Herbs for Mood Support

Many depression aids can be found in the garden. St. John’s wort’s (Hypericum perforatum) medicinal uses were first recorded in ancient Greece. Traditionally, it has been used to treat mental disorders and nerve pain. It has also been used as a sedative and a treatment for malaria, as well as a balm for wounds, burns and insect bites, according to the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM).

Today, St. John's wort is used by some for depression, anxiety and/or sleep disorders. In one unpublished study by Bioforce USA (Ghent, NY), six weeks of three times daily consumption of one tablet of St. John’s wort (as A. Vogel Hyeriforce) reduced the severity of depression by 54 percent, anxiety by 49 percent, nervousness by 50 percent, gastrointestinal symptoms by 54 percent, cardiovascular symptoms (e.g., palpitations) by 58 percent, sleep disorders by 51 percent, day fatigue by 57 percent and headaches by 65 percent. The study included 200 patients suffering from mild to moderate depression in Switzerland.

A review of 23 randomized trials, including 1,757 outpatients with mild or moderately severe depressive disorders, compared St. John’s wort with another drug treatment.¹ It found the hypericum extracts to be significantly superior to placebo and similarly effective as standard antidepressants. Side effects occurred in 50 (19.8 percent) patients on hypericum and 84 (52.8 percent) patients on standard antidepressants. Other studies have found St. John’s wort to be 1.5 times more likely to result in an antidepressant response than placebo,² and is better tolerated than common antidepressant drugs.^3,4

However, not all studies show St. John’s wort to be effective against depressive symptoms. One double blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial conducted in 12 academic and community psychiatric research clinics in the United States involved 340 adult outpatients with major depression who received H. perforatum, placebo or sertraline (as an active comparator) for eight weeks; The results failed to support the efficacy of H perforatum in moderately severe and major depression.⁵

Valerian (Valeriana officinalis) is another flowering plant that can offer relief from depression symptoms. Even its name refers to mood support. According to the Oxford English Dictionary, valerian is derived from the Latin verb valere meaning "being well," "feeling good" and "having a good morale.” Valerian has traditionally been used to aid insomnia in those who cannot sleep because of stress and anxiety. Better sleep can lead to less stress and anxiety, and promote general well-being.

A placebo-controlled, randomized, double blind clinical trial published in the European Journal of Medical Research (2008; 13:1-5) sought to determine if one daily dose of valerian (as Valerian Complex, from Bioforce USA) influenced sleep. The study of 44 patients with a history of poor sleep recorded sleep patterns during two consecutive nights; the first one as a reference and the second one under drug condition with either placebo or a 2 ml. dose of valerian. The results showed those who took valerian experienced more time in deeper sleep than with placebo, and minutes spent in deep-sleep phases with the supplement significantly improved (303 minutes compared to 265 minutes for placebo).

Along with sleep, valerian also affects depression symptoms and anxiety. One study found it not only significantly (P<0.001) attenuated stress and anxiety, but also significantly (P<0.001) improved depression.⁶ It has also been shown to enhance the effects of St. John’s wort when used in combination.⁷

Another plant with mood support abilities is Withania somnifera (WS), also known as Ashwagandha. WS has historically been used in Asia for treating stress-related health conditions. The Ayurvedic system of medicine claims it promotes stress relief, health and longevity by potentiating the immune system, arresting premature aging, restoring homeostasis and increasing resistance to adverse environmental factors.

In a double blindm, randomized placebo controlled study published in The Journal of the American Nutraceutical Association (2008 11: 49-56), WS (as Sensoril and Essentra, from NutraGenesis), the effects of standardized WS root and leaf extract (WSE) in chronically stressed humans were reviewed. Participants (n=98) were randomly assigned to WSE (125 mg QD, 125 mg BID or 250 mg BID) or placebo groups. Stress levels were assessed at days 0, 30 and 60 using a modified Hamilton anxiety (mHAM-A) scale. Biochemical and clinical variables were measured at days 0 and 60. Between days 0 and 60, the WSE 125 mg QD group decreased its mean mHAM-A score significantly more compared to the placebo group. Other WSE treatment groups had greater dose-dependent responses in these parameters and had significantly greater responses compared to placebo in mean fasting blood glucose, serum lipid profiles and cardiac risk ratios. Participants and dropouts reported no adverse effects.

Related research supports those findings. A study that subjected albino rats to cold water swimming stress until exhaustion with or without WS concluded WS is a potent antistressor agent.⁸ Another rat study investigated the anxiolytic and antidepressant actions of the bioactive glycowithanolides (WSG) isolated from WS roots.⁹ WSG (20 and 50 mg/kg) was administered orally once daily for five days and the results were compared by those elicited by the benzodiazepine lorazepam (0.5 mg/kg, i.p.) for anxiolytic studies, and by the tricyclic anti-depressant, imipramine (10 mg/kg, i.p.), for the antidepressant investigations. The inquiry supported the use of WS as a mood stabilizer in clinical conditions of anxiety and depression.

