Natural Products as Psychotherapeutic Agents.”^21 The authors used meta-analyses to find
persuasive evidence supporting use of:
St. John’s Wort (Hypericum perforatum) for mild to moderate depression,
ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba) for mild cognitive impairment/dementia,
kava (Piper methysticum) for anxiety and stress (which Fugh-Berman and others now
caution against, in light of more recent information about liver toxicity – CAUTION
ADVISED),
valerian (Valeriana officinalis) for sleep disorders,
S-Adenosyl-L-Methionine (SAM-e) for depression,
folate and tryptophan to enhance the effectiveness of conventional antidepressants,
and
omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids for mood stabilization.
The CAM therapies for mental health conditions evaluated by Fugh-Berman and Cott but not
found to be supported by the available evidence included:
ginseng,
passion flower,
skullcap and
vitamins
But dealing with clinically diagnosed vitamin deficiencies should be differentiated from self-
prescribed vitamin therapy, especially mega-vitamin therapy, and the absence of evidence for
all of these treatments could change with more targeted studies.