Herbs for good mental health

Citation

(2005), "Herbs for good mental health", Nutrition & Food Science, Vol. 35 No. 1. https://doi.org/10.1108/nfs.2005.01735aab.011

Herbs for good mental health

Herbs for good mental health

Today, the herbal health business has blossomed into a multi-million pound industry. Each year, more than four million people "self medicate" in the UK and use over-the-counter products. But this is only part of the story. Practitioners of herbal medicine, in common with practitioners of many forms of complementary medicine, take a different approach. They seldom recommend a "one-pill-fits-all" solution to a health problem. They deal with the person not the symptom. Two people with the same health complaint may leave the same practitioner with entirely different advice. It is this approach to healthcare that deserves praise. (HRH The Prince of Wales (in support of Herbal Medicine Awareness Week 2003)).

Many people self medicate but it is always preferable to seek advice from a qualified medical herbalist.

Like other forms of medicine, herbal medicines should be taken under professional guidance. A qualified medical herbalist will know which herbs to prescribe for pre-existing medical conditions. They also advise about suitable herbs to use during pregnancy and breastfeeding. It is important to seek advice before using herbal medicine if you already taking some other form of medication.

The following information is provided as a brief introduction only and not as a substitute for professional diagnosis and treatment.

Depression

Many people know that St John's Wort (Hypericum perforatum) is a herb that can help with depression, but not everyone is aware that there is a wide variety of herbs that can be just as helpful. Treatment from a medical herbalist will include not only personalised herbal prescriptions, but also advice about diet and exercise – both of which can play an important role in lifting mood.

St John's Wort can help increase the effectiveness of serotonin in the body and thereby improve symptoms of depression. It can affect the actions of a number of prescription drugs, so it is important to consult a qualified medical herbalist before use.

Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis) is an excellent mood enhancer, particularly for Seasonal Affective Disorder, and also a great aid to good digestion. However, people with an under-active thyroid should avoid this herb.

Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) is another herb favoured by herbalists for raising mood, though it should be avoided by anyone with high blood pressure. Damiana (Turnera diffusa) is especially useful for post-menopausal lethargy, whilst Borage (Borago officinalis) helps ensure the adrenal glands are functioning effectively – good for low mood connected to stress and exhaustion. Other great herbs for lifting mood include Oats (Avena sativa), Vervain (Verbena officinalis) and Siberian Ginseng (Eleutherococcus senticosus).

Insomnia

There are many causes of poor sleep and therefore a range of solutions. Herbs can play an invaluable role in helping establish a regular sleep pattern. Some herbs, such as Cramp Bark (Viburnum opulus) help relax tension in the muscles, whilst others, such as Valerian (Valeriana officinalis) and Lime Blossom (Tilia spp.) help calm the mind. If pain is the cause of poor sleep, then herbal painkillers can be used. Herbal hypnotics act directly to make you feel sleepy and should not be used when driving or operating machinery – these include Passion flower (Passiflora incarnata), Hops (Humulus Iupulus), Jamaican Dogwood (Piscidia erythrina) and Californian Poppy (Eschscholzia californica). Valerian and Passion flower are also mild analgesics, so useful when headaches or other sources of pain contribute to the insomnia.

Anxiety

From panic attacks to sleeplessness or simple worry, anxiety affects not only the mind but very often the body too.

Anxiety – sometimes referred to as 'stress' – can be a factor in a range of physical problems including irritable bowel syndrome, raised blood pressure, psoriasis, infertility and migraines.

A medical herbalist may suggest a range of dietary and life-style changes to help and will also decide on herbs particularly relevant to each individual. Herbs that have traditionally been used to calm the nervous system include Vervain (Verbena officinalis), Kava Kava (Piper methysticum – currently banned), Pasque Flower (Anemone pulsatilla), Scullcap (Scutellaria lateriflora) and Centaury (Erythraea centaurium).

Since anxiety can readily affect blood pressure and pulse rate, a medical herbalist will often add the heart remedy Hawthorn (Crataegus oxycantha) to a prescription for anxiety.

Facts and figures

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  10 per cent of us visit a practitioner of one of the five main complementary therapies. That is 22 million visits (source: University of Sheffield).

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  Every year in the UK, it is estimated that people spend £126 million on herbal medicines.

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  The herbal products industry generally is believed to be worth thousands of millions of pounds. The WHO estimate that the world market for herbal medicine is worth £41 billion.

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  The majority of people who visit a practitioner go on to recommend it to a friend or relative. Women are much more likely than men to visit a medical herbal practitioner.

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  The World Health Organisation states that today depression is the second most common illness for those between the ages of 15-44.

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  Stress has already overtaken the common cold as the biggest cause of sick leave from work; over 5 million days are lost in Britain each year due to stress (equivalent to 14,000 years).

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  12 million people use antidepressants in the UK.

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  Five million people in the UK at any one time will suffer from depression.

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  One in 10 teenagers suffers from depression.

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  40 per cent of GP consultations involve mental health problems.

A potted history of herbal medicine

Herbal medicine has its roots at the very beginning of civilised man's history yet enthusiasm for this ancient form of medicine has never been greater than it is today.

The ancient Egyptians around 1500BC used garlic, juniper and myrrh for medicinal purposes.

In 1000 AD "The Leech Book of Bald" reveals that herbs were used to protect people from infections. Bald remains a shadowy figure from the past but his writings suggest a time of superstition. It was believed disease occurred when people were struck with elves' arrows.

The Physicians of Myddfai adopted a much more sensible approach. Impressed with the work of Hippocrates, the Welsh physicians based their own philosophy on good diet, a moderate lifestyle, and simple herbal remedies.

In the Middle Ages in Britain many people subscribed to the Doctrine of Signatures’– that herbs had been "signed" by God and that their appearance and characteristics revealed clues to their medicinal uses. It was an innocent assumption. Milk thistle was believed to help promote milk flow for nursing mothers, and the yellow flowers of the dandelion were believed to be good for jaundice.

The arrival of the printing press meant herbalists could spread the word about effective herbal medicines. Nicholas Culpeper was particularly noted for incurring the wrath of mainstream physicians and apothecaries alike. He encouraged people to use simple local herbs rather than buy exotic imported remedies to cure their ills.

Women have always been central to herbal medicine although some suffered for their art. Some village "wise women" were condemned as witches.

Notable women who helped establish the worth of herbal medicine include: Abbess Hildegard of Bingen, a physician, musician and teacher; Trotula, chairwoman of the Salerno medical school; Maud Grieve, who promoted herbal health during the first world war; and Hilda Leyel, who founded the Herb Society in 1927, and even treated patients on her death bed.

Botanic medicine became all the rage in nineteenth century America, when Samuel Thompson became disenchanted with the side effects of regular physicians. His gentle "root and herb" approach to medicine became very popular and was brought to Britain by Albert Coffin where it flourished.

In 1864 the National Association of Medical Herbalists was established in Britain. In 1945 the association was renamed the National Institute of Medical Herbalists.

Today, Western medical herbalists combine historical knowledge with the latest scientific research. Medical Herbalists train for at least four years and receive botanical and medical training and adhere to a strict code of conduct. Training in phytotherapy includes the study of medical sciences, diagnostic skills, pharmacy, materia medica and dietetics in addition to a minimum of 500 hours supervised clinical experience.