Advances in Psychiatric Treatment (2009) 15: 49-56. doi: 10.1192/apt.bp.107.005272
© 2009 The Royal College of Psychiatrists
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The ‘Natural Health Service’: natural does not mean safe

Francis J. Dunne

Francis J. Dunne is Consultant in General Adult Psychiatrist and Honorary Senior Lecturer at University College London. Having completed a general practice vocational training rotation, Dr Dunne embarked on a career in psychiatry. His interests span the field of clinical psychiatry, having been responsible for an enormous catchment area (Brentwood) for 10 years. He now works for the Romford community mental health team in Essex. Dr Dunne has had articles published on subjects ranging from depression in childhood to subcortical dementia. His current interest, which he has been studying for the past 5 years, is the use of herbal medicines frequently taken by psychiatric patients but which are usually overlooked.

Correspondence: Correspondence Dr Francis J. Dunne, North East London Foundation Trust, Mascalls Park, Mascalls Lane, Brentwood, Essex CM14 5HQ, UK. Email: dunnefrancis{at}googlemail.com

Plants have been used for medicinal purposes for centuries, treating everything from non-specific ailments such as backache and colds to serious conditions, including depression and cancer. In this review, a few commonly known plants with psychotropic effects (St John’s wort, Ginkgo biloba, kava, ginseng and valerian) are discussed by way of illustration. The readers’ attention is brought to important interactions between herbal remedies and conventional drugs. A background to the constituents of herbs, possible mechanisms of action and an explanation of their antioxidant properties is given.


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