Psychotropic medications from natural products: a review of promising research and recommendations.

Most psychotropic agents employed in allopathic medicine have limited efficacy and significant side effects. Although usually beneficial, synthetic psychotropics are unavailable to approximately 80% of the world's population. Improved understanding of appropriate and safe uses of naturally occurring substances as psychotropic agents will greatly contribute to global mental healthcare. Empirical validation of non-allopathic treatments to ensure safety and efficacy is important because increasing numbers of patients in economically developed countries are using natural substances as medicinal agents. Patients and clinicians often lack accurate information, resulting in poor treatment outcomes or the possibility of drug-drug interactions when herbal medications are used with synthetic psychotropic medications. An important objective of this paper is to distinguish compelling scientific evidence supporting the use of natural products in psychiatry from political or institutional biases that have been misrepresented as scientific arguments. Following an overview of historical, legal, and regulatory issues, this paper presents findings of a systematic literature review on natural products used to treat neuropsychiatric disorders. Significant recent research is reviewed, including emerging treatments of seizure disorders, schizophrenia, dementia and age-related cognitive decline, depression, anxiety states, and substance abuse. Substantial evidence is advanced for safety and efficacy of many natural products used to treat neuropsychiatric symptoms or disorders. Preliminary findings suggest that several treatments based on natural substances are as effective and safe as synthetic pharmaceuticals in current use. Additional studies are indicated to confirm these findings, to elucidate mechanisms of action, and to elaborate standards for safe and appropriate treatment indications. In conclusion, strategic approaches aimed at facilitating improved networking, accelerating promising research directions, and enhancing quality standards of ongoing investigations into putative psychotropic agents from natural sources are recommended.