In Europe, herbs and herbal products are regulated in a different manner than in the United States. In 1978, the German Federal Health Agency established the German Commission E to investigate the safety and efficacy of herbal remedies. The commission studied evidence from literature, anecdotal reports, and clinical studies. In response, they developed monographs on over 400 herbs. These writings are now used worldwide as essential references on herbal therapy. The commission also established indications of how an herb is used medicinally and dosage recommendations, which ultimately resulted in the successful mainstreaming of herbs into medical practice. Unlike U.S. law, German law allows herb manufacturers to market herbs with treatment claims just as drug companies do.

As herbs have become more popular, scientific analysis has increased. In response to public interest in the use herbal therapy, a clinically-based science of herbal medicine has emerged. This essentially means that the methods and practices used in the scientific approach to medicine have been applied to the study of herbal medicine.

The following represents a small sample of the large body of research supporting the use of herbal medicine in treating psychiatric problems.

Black Tea
Black tea has been widely used in Japan to induce a favorable mental feeling. It provides strong anti-stress qualities due to its high concentrations of the flavonoids theaflavin and thearubigen, as well as the amino acid theanine.

In 2007, three separate studies discovered positive psychological effects as a result of consuming black tea. During a study in London, 75 men who drank black tea before a stressful event had lower stress hormone levels than those who didn’t have tea. The researchers took blood samples 50 minutes after inducing stress and found that the tea drinkers’ cortisol levels were 20% less than the placebo group. The study’s authors concluded that the constituents in black tea help the mind and body recover more quickly from stressful events.

Ginkgo Biloba
Cognitive decline, dementia and Alzheimer’s disease (AD) are primary mental health concerns among aging populations. For decades, research has shown ginkgo biloba to be effective in the prevention and treatment of AD, and it has been the most widely prescribed drug in Germany. Ginkgo contains compounds that prevent cell death in the brain, improve circulation, and act as blood thinners and antioxidants.

Ginkgo can relieve sexual dysfunction due to antidepressant medications. In a four-week study, researchers treated 33 women and 30 men experiencing sexual side effects from antidepressants with ginkgo extract. Patients continued taking their antidepressant medication during the trial. The researchers concluded that the ginkgo treatment was effective in reducing sexual side effects for 91% of female patients and 76% of males.

St. John's Wort Helps Depression
In a review article of several studies, researchers summarized and critiqued the findings of controlled clinical trials on St. John's wort (Hypericum perforatum), kava (Piper methysticum), ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba), and valerian (Valeriana officinalis) with mental health problems. While the authors concluded that there was substantial evidence that all four herbs were effective in treating psychiatric disorders, the evidence for St. John's wort’s efficacy was the most convincing, with five of nine studies showing it to be superior to placebo, and the other four finding it to be as effective as prescription antidepressants.

Valerian Helps Mild Insomnia
Valerian has a long tradition as a sleep-inducing agent, with the added benefit of not producing a hangover feeling the next day. Clinical research of valerian has shown its efficacy in the treatment of mild insomnia. A Dutch study by Wissenschaftliche Beratung Pharma gave 121 people with insomnia dried valerian root for 28 days. At the 28-day mark, 75 showed an improvement in sleep quality and well-being. In addition, valerian was at least as effective as the sleeping medication oxazepam.

References
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