A MODERN SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH INTO ANTIDEPRESSANT, ANXIOLYTIC AND ANTI-MIGRAINE PROPERTIES OF SOME COMPONENTS OF «RIGA BLACK BALSAM» (PART I - HISTORICAL AND EPIDEMIOLOGICAL)

Abstract

Purpose. In this part of the article we aim to show the actuality of the problem of migraine comorbidity with anxiety and depressive states. To highlight the relevance of developing adjuvant or alternative (including phytotherapeutic) methods of treating these diseases, especially in patients who refuse standard pharmacotherapy, who poorly tolerate it or who do not get a sufficient relief of symptoms from it. To present to the reader a historical overview of the attempts undertaken by mankind since ancient times to treat these diseases with the help of herbal medicine, including use of various so-called «balsams», and in particular the historical «Balsam Kuntze» or the modern «Riga Black Balsam». Methodology. To obtain the data on the prevalence of migraines, depression and anxiety, on the frequency of their comorbidity and on the frequency of the problem of their resistance to standard treatment or its intolerance, we turned to an official statistics from the World Health Organization. Then we described historical data which convincingly shows that the Russian empress Catherine The Great suffered from migraine attacks that were systematically complicated by a depressive or dysphoric prodrome and postdrome. We also described how, according to the legend, after receiving orally a mixture called «Balsam Kuntze», the Empress was allegedly cured of all her symptoms. Then we presented historical data that both migraine and depressive and anxiety states were all well known to mankind since ancient times. We also show that from ancient times, the humankind has made various attempts to treat them. Such attempts often included using water-alcohol tinctures of medicinal plants, so-called «balsams». After that, we described the history of Riga Black Balsam and how its recipe was changed over time. Results. The data we have obtained during the compilation of this review indicate the great actuality of the problem of migraine comorbidity with depressive and anxious states. These data also highlight the high relevance of the problem of resistance to standard treatment or its poor tolerance in these diseases. This, in turn, means that the task of developing adjuvant or alternative treatment methods for these diseases, including phytotherapeutic ones, is also highly relevant. In the next part of the article, we will present an interesting approach to this task, namely – a modern study of the pharmacological activity of some natural components of both the historical «Balsam Kuntze» and the contemporary «Riga Black Balsam». Practical implications. Our results deserve widespread use in pharmacology, psychiatry and neurology. As we will show in the next part of this article, our results can be used to develop modern phytotherapeutic agents or combinations of agents that might prove useful as adjuvant or alternative treatments for migraines, depressive and anxiety states, some chronic pain syndromes. Such modern phytotherapeutic agents would not need to follow the practice of using a strong alcoholic beverage as a carrier and solvent – a practice which was usual in 18th and 19th centuries and even in the first half of the 20th century, and was even perceived as mandatory practice by some doctors of that time.

Keywords

• головная боль
• мигрень
• тревожные расстройства
• депрессия
• екатерина ii
• история медицины
• рижский чёрный бальзам