Conventional Versus Herbal Treatment
Conventional medicine typically deals with mental disorders with a two-pronged approach: cognitive-behavioral therapy and drug treatment.
Cognitive-behavior therapy, also known as “talk therapy,” is based on changing the behaviors, beliefs, and patterns of thinking that can contribute to problems like depression and phobias. Cognitive therapy can also help people manage feelings of shyness, anxiety, or anger.
Some conventional drugs can trigger psychological problems. For example, OTC decongestants often cause nervousness, the prescription acne drug isotretinoin (Accutane) can create depression and psychosis, and clarithromycin (Biaxin), an antibiotic, can cause hallucinations, nightmares, and manic behavior. In fact, the FDA is investigating a possible association between montelukast sodium (Singulair), a popular asthma and allergy drug, and suicidal behavior.
Drug Treatments
In many cases, conventional medicine treats mental disorders pharmaceutically. Most of the drugs used to treat mental problems fall into these categories:
Antipsychotic medications
Antimanic (or mood-stabilizing) medications
Antidepressants
Antianxiety medications
Stimulants
Herbs: The Natural Alternative
While pharmaceutical interventions are certainly useful — and in some cases, essential — in treating psychological and emotional problems, many can be replaced or augmented with herbal remedies.
Many psychological and emotional problems respond well to herbal treatments — and some conventional doctors and mental health professionals are incorporating herbal remedies into their practices — but serious mental disorders require immediate medical attention. Moreover, some of the herbs used to treat mental problems (as well as other conditions) can interact with the prescription medications used by conventional practitioners. Be sure to talk with your doctor before using any herbal remedy to treat a psychological issue.
