Category:Anxiolytic herbs

An anxiolytic herb is a plant medicine whose principal indication is the reduction of anxiety symptoms (generalised anxiety, situational anxiety, panic, anxious insomnia). The category overlaps substantially with nervine herbs; the distinction is principally one of clinical emphasis. The pharmacological mechanism across the category is dominated by activity at the GABA-A receptor (the same target as the pharmaceutical benzodiazepines but at distinct binding sites and with substantially lower receptor occupancy), with additional mechanisms involving serotonergic modulation, adenosine signalling, and parasympathetic outflow.

The foundational anxiolytic herbs of contemporary use include chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla; the apigenin-GABA-A mechanism, with substantial controlled-trial evidence in generalised anxiety disorder through the Amsterdam and Mao trials of 2009 and 2016 respectively); lemon balm (Melissa officinalis; rosmarinic-acid-and-citral GABA-transaminase inhibition); passionflower (Passiflora incarnata; the apigenin-and-chrysin GABA-A mechanism); lavender (Lavandula angustifolia; the linalool-mediated anxiolysis, with the standardised silexan oral preparation having controlled-trial evidence in mild-to-moderate anxiety); valerian (Valeriana officinalis; the valerenic-acid GABA-A modulation, with primary indication for sleep but secondary anxiolytic use); kava (Piper methysticum; the kavalactone GABA-A modulation, with substantial controlled-trial evidence and the substantial hepatotoxicity restriction that has driven its withdrawal from many Western jurisdictions); ashwagandha (Withania somnifera; cross-listed under adaptogens); and skullcap (Scutellaria lateriflora; the American clinical-herbalist anxiolytic, distinct from the Chinese Scutellaria baicalensis).

The clinical use of anxiolytic herbs is supported by controlled-trial evidence that varies in quality across the class. Chamomile, lavender, and ashwagandha have the most extensive contemporary trial-evidence base; passionflower and lemon balm have substantial preliminary trial data; valerian's primary evidence is for sleep but anxiolytic use is widespread. Kava has the highest acute anxiolytic potency but the hepatotoxicity concern (particularly the case-cluster of severe hepatic injury reported in the early 2000s that led to EMA withdrawal) has restricted its current use. The interaction profile across the class includes additive sedation with the pharmaceutical benzodiazepines and Z-drugs, with alcohol, and with the older antihistamines; combined use requires the same caution as for any sedative combination.

Chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla), lemon balm (Melissa officinalis), passionflower (Passiflora incarnata), lavender (Lavandula angustifolia), valerian (Valeriana officinalis), kava (Piper methysticum; hepatotoxicity restriction), ashwagandha (Withania somnifera), skullcap (Scutellaria lateriflora), California poppy (Eschscholzia californica), hops (Humulus lupulus), magnolia bark (Magnolia officinalis), wild lettuce (Lactuca virosa), Albizia (Albizia julibrissin bark, He Huan Pi), the TCM anxiolytics Bai Zi Ren (Platycladus seed), Suan Zao Ren (jujube seed, Ziziphus jujuba), and Yuan Zhi (polygala root, Polygala tenuifolia).

The boundary of this category is "herb whose principal or important clinical indication is reduction of anxiety symptoms." Many anxiolytic herbs have parallel sedative-hypnotic action and are cross-listed under nervine herbs. The pharmaceutical anxiolytics (the benzodiazepines and Z-drugs of Schedule IV, the SSRIs and SNRIs of antidepressants used for anxiety, the older antihistamines hydroxyzine and diphenhydramine, the beta-blockers used for performance-anxiety somatic-symptom suppression, the newer pregabalin and gepant indications) are listed under their primary umbrellas.

This category page is an encyclopedia article about its subject. The actual index of herbs belonging to the category is generated automatically by the wiki engine, from category-membership declarations on the individual herb pages, and appears at the foot of the page below the references.