Common herb may help ease anxiety symptoms in patients with depression
A recent study suggests that basil extract might help ease anxiety and depression. When taken with standard antidepressants, patients using a nightly basil syrup reported greater symptom relief than those taking a placebo.
A study published in the journal Brain and Behavior discovered that an extract derived from basil leaves may help alleviate symptoms of severe depression and anxiety when combined with standard antidepressant medication. In a randomized, single-blind, placebo-controlled trial, 60 adults diagnosed with major depressive disorder and accompanying anxiety were enrolled.
These participants were given either a nightly dose of basil syrup or a placebo, in addition to their prescribed sertraline antidepressant. The basil syrup contained 1100 milligrams of dried basil leaf extract, derived from the Ocimum basilicum plant, which contains biologically active compounds like linalool and eugenol. These compounds have been shown to interact with brain pathways related to stress and mood.
The basil group showed more significant symptom relief compared to the placebo group, with their depression scores decreasing by 18 points and anxiety scores dropping by 20 points. The researchers concluded that basil syrup served as a supplementary aid, working alongside standard antidepressant treatment to provide relief from anxiety and depression symptoms.
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