Herbs for Social Anxiety

Anxiety is fear, apprehension and worry combined. Everyone suffers from anxiety occasionally, but too much anxiety makes your life miserable. It can keep you up at night, give you tension headaches and make you feel restless, irritable and exhausted. It can make you afraid to go out in public and cut short your social life. One strategy is to limit your intake of coffee, tea and soda that contain caffeine. Caffeine is a stimulant that increases anxiety symptoms. Herbs can help you deal with anxiety.

Kava Kava

• Take 60 mg of kava kava capsule three times a day. The active ingredient is kavalactones, which have anxiety-fighting properties. Look for kava kava capsules that are at least 30 percent kavalactones. Kava kava has low side effects when compared with traditional medicines prescribed for anxiety. These side effects include appetite loss, dermatitis, dizziness, drowsiness, fatigue, joint pain, liver disorders, nausea, vomiting, restlessness, stomach pain and tremors.

Valerian

• Take 150 mg valerian capsule twice daily. Valerian can calm your nerves and help you sleep better. Compounds in this herb, valepotriates and valeric acid, act in the same way that the anti-anxiety drug diazepam does. Valerian does not leave you feeling groggy or disoriented like diazepam.

Chamomile

• Drink 1 cup of tea three times a day. Chamomile contains an anti-anxiety active ingredient called apigenin. Chamomile tea will soothe your nerves and allow you to relax. Drink your last cup right before bedtime to ensure a good night's sleep. Add 2 tsp. dried chamomile flowers in 8 oz. boiling water. Cover the tea and steep for 15 minutes. Strain your tea before drinking it. If all you can find is powdered chamomile then just add 1 tsp. to a cup of hot water. Chamomile has a short shelf life. The whole flowers keep longer then the powdered form. Look for dried flowers that are yellow and white. If they look like pieces of straw then they are too old to be effective. Store chamomile in dark glass jars away from heat and light.

Passionflower

• Take 40 drops of passionflower tincture in 8 oz. water three times daily. Since tinctures are based on alcohol, diluting them with water makes it easier for your stomach to handle. Another option is to drink 1 cup of passionflower tea three times a day. Pour 8 oz. boiling water over 1 tsp. dried passionflower. Cover and let steep for 15 minutes. Strain your tea before you drink it. This tea helps when you are anxious due to stress.