The Facts:
* A comprehensive review of published data suggests a number of complementary medicines are beneficial in the treatment of some psychiatric illnesses.
* Ginko biloba and hydergine may improve learning and thinking ability, passion flower and valerian may have sedative qualities and St. John’s Wort may be useful as an anti-depressant.
* Well controlled clinical studies are needed to investigate these claims further.
Shaun’s comment: Mental illnesses are those which affect mood, behaviour or thinking. They are often due to changes in brain structure or functioning and can be caused by amongst other things drugs, genes and psychological trauma. Up to a quarter of adults have a mental illness at some stage each year. The main conclusion from this review of the medical literature was that more information is needed from good clinical research, but the use of St John’s Wort is certainly effective and is perhaps the best example of a natural product that has undergone extensive medical trials and been shown to be effective.
Study Reference:
http://bjp.rcpsych.org/cgi/content/abstract/188/2/109
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