Nearly 50% of people in their lifetime will experience anxiety or depression making it the most common mental health disorders.
Prescription medications are available however, they have a variety of side effects that may include sexual dysfunction, dizziness, insomnia, nausea, sedation, pruritus, increased appetite and changes in bowel habits.
Nepeta menthoides, also known as Ustukhuddus, is a medicinal plant native to Iran that has been used in Persian folk medicine for upset stomach, high blood pressure, nervous system disorders, rheumatoid arthritis, and as a sedative.
Given the traditional use of this medication scientists reported their findings of a clinical trial testing Nepeta for treating anxiety in patents suffering from depression.
The results were published in the Journal of Herbal Medicine. 
Here are the details of the study
Study design: Two armed double blind, randomized, controlled trial
Study agents: Patients received either Persian lavender (400 mg per day) or sertraline (generic Zoloft) (50 mg per day)
Study agent preparation: The herb was ground and decocted in distilled water, for 10 min, with a ratio of 1:10 herb to water. The yielded extract was then filtered, concentrated and stored at −54 °C for 24 h. The extract was freeze-dried under vacuum at −50 °C, with the extract sublimated for 96 h in order to obtain a fine dry powder.
Outcomes: The Beck anxiety inventory (BAI) score was used to evaluate anxiety in patients
Here are the main results
– At 2 weeks a greater reduction of BAI scores with Persian lavender) as compared to the sertraline (generic Zoloft) group in the 2nd (16.52 ± 8.07 vs. 21.38 ± 10.98, P = 0.04)
– At 4 weeks a greater reduction of BAI score compared to sertraline (generic Zoloft) (11.55 ± 6.74 vs. 20.47 ± 11.53, P < 0.0001) weeks.
– Lower recurrence of anxiety with Nepeta (Persian lavender) compared to sertraline (generic zoloft)
– Fewer side effects with Persian lavender when compared to those of the sertraline group.
Comments by the authors of the study
The maximum daily dosage of N. menthoides according to Persian manuscripts is 8 g of the aerial parts, which is approximately equal to 800 mg of the prepared dry powdered extract.
And
The anxiolytic effects of N. menthoides, its lower symptom recurrence rate and its lesser side effects make this herb a potential alternative treatment for anxiety in patients with depression.
And
The presence of polyphenols and flavonoids in the extract might be at least partially responsible for these clinical effects.
Reference
Firoozabadi et al. Efficacy of a freeze-dried aqueous extract of Nepeta menthoides Boiss. & Buhse in the treatment of anxiety in patients with depression: A double-blind, randomized, controlled trial. Journal of Herbal Medicine. Volume 10, December 2017, Pages 17-23
His research on plant medicine has led to more than 45 publications and abstracts.This research has been presented at international meetings in the USA, France, Turkey, Peru, Israel, Austria, and Italy.
Categories: Clinical Trials, Mood, Plant Extracts