Collectively , the literature reveals pre clinical and clinical evidence for various phytomedicines modulating GABA-pathways , with comparative anxiolytic effect to the current array of pharmaceuticals , along with good safety and tolerability profiles
Anxiety disorders are chronic and functionally disabling conditions with high psychological stress , characterised by cognitive symptoms of excessive worry and focus difficulties and physiological symptoms such as muscle tension and insomnia .
Gamma-aminobutyric acid ( GABA ) is an inhibitory neurotransmitter within the central nervous system and is a key target of pharmacotherapies in the treatment of anxiety .
Although current pharmaceutical treatments are often efficacious , they may cause undesirable side effects including cognitive decrements and withdrawal symptoms .
Plant-based " phytomedicines " may provide novel treatment options , to act as an adjunctive or alternative to existing anxiolytic medications .
As such , we conducted a systematic review to assess the current body of literature on anxiolytic phytomedicines and /or phytoconstituents .
Preliminary examination of the efficacy and safety of a standardized chamomile extract for chronic primary insomnia: A randomized placebo-controlled pilot study
Background Despite being the most commonly used herbal for sleep disorders , chamomile 's ( Matricaria recutita ) efficacy and safety for treating chronic primary insomnia is unknown . We examined the preliminary efficacy and safety of chamomile for improving subjective sleep and daytime symptoms in patients with chronic insomnia . Methods We performed a r and omized , double-blind , placebo-controlled pilot trial in 34 patients aged 18 - 65 years with DSM-IV primary insomnia for ≥ 6-months . Patients were r and omized to 270 mg of chamomile twice daily or placebo for 28-days . The primary outcomes were sleep diary measures . Secondary outcomes included daytime symptoms , safety assessment s , and effect size of these measures . Results There were no significant differences between groups in changes in sleep diary measures , including total sleep time ( TST ) , sleep efficiency , sleep latency , wake after sleep onset ( WASO ) , sleep quality , and number of awakenings  . Chamomile did show modest advantage on daytime functioning , although these did not reach statistical significance . Effect sizes were generally small to moderate ( Cohen 's d ≤ 0.20 to < 0.60 ) with sleep latency , night time awakenings , and Fatigue Severity Scale ( FSS ) , having moderate effect sizes in favor of chamomile . However , TST demonstrated a moderate effect size in favor of placebo . There were no differences in adverse events reported by the chamomile group compared to placebo . Conclusion Chamomile could provide modest benefits of daytime functioning and mixed benefits on sleep diary measures relative to placebo in adults with chronic primary insomnia . However , further studies in select insomnia patients would be needed to investigate these conclusions .Trial Registration Clinical Trials.gov Identifier
Collectively , the literature reveals pre clinical and clinical evidence for various phytomedicines modulating GABA-pathways , with comparative anxiolytic effect to the current array of pharmaceuticals , along with good safety and tolerability profiles
Anxiety disorders are chronic and functionally disabling conditions with high psychological stress , characterised by cognitive symptoms of excessive worry and focus difficulties and physiological symptoms such as muscle tension and insomnia .
Gamma-aminobutyric acid ( GABA ) is an inhibitory neurotransmitter within the central nervous system and is a key target of pharmacotherapies in the treatment of anxiety .
Although current pharmaceutical treatments are often efficacious , they may cause undesirable side effects including cognitive decrements and withdrawal symptoms .
Plant-based " phytomedicines " may provide novel treatment options , to act as an adjunctive or alternative to existing anxiolytic medications .
As such , we conducted a systematic review to assess the current body of literature on anxiolytic phytomedicines and /or phytoconstituents .