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Condition

Neurasthenia

Neurasthenia is an older diagnosis for lingering fatigue, weakness, irritability and poor concentration, now often described as burnout or chronic fatigue. Bromantane has the most research, and trials found asthenic symptoms, meaning weakness and exhaustion, eased, including in one placebo-controlled study; a small reishi study also found fatigue improved. Those studies were few and fairly small, so the evidence is moderate for bromantane and limited for reishi.

Sources: PMID 20559263; PMID 21322821

Supplements studied
3
Graded outcomes
3
Trials
2
People studied
179

Evidence by supplement

  • Strong
  • Moderate
  • Limited
  • Very limited

3 supplements

Bromantane

Bromantane: outcomes studied for Neurasthenia
GradeOutcomeEffectSizeStudiesPeopleStudies list
Asthenia Symptoms

PubMed-indexed clinical studies report anti-asthenic effects of bromantane in neurasthenia/psychogenic asthenia. A multicenter open-label study (n=76; PMID: 20559263) and a multicenter double-blind placebo-controlled study (n=156; PMID: 21322821) reported reduced asthenic symptoms with 50-100 mg/day for 28 days. An additional clinical report (PMID: 19491814) is directionally consistent.

Improves (the measure goes down)Moderate effect2 studies232 people

Studies that measured asthenia symptoms

Lavender

Lavender: outcomes studied for Neurasthenia
GradeOutcomeEffectSizeStudiesPeopleStudies list
Anxiety Symptoms

Moderate Improvement

Improves (the measure goes down)Moderate effect4 studies47 people

Studies that measured anxiety symptoms

and 1 more on the Lavender page

Sleep QualityImproves (the measure goes up)5 studies47 people

Studies that measured sleep quality

and 2 more on the Lavender page

RestlessnessImproves (the measure goes up)1 study47 people

Studies that measured restlessness

Neurasthenia SymptomsImproves (the measure goes down)47 people
Subjective Well-BeingImproves (the measure goes up)47 people

Reishi

Reishi: outcomes studied for Neurasthenia
GradeOutcomeEffectSizeStudiesPeopleStudies list
Fatigue Symptoms

Small Improvement

Improves (the measure goes down)Small effect132 people
Neurasthenia SymptomsImproves (the measure goes down)1 study132 people

Studies that measured neurasthenia symptoms

Subjective Well-BeingImproves (the measure goes up)132 people

Key findings

  • Asthenia SymptomsBromantaneImproves (the measure goes down)
  • Anxiety SymptomsLavenderImproves (the measure goes down)
  • Fatigue SymptomsReishiImproves (the measure goes down)

The Neurasthenia (Chronic Fatigue/Nervous Exhaustion) Support protocol

2 primary supplements · 7 supporting supplements

  • Rhodiola Rosea200–400 mg standardized extract daily
  • B-Complex VitaminsHigh-potency B-complex daily

See the full protocol

Studies cited

13 studies from PubMed

  1. [Treatment of asthenic disorders in patients with psychoautonomic syndrome: results of a multicenter study on efficacy and safety of ladasten].Zh Nevrol Psikhiatr Im S S Korsakova, 2010 · PMID 21322821
  2. Clinical efficacy of ladasten in treatment of asthenic disorders in patients with neurasthenia.Zh Nevrol Psikhiatr Im S S Korsakova, 2010 · PMID 20559263
  3. A randomized, double-blind and placebo-controlled study of a Ganoderma lucidum polysaccharide extract in neurastheniaJ Med Food · PMID 15857210
  4. A multi-center, double-blind, randomised study of the Lavender oil preparation Silexan in comparison to Lorazepam for generalized anxiety disorderPhytomedicine · PMID 19962288
  5. Effect of aromatherapy on the quality of sleep in ischemic heart disease patients hospitalized in intensive care units of heart hospitals of the Isfahan University of Medical SciencesIran J Nurs Midwifery Res · PMID 22049287
  6. The effects of lavender scent on dental patient anxiety levels: a cluster randomised-controlled trialCommunity Dent Oral Epidemiol · PMID 19968674
  7. Ambient odors of orange and lavender reduce anxiety and improve mood in a dental officePhysiol Behav · PMID 16095639
  8. How Strong is the Evidence for the Anxiolytic Efficacy of Lavender?: Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.Asian Nurs Res · PMID 31743795
  9. Silexan, an orally administered Lavandula oil preparation, is effective in the treatment of 'subsyndromal' anxiety disorder: a randomized, double-blind, placebo controlled trialInt Clin Psychopharmacol · PMID 20512042
  10. An olfactory stimulus modifies nighttime sleep in young men and womenChronobiol Int · PMID 16298774
  11. The Sleep-Enhancing Effect of Lavender Essential Oil in Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.Holist Nurs Pract · PMID 40600743
  12. [Effects of lavender aromatherapy on insomnia and depression in women college students]Taehan Kanho Hakhoe Chi · PMID 16520572
  13. Phase II trial on the effects of Silexan in patients with neurasthenia, post-traumatic stress disorder or somatization disorderPhytomedicine · PMID 22475718