Many people who suffer from anxiety are looking for herbs for anxiety as an alternative to the generally prescribed medication.
Whether you are concerned about the side effects, the cost, or the possible addictive nature, the need for an option other than drugs is out there at your local health food store.
Some individuals find what they need using herbs for anxiety instead of moving on to pharmaceuticals. You really need to talk to a doctor though to make sure that you are not causing yourself mental distress by avoiding treatment.
I know that moving to anxiety medication, in my case an SSRI (Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors) made a huge difference to my quality of life.
Best Herbs For Treating Anxiety
There are a number of traditional herbal remedies for those suffering from anxiety. Many can be found in everyday grocery stores, and you do not need to frequent specialist markets to obtain your herbal cure.
The following four herbs are some of the most frequently sought after herbs as an anxiety treatment.
Valerian – Once generally used to treat sleeplessness, valerian has seen success in treating those with mild forms of anxiety. It is a temporary treatment, only to be taken for a three month period.
Because of its calming nature, you should not take valerian if you are also taking other medications that can cause you to be sleepy, such as antihistamines or sedatives. You should also avoid alcohol as well as operating heavy machinery.
One study compared a small group of individuals taking the herb with another group of sufferers who took the widely prescribed drug Valium. No significant differences were seen between the two treatment methods.
Passionflower – This has been used as a folk remedy to treat anxiety for many generations. It has also undergone clinical studies and has been shown to be comparable to the effects of benzodiazepine drugs.
This also carries the same effects of sedation as is found in valerian, and should be avoided by those nursing or pregnant.
Passionflower was formerly approved as an over-the-counter sedative and sleep aid in the U.S., but it was taken off the market in 1978 because safety and effectiveness had not been proven. However, passionflower may still be available alone or in combination with other herbal products.
Children and those with kidney issue should not take passionflower, either.
St John’s Wort – St John’s Wort is a very popular herbal anxiety remedy that can be found in most food and drug stores.
This herbal treatment for anxiety works by effect by inhibiting the reuptake of the neurotransmitters serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine.
Combining St. John’s wort with certain antidepressants can lead to a potentially life-threatening increase of serotonin, a brain chemical targeted by antidepressants. St. John’s wort can also limit the effectiveness of many prescription medicines.
Like many herbal remedied, it does take several weeks of treatment for the benefits to be experienced.
It has been compared to widely-used SSRI pharmaceuticals such as Lexapro, Zoloft, and Prozac.
Ginseng – Another well-known treatment, Ginseng contains a stimulant that produces an overall relaxed feeing that helps reduce stress.
It also helps regulate hormones, so feelings of tiredness and lethargy that can be caused by a hormone imbalance can also help resolve anxiety.
However, it should be noted that ginseng’s therapeutic properties are often questioned by Western scientists and health professionals because of little “high-quality” research determining its true effectiveness in medicine.
The increased energy that some users feel also helps combat the feelings of panic and depression. This is a great herbs for anxiety
As you can see there are a few herbs for anxiety that will really help you out. Be aware though that a doctor should be consulted and you need to take into account what interactions with prescribed drugs could be a problem.
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