The Best Herbs for Anxiety

Anxiety is an emotion characterized by internal disturbance and is often accompanied by a variety of nervous behavior like rumination, somatic complaints among others. Doctors are known to constantly prescribe powerful medicine to anxiety patients, although some of them have been found to result in serious side effects.

However, patients should not continue suffering in unnecessary pain as there are effective natural herbal remedies and supplements readily available for them. These herbal products as compared to their manufactured counterparts have fewer side effects and are made of natural ingredients.

Your Guide To Natural Herbs For Anxiety

Some of the herbal remedies have been found to be more powerful and efficient in treating anxiety than prescribed medication. Below are some of the effective herbal remedies for anxiety.

Chamomile

Chamomile which is a natural sedative used for mild anxiety can be used to calm any type of nervousness in the stomach or in the mind. The herbal remedy can greatly reduce any forms of digestive discomforts while improving the overall appetite of individuals undergoing a great deal of stress.

Apart from treating anxiety, chamomile has been proved to significantly reduce headaches, relieve insomnia and improve both lung and liver health. The herb is also quite popular in treating anxiety in children.

Despite achieving all these medical wonders, a majority of experts recommend that chamomile should only be used as a temporary treatment and not as a permanent solution to anxiety.

St. John’s Wort

St.John’s Wort is the only herb that has been scientifically proven to help with anxiety. In scientific studies it demonstrated a significant advantage over the placebo.  Although St.John’s Wort is not meant to specifically treat anxiety; it can be very effective in fighting depression which is a common symptom of anxiety.

Apart from the herb being an effective mood filter, it can also be used for gastroenteritis, diarrhea, and viral infections of the lungs, chest, and genitals among other medical problems.

Passionflower

Passionflower is a unique herbal sedative that is considered to be the best for moderate or mild anxiety, although it can still come in handy in situations of severe anxiety.

It is known to provide a sense of calmness while helping those under the herbal remedy sleep a lot better than they used to. The herb can also be used to control nausea and the disturbing feeling of having over-anxious stomach flutters.

Passionflower works by calming the human body nerves in order to prevent agitation, headaches, hot flashes and mood swings, reducing insomnia and any form of muscle tension. The herbal remedy contains chemicals that can cause the contraction of the uterus hence should not be used by pregnant mothers.

Valerian Root

Research indicates that valerian which is an incredibly effective sedative can help to ease nervous restlessness, insomnia, and anxiety levels. Although the herb is primarily used as a sleep aid, it possesses unique sedative qualities that make it effective in soothing muscles and reducing physical and mental tensions making the user relax. Valerian can also be used to relieve persistent coughs, bronchial spasms, and uterine cramps.

Children under the age of 12, individuals under anti-depressant or anti-anxiety medication and pregnant women should avoid the herbal remedy at all costs.

Ginger

The ginger root can help reduce anxiety and nausea symptoms. It is recommended to ingest at most 4 grams of ginger as it is really strong. Pregnant women are expected to consume not more than a gram of ginger daily. People with bleeding disorders or those using blood-thinning medications like aspirin should refrain from using the herbal product. However ginger has many health benefits.

Catnip

Catnip which belongs to the mint family is a rare herbal anxiety remedy used to treat quite a number of anxiety symptoms. The remedy may be used to offer relief for stomach cramps, irritations and spams that are common in people with anxiety. Catnip may also reduce to a large extent any form of headaches brought about by insomnia, ease stress and muscle tensions in individuals with severe anxiety and lead to an improved appetite.

Lavender

Lavender which is widely used in aromatherapy to induce relaxation is a pleasantly scented, powerful herb that is widely known for its calming properties. According to scientific research, the unique scent produced by lavender produces soothing and calming effects that can aid in reducing depression, anxiety and insomnia. Just some of the benefits of Lavender.

Avoid adding lavender oil to tea or food as the essential oil in it is very toxic when taken orally. Due to its ability to cause varied hormonal changes, lavender should not be given to boys who have not yet reached puberty.

Fennel

Although fennel is not specifically used for anxiety, it has been linked to effectively treat some of the most common anxiety symptoms including asthma, nervous cough and digestion. The herbal remedy can also act as an antispasmodic, diuretic and analgesic in some cases. The antispasmodic properties of fennel make it quite useful for treating and managing some types of anxiety.

Motherwort

Motherwort has often been used in the medical field to treat menstrual discomfort in women. The herb is highly favored by pregnant women as a means of managing pregnancy tension, stress and anxiety. Although Motherwort is not recommended for use by pregnant women in the first two trimesters, it is believed to be very effective in terms of stimulating blood circulation without increasing the pulse rate. The herbal remedy can also lower blood pressure levels, fight heart palpitations and induce calmness.

Skullcap

The herbal remedy has tonic, sedative and anti-inflammatory properties, making it highly effective in soothing overly twitching muscles, managing epilepsy and restless leg syndrome (RLS). Due to its natural sedative properties, skullcap is highly preferred in fighting restlessness, insomnia, depression and rapid heartbeat.

Kava

Kava also known as “Kava Kava” is considered to be the most effective herbal supplement for severe and moderate anxiety. Extensive research has been carried out on the Kava root to prove its effectiveness in treating insomnia, anxiety and stress. Kava, unlike other herbal supplements, is not only considered effective for managing and treating anxiety symptoms, but also in managing anxious thoughts as well.

It is important to consult a professional medical expert before using this herbal product, especially if one is under medication, drinks alcohol or has any liver problems as there have been a few health scares like liver damage associated with using the herbal product. In light of the side affects, it’s not recommended to use.

CONCLUSION

It is important to undergo an anxiety test to determine the type of anxiety one has. Identifying the appropriate symptoms can help in selecting an effective herbal remedy to treat or manage the anxiety levels. Herbal remedies have less side effects as compared to prescribed drugs hence are a better substitute for anxiety treatment.