Natural remedies for anxiety disorders: potential use and clinical applications.
BACKGROUND
Natural remedies have been widely used and generally accepted as established treatments of depressive disorders, leading to the investigation of their potential role and efficacy in the treatment of the various anxiety disorders.


METHODS
Numerous case reports, open-label, and placebo-controlled trials investigating the use of natural remedies in the treatment of anxiety disorders have yielded some encouraging results.


RESULTS
Overall, these studies have indicated a potential role for natural remedies in the treatment of anxiety and suggest that such agents may possess a safer side effects profile when compared to conventional agents. However, these early findings, albeit promising, are yet to be supported by further investigation in large-scale, placebo-controlled studies.


CONCLUSIONS
This article reviews past and present research being performed in this area of clinical interest, while also revealing a remarkable paucity of data.
Kinrys
Gustavo
G
Depression and Anxiety Disorders Research Program, Cambridge Health Alliance, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA. gkinrys@challiance.org
Coleman
Eliza
E
Rothstein
Ethan
E
D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D020902:Hypericum; D007294:Inositol / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D020901:Kava; D008550:Melatonin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009771:Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D016584:Panic Disorder / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D029598:Passiflora; D008517:Phytotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D014632:Valerian
D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents; D000975:Antioxidants; D007294:Inositol; D008550:Melatonin