PTSD Treatments: When Pharmaceuticals Fail, Herbal Medicine May Be Something to Consider

NPR recently broadcast a lengthy segment detailing the ongoing struggles of veterans and active service members with PTSD. It highlighted how frequently the negative side effects of the pharmaceutical medications they take for PTSD symptoms make their ongoing suffering harder to cope with. The patients describe slogging through their days and nights in a mental and physical fog induced by sleep aids, pain relievers, anti-anxiety and antidepressants. In personal recorded interviews, the veterans describe how the sedative and suppressive qualities of the medicines make them feel zoned out which prevents them from experiencing their genuine, authentic selves. Their utter exasperation and desperation lead some to stop all medication cold turkey for they would rather feel the raw fears, recurring memories, sleepless nights and cold sweats than the alternative haze and disorientation the medications cause. One still active service member told how, while he remains in the service, he is required to take many medications for his PTSD and gets blood tested monthly to make sure he is in compliance. Because he is so adverse to the prescription drugs, he quits them right after testing and then starts them all over again a week before he is to be tested. They make him very sick and he sounded utterly discouraged, but he would rather live this way than to always be under the influence.

Listening to this program gave me such a strong urge to fly through the radio waves to these men and women to thank them for their service and somehow share with them some of what I know about the gentle, nudging, nourishing, therapeutics medicinal herbs offer for stress, anxiety, sleeplessness, panic attacks, hyper-reactivity, low mood, etc. Let me be clear that I am not suggesting that herbs should be used for clinically diagnosed illnesses, but even doctors would have to agree that if the patient is not getting relief and is unwilling to take the medication and is still suffering, certainly it is time to at least allow some willing individuals the opportunity to choose different therapies that might bring relief.

I know this time has come because just last Saturday when I was in my Millcreek Herbs booth at the Downtown Farmer’s Market in Salt Lake City, I was visited by someone from the integrative health program at the VA hospital. She took great interest in my Thrive Tonic and even said it belonged in their study. I could not agree more. She said so far they are working with nutrition and some essential oils. I asked if she knew anything about herbs and she replied she did not. She took my card. I have not heard from her.

My teacher, Michael Moore said, “Herbs help shift us in ways we cannot shift ourselves.”I have learned in my 17 years in herbal practice that when a person does not feel good, often the last thing they need is to be given harsh, strong treatments. Sometimes when faced with a client who is in physical and/or emotional pain, and who is well armored against that pain and anguish, the best approach is to introduce just a whisper of just the right herb. When done properly and successfully, and it does take a trained professional here, it is a beautiful thing to see that shift take place. Once work can begin, it usually goes in stages. I try to address the most immediate concern first if I can. The client and I and the herbs work together through layers. It is complicated, but this challenge is my favorite part of my job as an herbalist. With so many herbs to choose from, it is something of an art to fit the right ones in the right combinations to the person. I believe that herbal medicine holds great potential for some people who suffer from PTSD.

Among all the herbs in my pharmacy, these are among those I would consider for some of the disorders listed in this article:

Anemone   Ashwaganda   Aveena   Calamus   Chamomile   Elephant Head  

Hawthorn   Kava Kava   Lavender   Lemon Balm   Lobelia   Motherwort(for women)

Passionflower   Rhodiola   Rose   St. John’s Wort

(Update to post 8/15/2014)
Interestingly, moments after this blog post went up, information about an organization called Save A Warrior began to appear in several media channels.
CNN reporter Soledad O'Brien delivered an hour long broadcast about Post Traumatic Stress and the Save A Warrior organization that revealed the excruciatingly painful circumstances the veterans and their families endure while they suffer from PTSD. Save a Warrior is a non profit that offers these most needy soldiers five days respite with peaceful coping techniques like meditation, rhythmic breathing and other trust-building exercises like rope courses; servicemen and women can once again find a pathway to better balance in their day-to-day lives. 

Knowing these alternative therapies are being used to overcome PTSD by veterans and their families is heartening and fills me with hope that herbal medicine will be added to current integrative mental and emotional health treatment methods.