AIBU to consider herbal remedies for my anxious 16-year-old?

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Ds 16 is suffering with anxiety and possibly depression. On CAMHS list (which is very long).
Cant afford private.

I’ve been looking at herbal / natural remedies - St John’s wort (think it’s a a tincture?). Rescue remedy and kalms tablets . I know he’s under 18 but I’m going to have to give something a try. DP is unsure so I asked the gp and they said no wait for camhs but he needs something now ?

Has anyones teen used any of these? Did they help? Not sure which one is best.

You can get Kids Rescue which is suitable for children and doesn't contain alcohol like the standard version. My DS9 uses it reduce separation anxiety around school and social club trips. Its works for the initial leaving part which is his issue.

Please consider finding a good Chinese doctor. I’m seeing one at present and in the past couple of months have had positive benefits with issues that the GP has just been suggesting medication for. My DH is going too and his sleep has improved so much. She does acupuncture, massage and gives us herbal mixtures. She has mentioned how she’s seeing many more secondary school age children with anxiety etc. so it’s definitely worth exploring.
When she was in China she practised alongside medical doctors (like ours) in hospitals.

Why wouldnt you, I'm not seeing what a possible downside of an age appropriate one might be?

aside from St John’s wort, the herbal and Chinese remedies are all a nice harmless placebo. Probably won’t make things worse, but they don’t have a biochemical benefit either. Mostly just a waste of money. When it comes to alternative medicine, remember that “if it worked, it would be called medicine”

social prescriptions are increasingly popular for teens with anxiety and depression. That means going to a social group regularly- a walking group or art group or dance group or whatever activity the teen likes. But to go regularly and stick to it. The mental health benefits match most drugs. So see if you can find any suitable groups and tell DC it is a medication.

We are beyond the point of things like groups /talking therapies. DS needs medication and the camhs wait is worryingly long and the GP won’t prescribe.

Is st johns wort recognised then and not a placebo ?

Maybe talk to a herbalist (but find a good one). I know a friend of a friend who's no longer practicing but when she was she was amazing.