Herbal Medicine for the Management of Anxiety, Depression, and Insomnia

Abstract

The world has advanced in technology, health care, financial instruments and management, and other aspects of human endeavors. This advancement has impacted positively and negatively on the human race. Human demands are insatiable; hence, they crave more and more feats. This has created a lot of unnecessary pressure on man: the quest to meet targets, to achieve set goals, and to measure up with peer groups and pals. These unimaginable pressures have impacted negatively on the human and sometimes animal race. Such pressures have led to anxiety, depression, and sometimes insomnia. These have become a great economic and social burden. The need to address these burdens has increased over the years. Affected subjects sort care from orthodox and traditional medical practitioners. Traditional medical practitioner uses herbs and other natural products/methods to manage these conditions (anxiety, depression and/or insomnia). Herbs used for the management of anxiety, depression, and insomnia have been reported to be rich in alkaloids and phenolic compounds. Alkaloids with these activities often contain quercetin, rutin, apigenin, luteolin, and kaempferol. Extensive research has led to some of the findings, and revealed that these alkaloids exhibit their actions by acting on GABA receptors, serotonin receptors, monoamine oxidase (MAO), and BDNF expression. These herbs also alter endocrine, immunological, and monoamine systems, such as NE, DA, MDA formation, IL-6, BDNF, and TNF- α levels. These mechanisms of action support their claims. The herbal remedy is worth trying if orthodox medicines fail.