Phytotherapy and Traditional Psychophysiological Feedback Therapies for Anxiety and Emotional Regulation in School-Aged Children
Year: 2025
Type: article
Study design: Systematic Review
Abstract: Background: The increasing pace and complexity of modern life have led to a significant rise in mental health challenges, particularly anxiety and stress-related disorders, among children and adolescents. While pharmacological and psychological therapies remain the mainstay of treat-ment, their limitations, such as incomplete symptom remission and potential side effects, have encouraged growing interest in complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) practices, including Qigong and Taijiquan, and phytotherapeutic inter-ventions are gaining attention for their holistic approach and minimal adverse effects.Objective: This study aimed to review the evidence regarding the effectiveness of Phytotherapy and Traditional Psychophysiological Feedback Therapies (Qigong and Taijiquan) in improving anxiety, emotional regulation, and behavioural symptoms in children and adolescents.Methods: A comprehensive literature search was conducted across PubMed, Scopus, and SciELO databases from inception to August 2025. Eligible studies included randomised controlled trials, quasi-experimental, and observational studies assessing Phytotherapy or mind-body interven-tions on anxiety, stress, and emotional regulation.Results: Evidence indicates that Qigong and Taijiquan interventions yield measurable improve-ments in anxiety, stress, and behavioural regulation among school-aged children. Short-term studies demonstrated reductions in heart rate, salivary cortisol, and self-reported anxiety, while long-term school-based programmes reported enhanced focus, emotional stability, and class-room cohesion. Integrating these mind-body practices into educational settings was shown to be feasible, safe, and cost-effective.In Phytotherapy, several herbal formulations demonstrated potential benefits for nervous agita-tion, ADHD, and cognitive performance. A combination of Hypericum perforatum, Valeriana offici-nalis, and Passiflora incarnata improved mood and attention with good tolerability. Ustukhuddus Alavi was associated with enhanced cognitive function and reduced stress in adolescents. Other herbal interventions, including Pinus pinaster, Ginkgo biloba, and Valeriana officinalis, demonstrated varying degrees of effectiveness in managing ADHD symptoms, attention, and hyperactivity. However, variability in extract composition and methodological limitations reduce the certainty of findings.A large survey among 905 Korean schoolchildren revealed that 65.2% had used herbal medicines at least once, with reported benefits but also minor adverse effects in 4.5% of users, underscoring the need for medical supervision and parental guidance in paediatric Phytotherapy.Discussion: Both mind-body and phytotherapeutic interventions exhibit promise as comple-mentary strategies for improving emotional and behavioural health in young populations. These approaches are generally low-cost, accessible, and culturally adaptable, making them via-ble for integration into school and community health programmes. Nevertheless, methodolog-ical heterogeneity, small sample sizes, and limited long-term data constrain definitive conclu-sions. Future research should prioritise standardised protocols, high-quality RCTs, and safety assessments to strengthen evidence and promote responsible integration of CAM into paediatric mental health care.Conclusions: Traditional Psychophysiological Feedback Therapies (Qigong, Taijiquan) and Phy-totherapy offer promising complementary approaches for enhancing mental health, emotional regulation, and behavioural functioning in children and adolescents. Their accessibility and safety profiles make them valuable adjuncts to conventional care. However, further rigorous, well-funded studies are necessary to confirm efficacy, ensure safety, and establish standardised implementation frameworks within clinical and educational settings.
Authors: Almeida, Luísa, Gonçalves, Maria Leonor, Costa, Ricardo, Esteves, Teresa, Sampaio, Sandra, e Sousa, Cláudia Pacheco, Peixoto, Marta, Tomas, Munkhzul Sugar
Language: English
Subfield: Complementary and alternative medicine
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W7106031258
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