According to the Annual Report of the 2016 National Health System, 6.9 % of the adult population in Spain suffers from chronic anxiety [1]. The World Health Organization (WHO) has stated stress as « the epidemic of the 21st century ».

Spanish clinical practice guidelines [2] describe the treatment of generalized anxiety disorder must be carried out in a global integrative way. Anxiolytics, such as benzodiazepines aren’t recommended in the first line of treatment in case of lighter signs of anxiety disorders related to stressors. However, a considerable increase in anxiolytics and hypnotics´ consumption has occurred in Spain during the last decade, being a higher growth than that reported in other European countries [3].

The purpose of the presented trial is the assessment of a possible global management of stress using a nutritional supplement composed of adaptogenic medicinal plants (Eleutherococcus and Rhodiola root extracts).

This observational, prospective, open label, multicentre study has been conducted by primary care physicians.112 patients aged between 15-81 years have been treated and followed for 50 days. Evaluation criteria were HAM-A score and CGI-S scale. An overall improvement of the symptoms associated with stress was observed after 20 and 50 days. Changes in the HAM-A score were as follows: D0 (22.51 ± 5.51); D20 (16.46 ± 6.21); D50 (13.85 ± 6.15) (p < 0.05). Changes in the CGI score were as follows: D0 (3.63±0.76); D20 (2.75 ± 1.02); D50 (2.15 ± 1.12) (p < 0.001). The tolerance observed during the treatment was excellent.

Adaptative plants may be useful and promising agents in the treatment of uncomplicated anxiety at the first signs of the disease symptoms. This should be confirmed though with randomized, controlled, double-blind clinical trials on larger cohorts.