ghan8.1.16 Worry Free8.2 Mainstays of Ayurvedic Herbal Treatment of Anxiety8.2.1 Acorus calamus8.2.2 Albizzia lebbek8.2.3 Allium cepa8.2.4 Anacyclus pyrethrum8.2.5 Asparagus racemosus8.26. Bacopa monnieri8.2.7 Benincasa hispida8.2.8 Cannabis sativa8.2.9 Centella asiatica8.2.10 Convolvulus pluricaulis8.2.11 Cuscuta reflexa8.2.12 Cynodon dactylon8.2.13 Evolvulus alsinoides8.2.14 Ficus religiosa8.2.15 Glycyrrhiza glabra8.2.16 Hyoscyamus niger8.2.17 Juglans regia8.2.18 Lawsonia inermis8.2.19 Moringa oleifera8.2.20 Nardostachys jatamansi8.2.21 Piper nigrum8.2.22 Punica granatum8.2.23 Saussurea lappa8.2.24 Tinospora cordifolia8.2.25 Valeriana jatamansi8.2.26 Vitex negundo8.2.27 Withania somniferaChapter 9. AdaptogensReferencesChapter 10. Aromatherapy10.1 Herbs utilized in Aromatherapy.10.1.1 Boswellia carteri10.1.2 Citrus aurantium10.1.3 Citrus sinensis10.1.4 Cymbopogon citratus10.1.5 Eugenia aromaticum10.1.6 Jasminum officinale10.1.7 Lavandula spp10.1.8 Matricaria recutita10.1.9 Melissa officinalis10.1.10 Mentha piperita10.1.11 Nardostachys jatamansi10.1.12 Neroli oil10.1.13 Pelargonium graveolens10.1.14 Rosa damascene10.1.15 Rosmarinus officinalis 10.1.16 Salvia officinalis10.1.17 Santallum spp10.2 Herbal combinations in aromatherapy10.2.1 Cymbopogon citratus and Eucalyptus massage with Lavandula officinalis inhalation10.2.2 Lavandula officinalis, Cananga odorata, and Citrus bergamia10.2.3 Lavandula officinalis, Chamaemelum nobile, and Citrus aurantium10.2.4 Lavandula officinalis, Pelargonium graveolens and Citrus reticulata10.2.5 Lavandula officinalis and Rosa damascene10.2.6 Lavandula officinalis and Santalum album10.3 Aromatherapy and sleep10.4 Some final thoughts about aromatherapyChapter 11. Choosing an herbal treatment for anxiety11.1 Efficacy11.2 What type of anxiety is being treated?11.3 Single herbs or combinations?11.4 Treatment of chronic anxiety disorders11.5 Comorbidities11.5.1 Major Depression11.5.2 Insomnia11.5.3 Menopause and Dysmenorrhea11.5.4 Pain11.5.5 Inflammation11.5.6 Irritable bowel syndrome11.5.7 Diabetes11.5.8 Dementia 11.6 Safety 11.7 Final considerations about the practical use of herbs.References

"This is an excellent research guide for both conventional and alternative practitioners that addresses the science, and lack of science, throughout. It is an honest and refreshing book exploring the potential benefits and pitfalls of herbal remedies for treating anxiety. It is of sufficient depth for practicing clinicians and substantive enough to raise the curiosity of researchers looking to expand beyond conventional pharmacopeia. "-Paul Joseph Ratte, ND, Doody Review