Psychological therapy, traditional antidepressants, serotonin reuptake inhibitors and relaxants have been treatments for anxiety for years. Now there are herbal remedies for anxiety that treat anxiety in a more natural and safer way. Those remedies are Valeriana, Lavandula, Melissa, Passifloria, Matricaria and St John’s Wort.
To have an effective treatment of anxiety, it is vital that you combine herbal therapy with other anxiety management techniques. The most popular methods suggested by modern psychologists include talk therapy, diet, rest, entertaining activities, relaxation, therapeutic massage, positive thinking and visualization, meditation, yoga and many others.
The most widely used herb for inducing relaxation is chamomile. Because of its mild nature it is often used in children.
Herbal tea is made from the flower of the Linden tree. It is used by Native Americans to treat headaches and stomachaches caused by anxiety. Overuse of Linden can affect the heart, so use it sparingly.
Another herbal remedy for anxiety is Scullcap which is a mild sedative. Scullcap is used to treat twitching, panic attacks, heart palpitations, and epilepsy induced by extreme anxiety.
L-theanine, an amino acid derived from Green Tea, is another herb for anxiety with a significant anti-anxiety effect. Many people report that L-theanine works as well as prescription anti-anxiety medications, but L-theanine is not addictive or habit-forming.
Passion Flower (Passiflora incarnata) is effective for anxiety and related conditions. As with Valerian, it’s important to use a standardized Passion Flower extract with at least 3-4% vitexin. An herbal supplement that combines Passion Flower and Valerian extracts will be more effective than either herb taken alone.
Some herbs will exhibit potent anti-anxiety effects. A handful of herbs for anxiety has been shown to effectively relieve anxiety when manufactured properly and administered in the right dosages. Only the herbs that have been backed by solid clinical research are the ones that are likely to successfully relieve your anxiety. It is vital to take an herb for anxiety that provides herbal extracts in the proven doses and potencies.