USE OF HERBAL MEDICINES IN PSYCHIATRY

Abstract

Background. »Lost illusions« about conventional medicine, together with the orientation towards the »natural« way of life, lead into ever increasing use of alternative or complementary ways of treatment. Herbal medicines are entering into psychiatric practice with the intention of treatment (mostly self-treatment) psychiatric symptoms. Side effects may include changes of mood, thinking processes or behaviour, and interactions with psychiatric medications. Conclusions. With this article we would like to draw attention to common self-treatment or self-medication in persons with psychiatric symptoms, and to the equally common fact that the physicians are – more often than not – unacquainted with this practice. Some of the most frequently used herbal medicines are presented in the article (registered in Slovenia as class C medicinal products). Regardless of their extensive use and implementation of regulatory procedures, in most cases qualitative and quantitative data are insufficient for final conclusions about their efficacy and safety to be reliable. Partial exception to this represents the use of St. John’s worth in the treatment of depression and ginkgo in the treatment of memory impairments in dementia. Self-treatment in general population should not be neglected, however, full professional scepticism should be maintained.