With other plants, the bark contains the bite. Houpu Magnolia (Magnolia officinalis) is a deciduous tree native to China. The bark is used in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). A rational formulation containing soy isoflavones (60 mg), lactobacilli (500 millions spores), calcium (141 mg) and vitamin D3 (5 microg) was added to Magnolia bark extract (60 mg) and magnesium (50 mg) (Estromineral serena, ES) and was given to symptomatic menopausal women with sleep or mood alterations.¹⁰ Women received 1 tablet/d of ES or Ca+D for 24 weeks. Flushing, nocturnal sweating, palpitations, insomnia, asthenia, anxiety, mood depression, irritability, vaginal dryness, dyspareunia, and libido loss significantly decreased in severity and frequency during ES versus Ca+D treatment. Well-being (good/very good 66.7 percent versus 20 percent) and acceptability (93.9 percent versus 31.4 percent) were significantly better for ES.

Houpu Magnolia, when used with Phellodendron amurense (known as cork-tree), can curb overeating due to stressful situations. A study measured the effects of a proprietary blend of extracts of Magnolia officinalis and Phellodendron amurense (as Relora, from Next Pharmaceuricals) on anxiety, stress and sleep in healthy premenopausal women.¹¹

A randomized, parallel, placebo controlled clinical study was conducted with overweight (BMI 25 to 34.9), premenopausal female adults, between the ages of 20 and 50 years, who typically eat more in response to stressful situations. The intervention was Relora (250 mg capsules) or identical placebo three times daily for six weeks. Relora was effective, in comparison to placebo, in reducing temporary, transitory anxiety. However, it was not effective in reducing long-standing feelings of anxiety or depression.

Houpu Magnolia can also aid in sleep when mixed with Ziziphus spinosa. Ziziphus is also used in TCM for anxiety, nervousness and sleep-related problems. A proprietary blend of extracts of Magnolia officinalis bark and Ziziphus spinosa seed (as Seditol, from Next Pharmaceuticals) was studied in an unpublished clinical trial using 295 volunteers with mild to moderate sleep difficulties. A questionnaire was used by the participants to self-report tolerance and efficacy following a minimum of two weeks of treatment with one (365 mg) capsule one hour before bedtime. The product was considered relaxing by 86.9 percent of the respondents, assisting in a restful sleep by 82.8 percent and effective in reducing fatigue due to lack of sleep by 82.8 percent. Seditol was also found to be well tolerated.

For more zeal for life, consumers may look to passion flower (Passiflora incarnata), which has been studied for its anti-anxiety properties.¹² One study found it may have a sedative action; however, more studies are needed to determine how strong the connection is between mood support and passion flower.¹³ RFI Ingredients is doing just that with a soon-to-be-released phase 3 human study on some of its passion flower mood support products.

Lemon balm (Melissa officinalis) not only smells sweet, but can deliver anti-anxiety effects. In a double blind, placebo-controlled, randomized, balanced crossover experiment, 18 healthy volunteers received two separate single doses of a standardized lemon balm extract (300 mg and 600 mg) and a placebo, on separate days separated by a seven-day washout period.¹⁴ The results showed the 600-mg dose ameliorated the negative mood effects of a Defined Intensity Stressor Simulation (DISS) test. Another study showed lemon balm and valerian, when used together, possess anti-anxiety properties that deserve further investigation.¹⁵

An ancient crop of the western Pacific, kava (Piper methysticum) is effective in reducing anxiety symptoms.¹⁶ In fact, clinical trials demonstrate it to be superior to placebo, and roughly equivalent to the benzodiazepine psychoactive drugs oxazepam 15 mg/ and bromazepam 9 mg/d.¹⁷ In peri- and postmenopausal women, administration of kava induces an improvement of mood, particularly of anxiety.^18,19

The leaves and extract of the ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba) tree have been ingested for memory enhancement, but also may support mood.²⁰ A 2003 randomized double blind, monocenter study investigated the short-term effect of the ginkgo extract EGb 761 on the subjective emotional well-being of 66 healthy elderly subjects.²¹ For a period of four weeks, 34 subjects received a daily dose of 240 mg EGb 761 and 32 received a placebo. The study revealed a statistically significant difference between the two groups for mental health, quality of life and mood. A statistically significant improvement occurred for depression, fatigue, anger and self-reported depression.

References on the next page...

References for "Herbs for Mood Support"

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