Herbs to Relieve Anxiety

According to Dr. Jacqueline Krohn, "Anxiety disorder is the most common of all mental health problems; more than 65 million North Americans experience anxiety symptoms in any given year." Multiple treatments exist, including drugs, cognitive behavior therapy, nutrient therapy, homeopathy and breathing techniques. Herbal therapy may offer some relief as well. If taking prescription medicines for anxiety, always consult with your doctor before trying herbal remedies.

Teas

• Herbalists believe the following teas have antianxiety properties, although some have cautions regarding use with pre-existing or concurrent conditions. All of these teas should be prepared with a tea bag or loose tea in a tea strainer in 1 cup of hot water. Allow this to steep to your taste.

  Chamomile or passionflower: Drink 1 cup three times a day. People with anxiety problems often have allergies or inflammation as well. Chamomile helps both conditions. Passionflower acts on the body as a calming substance and is less likely to result in drowsiness than prescription medications.

  Fennel: Drink 1 cup a day before or after meals. Anxiety can cause gastrointestinal upsets, and gastrointestinal problems can themselves cause anxiety. Fennel relaxes the GI tract.

Tablets

• California poppy with corydalis: This product is sold as "Corydalis Formula" by Spanda. Take as directed on the label, but do not use if pregnant. This combination may help with muscle spasms as well.

  Ginger plus ginkgo: Take a 3,000-mg tablet twice a day. Do not take ginkgo if you are also taking blood-thinning medications or planning to have any kind of surgery.

  Kava pyrone: Use 60 to 120 mg a day. Never exceed 120 mg of this supplement. Kava can increase the actions of psychoactive drugs and alcohol, so use this with caution. Avoid kava while nursing or pregnant.

  St. John's wort: Avoid this if taking any antidepressants, drugs that would interact with MAO inhibitors or if pregnant. Taking St. John's wort may increase chances of blisters from overexposure to sunlight.

  Scutellaria: Use 250 to 500 mg tablets and take one tablet three times a day. Do not take this if suffering from diarrhea or if you have any kind of liver disease, since some brands may contain germander, which can cause liver damage.

  Valerian: Take a 50 mg tablet three times a day. Do not combine this with alcohol or prescription medications. If nursing or pregnant avoid valerian. If you experience palpitations, stop taking valerian immediately.

Tinctures

• Ginseng: Use only Panax ginseng tincture and follow the directions on the label.

  Tilden Flower: Dissolve 1 to 3 tsp. of the tincture in a cup of water and drink three times daily. The common names of tilden flower are lime tree flower or linden flower. If buying commercial tilden flower teas, check for sensitivities to the other ingredients, since the bags may include a mixture of herbs. Do not take this herb for an extended time since there may be a possibility of heart damage.

Herbs to Avoid

• Three herbs/teas to avoid if dealing with anxiety are ephedra, green tea unless it is decaffeinated and yerba mate.