Herbal medicines in the treatment of psychiatric and neurological disorders

ABSTRACT

This review will indicate the quality of the evidence supporting the clinical effects of a number of commonly used types of herbal medicines for psychiatric and neurological disorders. We conducted a review of literature to understand the biochemical and evidential bases for the use of herbs in psychiatric and neurological disorders as follow 1] Alzheimer's disease, 2] Depression, 3] Anxiety, 4] Insomnia, 5] Substance use disorders, 6] Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder [ADHD], 7] Migraine. Evidences support use of Ginkgo biloba, Huperzine A, Galantamine, Melissa officinalisand Salvia officinalis for Alzheimer's disease; St. John's wort, Lavender. and Saffron for depression; Passionflower, and Kava, for anxiety disorders; Valerian and English Lavender for sleep disorders; Hypericum for substance related disorders; Ginkgo biloba, and Passionflower for ADHD; and feverfew, and Butterbur root for migraine. The highest level of confidence derives from well-designed, randomized, double blind controlled studies. Herbs may have beneficial effects in variety of psychiatric and neurological disorder; however we must consider their potential side effects and drug-drug interactions