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10.14.2010 | Stress, Anxiety and Depression Link Uncovered
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Natural Treatments

Regular aerobic exercise, improving sleep hygiene are often useful in treating anxiety.

Herbal drugs are often used in patients with somatoform disorders. In one clinical trial, butterbur in a fixed herbal drug combination (Ze 185 = 4-combination versus 3-combination without butterbur and placebo) was used in patients with somatoform disorders. For a 2-week treatment in patients with somatization disorder (F45.0) and undifferentiated somatoform disorder (F45.1), 182 patients were randomized for a 3-arm trial (butterbur root, valerian root, passionflower herb, lemon balm leaf versus valerian root, passionflower herb, lemon balm leaf versus placebo). Anxiety (visual analogue scale - VAS) and depression (Beck's Depression Inventory - BDI) were used as primary parameters, and Clinical Global Impression (CGI) was used a secondary parameter. The 4-combination was significantly superior to the 3-combination and placebo in all the primary and secondary parameters (PP-population), without serious adverse events.

Many other natural remedies have been used for anxiety disorder. These include kava, where the potential for benefit seems greater than that for harm with short-term use in patients with mild to moderate anxiety. Based on Cochrane's systematic review of seven RCTs (n = 380), with findings supported by five lower-quality trials (n = 320), the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) recommends use of kava for patients with mild to moderate anxiety disorders who are not using alcohol or taking other medicines metabolized by the liver, but who wish to use “natural” remedies. Side effects of kava in the clinical trials were rare and mild.

Inositol has been found to have modest effects in patients with panic disorder or obsessive-compulsive disorder. St. John's wort and Sympathyl have also been used to treat anxiety, but with little scientific evidence as to their effectiveness.

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