For quite a number of preparations of herbal/natural origin in pharmacies or shops, claims are made that they have anxiolytic and/or sedative-hypnotic properties. Your textbook (Katz) discusses a number of these preparations in Chapter 64. Use that information together with a search on the internet and compile a brief report on the use of these alternative medicines in the treatment of anxiety and insomnia. You may use any search engine (e.g. Google) and keywords such as “botanicals” and “anxiety” and “insomnia”. 

Jin Bu Huan and Kava-kava are considered to be used as a sedative and for anxiety, respectively, however, due to their side-effects (hepatotoxicity), these products should be avoided.

Ginkgo may be used to treat anxiety, but only in Alzheimer’s disease patients. This product was tested and results showed that the receptor density increased for the 5-HT_1A receptors.

Melatonin is used in treating insomnia as it is a serotonin derivative thus it helps regulate sleep-wake cycles. This increases REM sleep and has a hypnotic effect (it was reported to improve sleep onset, quality, and duration). Melatonin can also be used as an anxiolytic before and after surgery. Lavender also helps with insomnia, as it antagonises serotonin transporters and NMDA receptors.

Valerian, hops, passion-flower and lemon balm products may be used in the treatment of anxiety and insomnia.

• Valerian works similar to the mechanism of action of benzodiazepines, however, it binds to the β-subunit (instead of the γ-subunit) on the GABA_A receptor. To relieve insomnia, it interacts with the serotonin neurotransmitter.
• Hops increase GABA’s effects because it modulates the GABA_A receptor. It also binds to serotonin and melatonin receptors.
• Passion-flower has thought to have the same mechanism of action as benzodiazepines. This also has shown positive effects on Circadian rhythms.  
• Lemon balm increases GABA by inhibiting GABA transaminase.

References:

• https://www.intechopen.com/books/different-views-of-anxiety-disorders/herbal-remedies-to-treat-anxiety-disorders
• https://www.ebmconsult.com/articles/valerian-valeriana-officinalis-treating-insomnia-sleep#:~:text=Valerian%20(Valeriana%20officinalis)%20is%20most,the%20GABA%2DA%20receptor%20instead .
• https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0037290#:~:text=The%20main%20mechanism%20of%20action,A)%20receptors%20%5B1%5D.&text=There%20are%20also%20effects%20of,mechanism%20of%20sleep%20%5B17%5D.
• https://civilizedcaveman.com/health/benefits-lemon-balm-sleep-wellness/
• http://accurateclinic.com/accurate-education-passion-flower/#:~:text=Passion%20Flower%20is%20believed%20to%20exert%20its%20anti%2Danxiety%20effects,shown%20to%20produce%20anxiolytic%20effects.
• https://blog.bioticsresearch.com/botanicals-for-a-better-sleep
• Katzung