Acute Stress Reaction

Efficacy of Alternative and Other Treatments According to GRADE* Ranking:

Pine Bark Extract [1, 23, 24, 25]:

Please note, this management does NOT treat the condition itself. It may mildly help with some of the symptoms, and even then has insufficient evidence to back up this claim at present.

Recommendation: no recommendation (There is insufficient evidence to support claims that Pine Bark extract helps to treat stress)

Grade of Evidence: very low of evidence

Cannabis (Marijuana, weed, hemp) [1, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22]:

Please note, this management does NOT treat the condition itself. It may mildly help with some of the symptoms, and even then has insufficient evidence to back up this claim at present.

Recommendation: Weakly in favor (Evidence shows that smoking or ingesting cannabis may help in relieving symptoms of stress, although some studies have yielded mixed results)

Grade of Evidence: low quality of evidence

Kava (Piper Methysticum) [1, 10, 11, 12, 13]:

WARNING: In rare cases, kava may lead to liver failure and other life threatening problems. The FDA warns that those who have had liver problems, or are on medicacations which may affect the liver, patients should check with their doctors before taking Kava. Other side effects include headache, upset stomach, drowsiness, weight loss, bloody urine, and muscle weakness.

Recommendation: weakly in favor (Early studies indicate that Kava may be helpful in reducint the symptoms of sleep disorder. However, subsequent studies have yielded contradictory results. More research is needed.)

Grade of Evidence: low quality of evidence

Ginseng [1, 6, 7, 8, 9]:

Please note, this management does NOT treat the condition itself. It may mildly help with some of the symptoms, and even then has insufficient evidence to back up this claim at present.

Recommendation: no recommendation  (There is insufficient evidence to support claims that ginseng helps to treat stress)

Grade of Evidence: low quality of evidence

Flower Remedies [1, 4, 5]:

Please note, this management does NOT treat the condition itself. It may mildly help with some of the symptoms, and even then has insufficient evidence to back up this claim at present.

Recommendation: no recommendation  (There is insufficient evidence to support claims that flower remedies help to treat stress)

Grade of Evidence: very low quality of evidence

Chamomile (Matricaria Chamomilla) [1, 2, 3]:

Please note, this management does NOT treat the condition itself. It is proposed only as a weak supportive symptomatic support, and even then, has insufficient evidence to back up this claim at present.

Recommendation: weakly against (Available evidence does not support claims that Chamomile helps treat stress reactions. In addition, allergic reactions and side effects like cramps, itching, rashes and difficulty breathing can be relatively common)

Grade of Evidence: low quality of evidence

* www.gradeworkinggroup.org

Summary References

Treatments:

1. Ades T, Alteri R, Gansler T, Yeargin P, "Complete Guide to Complimentary & Alternative Cancer Therapies", American Cancer Society, Atlanta USA, 2009

2. http://www.abchomeopathy.com/r.php/Cham

3. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/natural/patient-chamomile.html

4. http://www.cancer.org/Treatment/TreatmentsandSideEffects/ComplementaryandAlternativeMedicine/HerbsVitaminsandMinerals/flower-remedies

5. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12635462

6. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/natural/patient-ginseng.html

7. http://www.cancer.org/Treatment/TreatmentsandSideEffects/ComplementaryandAlternativeMedicine/HerbsVitaminsandMinerals/ginseng

8. Invalid

9. Invalid

10. http://www.publish.csiro.au/?act=view_file&file_id=SP05005.pdf

11. http://www.cancer.org/Treatment/TreatmentsandSideEffects/ComplementaryandAlternativeMedicine/HerbsVitaminsandMinerals/kava

12. http://www.kavazen.com/pages/library.htm#KavaZen and Kava Safety

13. http://nccam.nih.gov/health/kava/index.htm

14. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/marijuana.html

15. http://nccam.nih.gov/research/extramural/awards/2004/

16. http://www.cancer.org/Treatment/TreatmentsandSideEffects/ComplementaryandAlternativeMedicine/HerbsVitaminsandMinerals/marijuana

17. http://www.nationalmssociety.org/about-multiple-sclerosis/what-we-know-about-ms/treatments/complementary--alternative-medicine/marijuana/index.aspx

18. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16957511

19. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12965981

20. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17589370

21. http://mct.aacrjournals.org/content/6/11/2921.long

22. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2562334/?tool=pmcentrez 

23. http://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct/show/NCT00214032

24. http://www.cancer.org/Treatment/TreatmentsandSideEffects/ComplementaryandAlternativeMedicine/HerbsVitaminsandMinerals/pine-bark-extract

25. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/natural/patient-pycnogenol.html











 

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