Botanicals for Mental Wellbeing

Reference Sheet

NOTICE
Only discuss dosage with patients if it is within your scope of practice to prescribe medications. The dosage
examples provided are for general population adult patients with no outstanding risk factors. Always consult other
dosage references and adjust as necessary to specific patient health status. If you are considering taking a
botanical yourself, always talk with your doctor to make sure it is right for you.

Botanical Plant part Therapeutic/clinical Safety concerns Example Dosage

used indications
Chamomile Flowering tops • Eases mild anxiety. • Excellent safety profile. 1-3 grams flowers
(Matricaria • Promotes relaxation. • AVOID in people with daisy steeped in 8 oz. hot
recutita) • Mild digestive aid. or ragweed allergy. water for 10
• AVOID in people who take minutes; 3-4x/day.
blood thinners.

Ginkgo Leaves • May help with • AVOID in patients on blood Standardized

(Ginkgo dementia and/or thinners and those taking extracts with 24%
biloba) depression symptoms aminoglycoside antibiotics. flavone glycosides
in elderly patients. • AVOID in pregnancy. and 6% terpenoids;
• May interact with diabetes 40-80 mg 3x/day.
medications, seizure
medications, and calcium
channel blockers.
• Do not consume seeds due
to toxicity concerns.

Ginseng Root • Helps combat fatigue. • Use a reputable brand, as • 500-1000 mg

(Panax • Boosts immune many products are 2x/day.
ginseng) function. adulterated.
OR
• Do NOT use with
anticoagulants. • 100-200 mg/day
• May interact with standardized
antidepressants and/or extracts with
hypoglycemic medications. 4-7%
• AVOID in pregnancy. ginsenosides.
• Take no longer
than 12 weeks.

 2018 Regents of the University of Minnesota. All rights reserved.

Botanicals for Mental Wellbeing
Reference Sheet

Botanical Plant part Therapeutic/clinical Safety concerns Example Dosage

used indications
Hops Flowers • Insomnia • AVOID in • 1 tsp flowers
(Humulus pregnancy/lactation. steeped in 8 oz.
lupulus) • AVOID use with other water for 5-7
sedatives. minutes.
• AVOID in women with OR
history of or high risk for
breast cancer. • 5:1 ethanolic
extract; ½-1
dropper
sublingually
30-60 min before
bed.

Kava Root/rhizome • Short-term use for • Concern for liver toxicity if • 50-70 mg of
(Piper anxiety (under 3 used in large doses or over kavalactones up
methysticum) months). long term. to 3x/day.
• Muscle relaxing • AVOID in children and in any • Use aqueous
properties. person with liver disease, extracts (avoid
high alcohol usage, ethanolic
concurrent hepatotoxic preparations).
medications, or • Max dose is 210
pregnancy/lactation. mg/day of
• Monitor liver function tests kavalactones.
while using this botanical.
• Do NOT combine with any
other sedatives.

Lemon balm Leaves • Relief of mild anxiety. • Very safe and well-tolerated. • ¼-1 teaspoon of
(Melissa • Helpful for indigestion. dried leaves in 8
officinalis) oz. hot water
3-4x/ day.
OR
• 300-500 mg
dried lemon
balm capsules
3x/day.

 2018 Regents of the University of Minnesota. All rights reserved.

Botanicals for Mental Wellbeing
Reference Sheet

Botanical Plant part Therapeutic/clinical Safety concerns Example Dosage

used indications
Passionflower Dried leaves • Eases mild anxiety. • Do NOT take if on • 400-1000 mg
(Passiflora • Used in combinations monoamine oxidase dried leaves
incarnata) for insomnia or inhibitors (MAOIs). 2x/day.
narcotic withdrawal. • Do NOT combine with other
sedatives.

Rhodiola Root • Helps ease mild • High doses may cause • Standardized
(Rhodiola anxiety, depression. dizziness, agitation, and/or extracts with
rosea) • May help with chronic dry mouth. 2-3% rosavins
fatigue. • Do NOT take if on and 0.8-1%
monoamine oxidase salidrosides: 100
inhibitors (MAOIs). mg/day for one
• May cause increased week.
irritability. • Take in morning.
• May increase
dose by 100 mg
each week as
needed; max
dose is 400
mg/day.

St. John’s Leaves and • Mild-moderate • Causes many medication • Standardized

wort flowers depression. interactions, especially with extracts with
(Hypericum Coumadin, oral 2-5% hyperforin
perforatum) contraceptive pills (OCPs), or 0.3%
cyclosporine, statins, hypericin;
antidepressants, and 300 mg 3x/day.
antiretrovirals.
• AVOID in people on these
medicines or in anyone who
takes a lot of medicines.
• Induces photosensitivity.

Valerian Root • Small doses • AVOID in • Standardized

(Valeriana throughout day for pregnancy/lactation. extracts with
officinalis) mild anxiety. • AVOID in children under 3 0.1% valerenic
• Sleep aid (needs years of age. acid; 300-600 mg
several weeks to be • AVOID use with other in evening.
effective). sedatives.

 2018 Regents of the University of Minnesota. All rights reserved.