Sphaeranthus Indicus (Globe Thistle): Anxiolytic Herb

Sphaeranthus Indicus (Globe Thistle) is a medicinal plant with some central nervous system effects. Some of these effects may make it a useful treatment for mood disorders, particularly anxiety. For example, extracts of the flowers from globe thistle have been shown to have anxiolytic effects in mice, in a number of studies. In addition, some evidence suggests that extracts of whole plants produced similar effects to barbiturates in that they prolonged sleeping time in rodents. Globe thistle may therefore be working as a mild sedative at certain doses. In other studies, globe thistle extracts were shown to have neuroprotective effects in rodents. There may be an ability for the plant to cause an antidepressant effect on the central nervous system, as demonstrated by behavioural changes in rodents. Animal experiments also show that globe thistle can inhibit the development of seizures. Therefore the available evidence supports the use of globe thistle as a central nervous system tonic and mood elevating herb. 

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Mahajan, N. G., Chopda, M. Z. and Mahajan, R. T. 2015. A review on Sphaeranthus indicus Linn: Multipotential medicinal plant. International Journal of Pharmaceutical Research and Allied Sciences. 4(3): 48-74
Ambavade, S. D., Mhetre, N. A., Tate, V. D. and Bodhankar, S. L. 2006. Pharmacological evaluation of the extracts of Sphaeranthus indicus flowers on anxiolytic activity in mice. Indian Journal of Pharmacology. 38(4): 254

About Robert Barrington

Robert Barrington is a writer, nutritionist, lecturer and philosopher.
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