When I am asked about herbal remedies for anxiety or depression I have to reply that there is not enough scientific data to really answer the question. However, I just read the results of a small study assessing the efficacy of chamomile extract for mild anxiety. The study was randomized, meaning that the patients were randomly chosen to receive either the real chamomile extract or a placebo. Because chamomile has a distinct aroma and taste, the experimenters cleverly disguised the placebo with a little chamomile oil. The study was double-blind which means that neither the subject nor the researchers knew who got the active chamomile and who got the disguised placebo. There was a small benefit from the chamomile extract in reducing anxiety. Side effects were limited to one subject with some gastrointestinal upset. This is a good pilot study for chamomile in anxiety. I wish we had more studies like this so I could give better guidance to patients about herbal remedies. So, pick up some Celestial Seasonings tea like “Sleepytime” or “Tension Tamer” or some straight chamomile tea and see if it works for you. Write me the results in a comment and we can some naturalistic follow-up.
Archive for the ‘Supplements’ Category
Chamomile for Anxiety
Tuesday, September 15th, 2009Hydroxycut Warnings
Monday, May 4th, 2009The FDA has issued a warning about serious adverse effects from the weight loss product, Hydroxycut, and has advised against its use. The effects they are reporting are liver damage, seizures, cardiac problems and muscle cell damage that can lead to kidney damage. Patients often ask me about the safety of over-the-counter products of all kinds, not just for weight loss. These products are not studied using the same rigorous approach used to study prescription meds. Next to nothing is known about the hazards of combining herbal products and supplements with prescription meds. These products can have active substances in them as well as a multitude of other uncharacterized substances. This warning about Hydroxycut is the exception rather than the rule because there is usually little to no information that I can use to answer my patients’ questions about over-the-counter products and supplements. Two useful websites to research supplements are the NIH’s dietary supplement site and a similar site through the FDA.
