Herbal+Medicine

@http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=chA7WqoP-KI = = =Complementary and Alternative Medicine=

Over the past decade, there has been an increase in demand and seeking out for alternative medicine for mental health issues, more particularly for anxiety, depression, and pain management. The type of alternative medicine explored for anxiety and depression are most often herbal remedies. (Roy-Byrne, Bystritsky, Russo, Craske, et. al., 2005). ====Reason being, this approach seems to please the clients due to unsuccessful prior attempts with the previous engagement in mainstream treatment. This type of treatment is applicable to depression in particular, serving clinically significant benefits. Some examples of complementary and alternative medicine include primarily accupuncture and medicinal herbs and plants (Weatherley-Jones, 2004) ==== == = = =Oriental and Herbal Medicine=

Oriental medicine is a herbal medicine prescribed for patients as additional treatments for depression. Importantly, the main difference between Oriental medicine and Western medicine is that the oriental medicine has very few side effects, which is imperative to achieve the least amount of harmfulness. On a side note, the Ministry of Health regulates the quality of the herbal medicine. As well, herbal medicine particularly regulates autonomic dysfunction (Sarai, 1992).

Certain patients suffering with depression turn to oriental medication because the patients are ‘too sensitive’ and cannot tolerate prescribed antidepressants. For example: ‘Saiko-Ka-Ryukotu-Borei-To’ for instance. Those who take Saiko-Ka-Ryukotu-Borei-To suffer from 'mental depression', as well as serving to remove pain around the hypochrondriacal region, assisting sleeplessness, irritation, fatigue, and more (Sarai, 1992).

Mechanisms of action for herbal medication include: the alteration of neural communication, alteration of neurotransmitter synthesis, and stimulating or sedating the central nervous system (CNS) activity. (Sarris, Panossian, Schweitzer, Stough, & Scholey, 2011).

Notably, the source of effectiveness of herbal medicine as well as the effective components is unknown as of today. As well, the herbal medication effectiveness may differ, depending on various factors: the plant growth, different places the plant grew, as well as the different years that they are grown (Sarai, 1992).



= = =**Examples of Herbal Remedies**=

In dealing with psychiatric symptoms, the following six herbal remedies were explored in a study: St. John’s wort, kava kava, melatonin, gingko biloba, ginseng, and valerian root. (Roy-Byrne, Bystritsky, Russo, Craske, et. al, 2005).

__Descriptions for some herbal medicine__:


 * 1. Ginseng ** - used most readily for fatigue, depression, and poor cognition. Targets dopamine and serotonin.
 * 2. St. John’s Wort ** - used most readily for depression, andbipolar depression. Targets neuroendocrine system.
 * 3. Kava ** - used most readily for anxiety, comorbid depression, anxious insomnia, and ADHD. Targets GABA.
 * 4. Saffron ** - used most readily for depression and anxiety. Targets the Monoamines (MOA)- dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin.

(Sarris, Panossian, Schweitzer, Stough, & Scholey, 2011).



As well, another example of an herbal Oriental medicine is ‘Choto-alkaloid’, which is associated with the mood of depression. Another example of an herbal Oriental medicine is ‘Yokukan-San-Ka-Chinpi-Hange’, which consists of ‘Choto’ and other sedative herbs, which are useful for ‘agitated depression’. Yokukan-San-Ka-Chinpi-Hange assist clients with hypersensitivity, anxious depression, stiffness of limbs, and more (Sarai, 1992).

Another example of an herbal Oriental medicine is Choto-San for headaches. Although the ‘depression headache’ is usually treated with antidepressants, Choto-San is sometimes preferably prescribed (Sarai, 1992). The primary purpose of the herbal medication in this case is that it could elevate mood to effectively treat depression. This is done through targeting neurological pathways that contain antidepressant effects (GABA, serotonin, and noradrenaline). (Roy-Byrne, Bystritsky, Russo, Craske, et. al., 2005). = = = **Western Medicine vs. Herbal Medicine** =

A study explored the patients’ conceptualization surrounding the decision for prescription medication and/or the choice of herbal medication. The study indicated that patients with a ‘lower medical disease burden’ were associated with using herbal medicine. The ‘lower medical disease burden’ in this case basically means the more medically ill an individual is. Therefore, patients with a ‘higher medical disease burden’, or patients that are more medically ill, are more inclined to take prescription medications. Reason being, it seems that patients are thus conceptualizing the severity of their medical concerns, and identifying ‘real medicine’, or prescription medicine, as more effective for more serious medical issues. Therefore, the herbal medicine is more readily used for less severe conditions. (Roy-Byrne, Bystritsky, Russo, Craske, et. al., 2005). Interestingly, the study also suggests that individuals containing more education are more likely to use alternative medicine for more severe medical concerns rather than prescription medicine (Roy-Byrne, Bystritsky, Russo, Craske, et. al., 2005).

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