Condition
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
PTSD is a condition that can follow a traumatic event, when the brain's fear circuitry and stress hormone systems stay on high alert, bringing flashbacks, nightmares and poor sleep. Among supplements, lavender has the one set of trial results so far: across four studies, anxiety symptoms improved, though the evidence is limited. Those studies included only 47 people and looked at anxiety in dental settings, so they say little about PTSD itself.
Sources: PMID 16095639; PMID 19968674
- Supplements studied
- 3
- Graded outcomes
- 1
- Trials
- 3
- People studied
- 4,475
Evidence by supplement
- Strong
- Moderate
- Limited
- Very limited
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anxiety Symptoms Moderate Improvement | Improves (the measure goes down) | Moderate effect | 4 studies | 47 people | ||
Studies that measured anxiety symptoms
| ||||||
| Sleep Quality | Improves (the measure goes up) | 5 studies | 47 people | |||
| Restlessness | Improves (the measure goes up) | 1 study | 47 people | |||
Studies that measured restlessness | ||||||
| Depression Symptoms | Improves (the measure goes down) | 47 people | ||||
| Neurasthenia Symptoms | Improves (the measure goes down) | 47 people | ||||
| Subjective Well-Being | Improves (the measure goes up) | 47 people | ||||
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Symptoms | Improves (the measure goes down) | 1 study | 22 people | |||
Studies that measured post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms | ||||||
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Symptoms | Improves (the measure goes down) | 1 study | 12 people | |||
Studies that measured post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms | ||||||
Key findings
- Anxiety SymptomsImproves (the measure goes down)
The Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Supportive Care protocol
2 primary supplements · 7 supporting supplements
- Omega-3 Fatty Acids2–3 g EPA+DHA daily (higher EPA ratio)
- Vitamin D2,000–4,000 IU daily (target 40–60 ng/mL)
Shop the evidence-backed picks
Support alongside medical care. These supplements are not a treatment for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). If you are being treated for it, talk to your clinician before adding one: supplements can interact with medicines.
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Studies cited
2 studies from PubMed